The annual Left Coast Crime “Lefty” Awards are chosen by registered members of each Left Coast Crime convention. During the first two weeks of January, nominations for awards to be presented at the annual convention are made by people registered for that convention and also the immediately prior convention. A ballot listing the official nominees is given to each registrant when they check in at the convention, and final voting takes place at the convention. The ballots are tabulated and that year’s Lefty Awards are presented at the Awards Celebration.
Each annual convention presents awards in the following categories for best mystery/crime/thriller novels:
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Best Humorous Mystery Novel |
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Best Historical Mystery Novel (Bill Gottfried Memorial) |
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Best Debut Mystery Novel |
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Best Mystery Novel |
To be eligible, titles must have been published for the first time in the United States or Canada during the calendar year preceding the convention, in book or ebook format. If published in other countries before the calendar year preceding the convention, a book is still eligible if it meets the US or Canadian publication requirement.
2026 Lefty Awards: San Francisco, California
Left Coast Crime 2026 — San Francisco Schemin’ — will
be presenting four Lefty Awards at the convention
in San Francisco, California. Registrants of the Left Coast Crime
Conventions in San Francisco and Denver were able to nominate three titles in
each category. The 2026 Lefty Awards will be voted
on at the convention and presented at the Awards Banquet
on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco.
| Lefty Nominees for Best Humorous Mystery Novel |
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Ellen Byron, Solid Gold Murder (Kensington) |
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Jennifer J. Chow, Star-Crossed Egg Tarts (St. Martin’s Paperbacks) |
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Elizabeth Crowens, Bye Bye Blackbird (Level Best Books) |
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Catriona McPherson, Scot’s Eggs (Severn House) |
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Cindy Sample, All’s Faire in Love and Murder (Cindy Sample Books) |
Lefty Nominees for Best Historical Mystery Novel
(Bill Gotttfried Memorial) for books covering events before 1970 |
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Cara Black, Huguette (Soho Crime) |
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Mariah Fredericks, The Girl in the Green Dress (Minotaur Books) |
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Dianne Freeman, A Daughter’s Guide to Mothers and Murder (Kensington) |
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Claire M. Johnson, City Lights (Level Best Books) |
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Laurie R. King, Knave of Diamonds (Bantam) |
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Rob Osler, The Case of the Missing Maid (Kensington) |
| Lefty Nominees for Best Debut Mystery Novel |
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Adrian Andover, Whiskey Business (Chestnut Avenue Press) |
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Kristen L. Berry, We Don’t Talk About Carol (Bantam) |
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Laurie L. Dove, Mask of the Deer Woman (Berkley) |
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Sue Hincenbergs, The Retirement Plan (William Morrow) |
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Marisa Kashino, Best Offer Wins (Celadon Books) |
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Diane Schaffer, Mortal Zin (Sibylline Press) |
| Lefty Nominees for Best Mystery Novel |
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Lou Berney, Crooks (William Morrow) |
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Claire Booth, Throwing Shadows (Severn House) |
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Tracy Clark, Edge (Thomas & Mercer) |
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Leslie Karst, Waters of Destruction (Severn House) |
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James L’Etoile, River of Lies (Oceanview Publishing) |
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Gigi Pandian, The Library Game (Minotaur Books) |
To be eligible for the 2026 Lefty Awards, the mystery/crime/thriller novels must have been published for the first time in the United States or Canada during 2025, in book or ebook format. (If published in other countries before 2025, a book is still eligible if it meets the US or Canadian publication requirement.)
Visit the Left Coast Crime Awards Archives page for information about LCC Award categories, nominees, and winners from 1996 to the present.
Questions about the Lefty Award? Email the LCC Awards Co-Chairs |
