The Agatha Awards were named in honor of Agatha Christie and honor the “traditional mystery”. The genre is loosely defined as mysteries that:
- Contain no explicit sex
- Contain no excessive gore or gratuitous violence
- Materials generally classified as "hard-boiled" are not appropriate
The Agatha Awards have become an internationally recognized honor, are fan nominated and voted on by all of the registered attendees of the Malice Domestic Convention.
Established in 1989, Malice Domestic is an annual convention that salutes mysteries in the classic tradition. The convention is operated by Malice Domestic, Ltd., a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation governed by an all volunteer Board of Directors.
The highlight of the celebration is the Agatha Awards Banquet where the traditional Agatha teapot is presented for;
- Best Novel
- Best First Mystery Novel
- Best Short Story
- Best Nonfiction
- Best Children's/YA Mystery Novel
- Best Historical Novel
A ballot listing each category's nominees will be given to all attendees of Malice Domestic 25, held May 3-5, 2013. Attendees will vote by secret ballot and the winners will be announced at the 2012 Agatha Awards banquet held on Saturday, May 4, 2013.
The 2012 Agatha Award Nominees
Best Novel:
- 'The Diva Digs Up the Dirt' by Krista Davis
- 'A Fatal Winter' by G.M. Malliet
- 'The Buzzard Table' by Margaret Maron P
- 'The Beautiful Mystery' by Louise Penny
- 'The Other Woman' by Hank Phillippi Ryan
Best First Novel:
- 'Lowcountry Boil' by Susan M. Boyer
- 'Iced Chiffon' by Duffy Brown
- 'A Scrapbook of Secrets' by Mollie Cox Bryan
- 'A Killer Read' by Erika Chase
- 'Faithful Unto Death' by Stephanie Jaye Evans
Best Non-fiction:
- 'Books to Die For: The World's Greatest Mystery Writers on the World's Greatest Mystery Novels' by John Connolly/Declan Burke
- 'Blood Relations: The Selected Letters of Ellery Queen, 1947-1950' by Joseph Goodrich, Editor
- 'More Forensics and Fiction: Crime Writers Morbidly Curious Questions Expertly Answered' by D.P. Lyle
- 'Double Cross: The True Story of the D-Day Spies' by Ben Macintyre
- 'The Grand Tour: Around the World with the Queen of Mystery Agatha Christie' by Mathew Prichard, Editor
Best Short Story:
- 'Mischief in Mesopotamia' (PDF) by Dana Cameron (Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Nov. 2012)
- 'Kept in the Dark' by Sheila Connolly (Best New England Crime Stories 2013: Blood Moon Anthology)
- 'The Lord is My Shamus' by Barb Goffman (Chesapeake Crimes: This Job is Murder)
- 'Thea's First Husband' (PDF) by B.K. Stevens (Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, June 2012)
- 'When Duty Calls' by Art Taylor (Chesapeake Crimes: This Job is Murder)
Best Children's/Young Adult Novel:
- 'Seconds Away' by Harlan Coben
- 'The Edge of Nowhere' by Elizabeth George
- 'Liar & Spy' by Rebecca Stead
- 'The Code Busters Club, Case #2: The Haunted Lighthouse' by Penny Warner
- 'Code Name Verity' by Elizabeth Wein
Best Historical Novel:
- 'The Twelve Clues of Christmas' by Rhys Bowen
- 'Dandy Gilver and an Unsuitable Day for Murder' by Catriona McPherson
- 'Murder on Fifth Avenue' by Victoria Thompson
- 'An Unmarked Grave' by Charles Todd
- 'Elegy for Eddie' by Jacqueline Winspear
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