The Shamus Awards (1982-2008)

from http://www.thrillingdetective.com/trivia/triv72.html:
Bestowed by the Private Eye Writers of America

The Private Eye Writers of America (PWA) was founded in 1981 by Robert J. Randisi to recognize the private eye genre and its writers, and is probably best known for its annual Shamus Awards. Membership is open to fans, writers, and publishing professionals. There are three levels of membership: Active, Associate, and International.

In general, the PWA defines a "private eye" as any mystery protagonist who is a professional investigator, but not a police officer or government agent. The full definition is, and I quote, "a person paid for investigative work but not employed by a unit of government. Thus books and stories about private investigators (licensed and unlicensed), lawyers and reporters who do their own legwork, and other hired agents are eligible; works centering on law enforcement officers or amateur sleuths are not."

Winners listed first in lists that follow. Short Story winners not included.

1982 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)

* Ross Macdonald
Accepted in his absence by his friend and colleague Dennis Lynds

BEST P.I. HARDCOVER

* Hoodwink by Bill Pronzini (Nameless Detective)
* A Stab in the Dark by Lawrence Block (Matt Scudder)
* 30 for a Harry by Richard Hoyt (John Denson)
* Hard Trade by Arthur Lyons (Jake Asch)
* Early Autumn by Robert B. Parker (Spenser)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK

* California Thriller by Max Byrd (Mike Haller)
* Carpenter, Detective by Hamilton T. Caine (Ace Carpenter)
* Brown's Requiem by James Ellroy (Fritz Brown)
* The Old Dick by L.A. Morse (Jake Spanner)
* Murder in the Wind by George Ogan (Johnny Bordelon)

1983 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)
* Mickey Spillane

BEST P.I. HARDCOVER
* Eight Million Ways to Die by Lawrence Block (Matt Scudder)
* A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton (Kinsey Millhone)
* Gravedigger by Joseph Hansen (David Brandstetter)
* A Piece of the Silence by Jack Livingston (Joe Binney)
* Ceremony by Robert B. Parker (Spenser)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK
* The Cana Diversion by William Campbell Gault (Brock Callahan)
* Nevsky's Return by Dimitri Gat (Yuri Nevsky)
* Pieces of Death by Jack Lynch (Peter Bragg)
* Smoked Out by Warren Murphy (Julian "Digger" Burroughs)

1984 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)
* William Campbell Gault

BEST P.I. HARDCOVER
* True Detective by Max Allan Collins (Nate Heller)
* Dancing Bear by James Crumley (Milo Milodragovitch)
* The Glass Highway by Loren D. Estleman (Amos Walker)
* The Dark Fantastic by Stanley Ellin
* The Widening Gyre by Robert B. Parker (Spenser)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK
* Dead in Centerfield by Paul Engelman (Mark Renzler)
* Finders Weepers by Max Byrd (Mike Haller)
* Death And The Single Girl by Elliot Lewis (Fred Bennett)
* Trace by Warren Murphy (Devlin "Trace" Tracy)
* The Steinway Collection by Robert J. Randisi (Miles Jacoby)

1985 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)
* Howard Browne

BEST P.I. HARDCOVER
* Sugartown by Loren D. Estleman (Amos Walker; Amos Walker)
* True Crime by Max Allan Collins (Nate Heller)
* Die Again, Macready by Jack Livingston
* Nightlines by John Lutz (Alo Nudger)
* Full Contact by Robert J. Randisi (Miles Jacoby)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK
* Ceiling of Hell by Warren Murphy
* Squeeze Play by Paul Benjamin
* San Quentin by Jack Lynch
* Trace and 47 Miles of Rope by Warren Murphy
* The Man Who Risked His Partner by Reed Stephens

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL
* A Creative Kind of Killer by Jack Early
* Blunt Darts by Jeremiah Healy (John Francis Cuddy)
* The Nebraska Quotient by William J. Reynolds

1986 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)
* Richard S. Prather

BEST P.I. HARDCOVER
* B is for Burglar by Sue Grafton (Kinsey Millhone)
* The Naked Liar by Harold Adams
* Hardball by Doug Hornig
* A Catskill Eagle by Robert B. Parker (Spenser)
* Bones by Bill Pronzini (Nameless)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK
* Poverty Bay by Earl Emerson (Thomas Black)
* The Rainy City by Earl Emerson (Thomas Black)
* The Kill by Douglas Heyes
* Trace: Pigs Get Fat by Warren Murphy (Devlin "Trace" Tracy)
* Blue Heron by Philip Ross

