I look forward to this time of year. The weather warms with the approaching springtime. Bright cheery perennial flowers pop up and add welcome spots of color in my garden. Valentine’s Day and Galentine’s Day create a season of love and friendship. Easter brings family gatherings, fun activities, and a delicious feast. Spring Break means a golden opportunity to hang out with my grandkids. And it’s also when the finalists for many annual author awards are announced!
The finalist lists are a great resource to find new books to add to your TBR pile. The lists have introduced me to new authors and series I’d previously missed. The Left Coast Crime convention was held in San Francisco at the end of February. Their theme this year was “San Francisco Schemin.’” Catriona McPherson won the award for Best Humorous Mystery Novel for Scot’s Eggs. https://leftcoastcrime.org/2026/Awards.html She’d faced some stiff competition. I’ve read Ellen Byron’s Solid Gold Murder and Jennifer J. Chow’s Star-Crossed Egg Tarts and enjoyed them both. I look forward to exploring the other nominees in the future.
Malice Domestic posted their Agatha Award Nominees, but the winner won’t be selected until the end of April. https://www.malicedomestic.net/agatha-awards/copy-of-agatha-awards-md-37 After reviewing the nominee list, I read both At Death’s Dough by Mindy Quigley and Murder in Fifth Position by Lori Robbins. And I’m currently in the middle of A Grave Deception by Connie Berry. The books vary in setting and style, but they were all entertaining.
Likewise, Mystery Writers of America announced the 2026 Edgar Allan Poe Award Nominations. https://mysterywriters.org/2026-edgar-award-nominations/ The 80th Annual Edgar Awards will be held in April in Times Square. There are numerous categories and lots of nominees. A treasure trove of good books waiting to be discovered.
I bookmarked the lists on my computer. I can’t wait to check out the titles and peruse the pages. Happy Reading!