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL
* Hardcover by Wayne Warga
* New, Improved Murder by Ed Gorman (Jack Dwyer)
* Sleeping Dog by Dick Lochte
* Embrace the Wolf by Benjamin Schutz (Leo Haggerty)
* Flood by Andrew Vachss (Burke)

ST. MARTINS' PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL CONTEST
* An Infinite Number of Monkeys by Les Roberts (Saxon)

1987 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)
* Bill Pronzini, creator of the Nameless Detective series

BEST P.I. HARDCOVER
* The Staked Goat by Jeremiah Healy (John Francis Cuddy)
* When the Sacred Ginmill Closes by Lawrence Block (Matt Scudder)
* In La-La Land We Trust by Robert Campbell
* The Million Dollar Wound by Max Allan Collins (Nate Heller)
* C is for Corpse by Sue Grafton (Kinsey Millhone)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK
* The Back Door Man by Rob Kantner (Ben Perkins)
* Melting Point by Kenn Davis
* Nervous Laughter by Earl Emerson (Thomas Black)
* Dark Fields by T.J. MacGregor
* Trace: Too Old a Cat by Warren Murphy (Devlin "Trace" Tracy)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL
* Jersey Tomatoes by J.W. Rider
* No One Rides for Free by Larry Beinhart
* Tourist Season by Carl Hiassen

ST. MARTINS' PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST
* Fear of the Dark by Gar Anthony Haywood (Aaron Gunner)

1988 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Awards)
* Dennis Lynds
* Wade Miller (Robert Wade and Bob Miller)

BEST P.I. HARDCOVER
* A Tax in Blood by Benjamin Schutz (Leo Haggerty)
* Lady Yesterday by Loren D. Estleman (Amos Walker)
* Ride the Lightning by John Lutz (Alo Nudger)
* A Trouble Of Fools by Linda Barnes
* The Autumn Dead by Ed Gorman (Jack Dwyer)
* Ride The Lightning by John Lutz

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK
* Wild Night by L.J. Washburn
* The Monkey's Raincoat by Robert Crais (Elvis Cole)
* Snake Eyes by Gaylord Dold (Mitch Roberts)
* Recount by David Everson (Robert Miles)
* Madelaine by Joseph Louis

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL
* Death on the Rocks by Michael Allegretto
* The House Of Blue Lights by Robert Bowman
* Shawnee Alley Fire by John Douglas
* Detective by Parnell Hall (Stanley Hastings)
* An Infinite Number Of Monkeys by Les Roberts (Saxon)

ST. MARTINS' PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST
* Katwalk by Karen Kijewski (Kat Colorado)

1989 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)
* No Award Given

BEST P.I. HARDCOVER
* Kiss by John Lutz
* Neon Mirage by Max Allan Collins (Nate Heller)
* Deviant Behavior by Earl Emerson (Thomas Black)
* Swan Dive by Jeremiah Healy (John Francis Cuddy)
* Blood Shot by Sara Paretsky

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK
* Dirty Work by Rob Kantner (Ben Perkins)
* The Last Private Eye by John Birkett
* Bonepile by Gaylord Dold (Mitch Roberts)
* Rebound by David Everson (Robert Miles)
* The Crystal Blue Persuasion by W. R. Philbrick

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL
* Fear of the Dark by Gar Anthony Haywood (Aaron Gunner)
* Lost Daughter by Michael Cormany
* Burning Season by Wayne D. Dundee (Joe Hannibal)
* Wall of Glass by Walter Satterthwait (Joshua Croft)
* Slow Dance in Autumn by Philip Lee Williams

ST. MARTINS' PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST
* Kindred Crime by Janet Dawson (Jeri Howard)

1990 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)
* No Award Given

BEST P.I. HARDCOVER
* Extenuating Circumstances by Jonathan Valin (Harry Stoner)
* Out On The Cutting Edge by Lawrence Block (Matt Scudder)
* The Skintight Shroud by Wayne Dundee (Joe Hannibal)
* The Shape Of Dread by Marcia Muller (Sharon McCone)
* The Killing Man by Mickey Spillane (Mike Hammer)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK
* Hell's Only Half Full by Rob Kantner (Ben Perkins)
* Muscle And Blood by Gaylord Dold (Mitch Roberts)
* Behind The Fac by Richard Hilary
* Tough Enough by W. R. Philbrick
* A Collector Of Photographs by Deborah Valentine

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL
* Katwalk by Karen Kijewski (Kat Colorado)
* Medicine Dog by Geoff Peterson
* Cold Night by Al Sarrantonio
* Rock Critic Murders by Jesse Sublett

ST. MARTINS' PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST
* The Loud Adios by Ken Kuhlken (Tom Hickey)

1991 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)
* Roy Huggins

BEST P.I. HARDCOVER
* G is for Gumshoe by Sue Grafton (Kinsey Millhone)
* Dead Irish by John Lescroart
* The Desert Look by Bernard Schopen
* Polo's Wild Card by Jerry Kennealy (Nick Polo)
* Poor Butterfly by Stuart Kaminsky (Toby Peters)
* A Ticket to the Boneyard by Lawrence Block (Matt Scudder)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK
* Rafferty: Fatal Sisters by W. Glenn Duncan (Rafferty)
* Made in Detroit by Rob Kantner (Ben Perkins)
* Bimbo Heaven by Marvin Albert
* The Blue Room by Monroe Thompson
* The Queen's Mare by John Birkett

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL
* Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosely (Easy Rawlins)
* Body Scissors by Jerome Doolittle
* Kindred Crimes by Janet Dawson (Jeri Howard)
* The Stone Veil by Ronald Tierney

ST. MARTINS' PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST
* A Sudden Death at the Norfolk Cafe by Winona Sullivan (Sister Cecile)

1992 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)
* Joseph Hansen

BEST P.I. HARDCOVER
* Stolen Away by Max Allan Collins (Nate Heller)
* Dance at the Slaughterhouse by Lawrence Block (Matt Scudder)
* Where Echoes Live by Marcia Muller (Sharon McCone)
* A Fistful of Empty by Benjamin Schutz (Leo Haggerty)
* Second Chance by Jonathan Valin (Harry Stoner)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK
* Cool Blue Tomb by Paul Kemprecos
* Black Light by Daniel Hearn
* House of Cards by Kay Hooper
* The Thousand Yard Stare by Rob Kantner (Ben Perkins)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL
* Suffer Little Children by Thomas Davis (Dave Strickland)
* The January Corpse by Neil Albert (Dave Garrett)
* Dead on the Island by Bill Crider
* Best Performance by a Patsy by Stan Cutler
* Cool Breeze on the Underground by Don Winslow

ST. MARTINS' PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST
* Storm Warning by A.C. Ayres (eventually published as Hour of the Manatee)

1993 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)
* Marcia Muller

BEST P.I. HARDCOVER
* The Man Who was Taller Than God by Harold Adams (Carl Wilcox)
* Cassandra in Red by Michael Collins (Dan Fortune)
* Lullaby Town by Robert Crais (Elvis Cole)
* Shallow Graves by Jeremiah Healy (John Francis Cuddy)
* Special Delivery by Jerry Kennealy (Nick Polo)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK
* The Last Tango of Delores Delgado by Marele Day (Claudia Valentine)
* Lay It on the Line by Catherine Dain (Freddie O'Neal)
* Dirty Money by Mark Davis
* The Brutal Ballet by Wayne D. Dundee (Joe Hannibal)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL
* The Woman Who Married a Bear by John Straley (Cecil Younger)
* Return Trip Ticket by David C. Hall
* Switching the Odds by Phyllis Knight
* The Long-Legged Fly by James Sallis (Lew Griffin)

BEST P.I. SHORT STORY
* "Mary, Mary, Shut the Door" by Benjamin Schutz (Deadly Allies; Leo Haggerty)
* "The Messenger" by Jacklyn Butler (October 1992, AHMM)
* "Safe House" by Loren D. Estleman (Deadly Allies; Amos Walker)
* "A Little Missionary Work" by Sue Grafton (Deadly Allies; Kinsey Millhone)
* "Rest Stop" by Jeremiah Healy (May 1992, AHMM; John Francis Cuddy)

ST. MARTINS' PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST
* The Harry Chronicles by Allan Pedrazas (Harry Rice)

1994 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)
* Stephen J. Cannell

BEST P.I. NOVEL
* The Devil Knows You're Dead by Lawrence Block (Matt Scudder)
* Foursome by Jeremiah Healy (John Francis Cuddy)
* Wolf In The Shadows by Marcia Muller (Sharon McCone)
* Moth by James Sallis (Lew Griffin)
* The Lies That Bind by Judith Van Gieson (Neil Hamel)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK
* Brothers And Sinners by Rodman Philbrick
* The Half-hearted Detective by Milton Bass
* A Minyon For The Dead by Richard Fliegel
* Shadow Games by Edward Gorman
* Torchtown Boogie by Steven Womack (Harry James Denton)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL
* Satan's Lambs by Lynn Hightower (Lena Padget)
* Brotherly Love by Randye Lordon (Sydney Sloane)
* By Evil Means by Sandra West Prowell (Phoebe Siegal)

ST. MARTINS' PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST
* The Heaven Stone by David Daniel (Alex Rasmussen)

1995 SHAMUS AWARDS
Presented June 17, 1995, at EYECON, by the Private Eye Writers of America.

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)
* John Lutz and Robert B. Parker

BEST P.I. NOVEL
* K Is For Killer by Sue Grafton (Kinsey Millhone)
* A Long Line Of Dead Men by Lawrence Block (Matt Scudder)
* Carnal Hours by Max Allan Collins (Nate Heller)
* The Killing Of Monday Brown by Sandra West Prowell (Phoebe Siegal)
* The Lake Effect by Les Roberts

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL
* A Drink Before the War by Dennis Lehane (Patrick Kenzie & Angela Gennaro)
* The Heaven Stone by David Daniel (Alex Rasmussen)
* One For The Money by Janet Evanovich (Stephanie Plum)
* The Fall-down Artist by Thomas Lipinski (Carroll Dorsey)
* When Death Comes Stealing by Valerie Wilson Wesley (Tamara Hayle)

BEST ORIGINAL P.I. PAPERBACK
* Served Cold by Ed Goldberg (Lenny Schneider)
* Double Plot by Leo Axler
* Lament For A Dead Cowboy by Catherine Dain (Freddie O'Neal)
* Dead Ahead by Bridget Mckenna (Caley Burke)
* Deadly Devotion by Patricia Wallace

ST. MARTINS' PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST
* Diamond Head by Charles Knief (John Caine)

1996 SHAMUS AWARDS
Winners were announced in a special ceremony at Bouchercon 27 World Mystery Convention (St. Paul, MN, Oct. 10-13, 1996).

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)
* No Award Given

BEST P.I. NOVEL
* Concourse by S.J. Rozan (Lydia Chin and Bill Smith)
* The Vanishing Smile by Earl Emerson (Thomas Black)
* Come To Grief by Dick Francis (Sid Halley)
* Movie by Parnell Hall (Stanley Hastings)
* The Neon Smile by Dick Lochte (Terry Manion)

BEST P.I. PAPERBACK ORIGINAL
* Native Angels by William Jaspersohn (Peter Boone)
* Zero Tolerance by J.D. Knight
* Interview With Mattie by Shelley Singer (Barrett Lake)
* Charged With Guilt by Gloria White (Ronnie Ventana)
* Way Past Dead by Steven Womack (Harry James Denton)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL
* The Innocents by Richard Barre (Wil Hardesty)
* Who In Hell Is Wanda Fuca? by G.M. Ford (Leo Waterman)
* If Looks Could Kill by Ruthe Furie (Fran Kirk)
* Penance by David Housewright (Holland Taylor)
* The Harry Chronicles by Allan Pedrazas (Harry Rice)

ST. MARTINS' PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST
* No Award Given

1997 SHAMUS AWARDS
Winners announced October30, 1997, at Bouchercon 28 World Mystery Convention held in Monterey, California.

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)
* Stephen Marlowe, the author of the Chet Drum series

BEST P.I. NOVEL:
* Damned in Paradise by Max Allan Collins (Nate Heller)
* Sunset Express by Robert Crais (Elvis Cole)
* Flesh Wounds, by Stephen Greenleaf (John Marshall Tanner)
* Invasion Of Privacy, by Jeremiah Healy (John Francis Cuddy)
* Sentinels, by Bill Pronzini (Nameless)
* When Wallflowers Die, by Sandra West Prowell (Phoebe Siegal)

BEST P.I. PAPERBACK ORIGINAL
* Fade Away, by Harlan Coben (Myron Bolitar)
* Chain Of Fools, by Steven Womack (Harry James Denton)
* Natural Death by Ruthe Fury (Fran Kirk)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL
* This Dog For Hire, by Carol Lea Benjamin (Rachel Alexander)
* Keeper by Greg Rucka (Atticus Kodiak)
* The Low End Of Nowhere by Michael Stone (Streeter)
* This Far, No Further by John Wessel (Harding)

ST. MARTINS' PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST
* A Cold Day in Paradise by Steve Hamilton (Alex McKnight)

1998 SHAMUS AWARDS
The Private Eye Writers of America announced the 1998 Shamus Awards winners at the Shamus Awards ceremony during the Bouchercon in Philadelphia, October 1-4, 1998.

BEST P.I. NOVEL
* Come Back Dead by Terrance Faherty (Scott Elliott)
* Indigo Slam by Robert Crais (Elvis Cole)
* Deception Pass by Earl Emerson (Thomas Black)
* Sacred by Dennis Lehane (Patrick Kenzie & Angela Gennaro)
* Down For The Count by Maxine O'Callaghan (Deliah West)
* No Colder Place by S.J. Rozan (Lydia Chin and Bill Smith)

BEST P.I. PAPERBACK ORIGINAL
* Charm City by Laura Lippman (Tess Monaghan)
* Back Spin by Harlan Coben (Myron Bolitar)
* A Whisper Of Rage by Tim Hemlin (Neil Marshall)
* Father Forgive Me by Randye Lordon (Sydney Sloane)
* Sunset And Santiago by Gloria White (Ronnie Ventana)

BEST P.I. FIRST NOVEL
* Big Red Tequilla by Rick Riordan (Tres Navarre)
* Baltimore Blues by Laura Lippman (Tess Monaghan)
* Legwork by Katy Munger (Casey Jones)

ST. MARTINS' PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST
* The Losers' Club by Lise S. Baker (Cal Brantley)

1999 SHAMUS AWARDS
As presented at Eyecon'99 in July in St. Louis.

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)
* Maxine O'Callaghan, the author of the Delilah West series.

BEST P.I. NOVEL
* Boobytrap by Bill Pronzini (Nameless)
* Gone Baby Gone by Dennis Lehane (Patrick Kenzie & Angela Gennaro)
* No Badge, No Gun by Harold Adams (Carl Wilcox)
* Flying Blind by Max Allan Collins (Nate Heller)
* The Only Good Lawyer by Jeremiah Healy (John Francis Cuddy)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL
* A Cold Day In Paradise by Steve Hamilton (Alex McKnight)
* Like A Hole In The Head by Jen Banbury
* Dead Low Tide by Jamie Katz (Dan Kardon)
* Zen And The Art Of Murder by Elizabeth Cosin (Zen Moses)

BEST P.I. PAPERBACK ORIGINAL
* Murder Manual by Steve Womack (Harry James Denton)
* Too Easy by Philip Depoy (Flap Tucker)
* Butcher's Hill by Laura Lippman (Tess Monaghan)
* The Widower's Two-Step by Rick Riordan (Tres Navarre)
* Death In A City Of Mystics by Janice Steinberg

ST. MARTINS' PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST
* Street Legal by Robert Truluck (Duncan Sloan)

FRIENDS OF PWA (a new award)
* Michael Seidman, Editor at Walker, former editor of The Armchair Detective
* Joe Pittman, Senior Editor at Signet

2000 SHAMUS AWARDS
The Private Eye Writers of America announced the winners of its 2000 Shamus Awards during the Bouchercon World Mystery Convention, September 7-10 in Denver, Colorado.

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)
* Edward D. Hoch

BEST P.I. NOVEL
* California Fire And Life by Don Winslow (Jack Wade)
* L.A. Requiem by Robert Crais (Elvis Cole)
* Monster by Jonathan Kellerman (Alex Delaware)
* Prayers For Rain by Dennis Lehane (Patrick Kenzie & Angela Gennaro)
* Stone Quarry by S.J. Rozan (Lydia Chin and Bill Smith)

BEST P.I. PAPERBACK ORIGINAL
* In Big Trouble by Laura Lippman (Tess Monaghan)
* Deadbeat by Leo Atkins (Connor Gibbs)
* Fulton County Blues by Ruth Birmingham (Sunny Childs)
* The Last Song Dogs by Sinclair Browning (Trade Ellis)
* Steel City Confessions by Thomas Lipinski (Carroll Dorsey)

BEST P.I. FIRST NOVEL
* Every Dead Thing by John Connolly (Charlie Parker)
* East Of A by Russell Atwood (Payton Sherwood)
* The Immortal Game by Mark Coggins (August Riordan)
* Maximum Insecurity by P.J. Grady (Matty Madrid)
* The Answer Man by Roy Johansen (Ken Parker)

ST. MARTINS' PRESS/PWA BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL CONTEST
* Catching Water in a Net by J.L. Abramo (Jake Diamond)

2001 SHAMUS AWARDS
The Private Eye Writers of America were to be presented at that year's Shamus Awards at PWA's 20th Anniversary Banquet during Bouchercon, but decided to forego the event "due to the tragedies that occurred in NY and Washington." Instead they announced the winners in a press release.

BEST HARDCOVER P.I. NOVEL
* Havana Heat by Carolina Garcia-Aguilera, (Lupe Solano)
* A Smile On The Face Of The Tiger by Loren Estleman (Amos Walker)
* The Deader The Better by G. M. Ford (Leo Waterman)
* Ellipsis by Stephen Greenleaf (John Marshall Tanner)
* Listen To The Silence by Marcia Muller (Sharon McCone)

BEST P.I. PAPERBACK ORIGINAL
* Death In The Steel City by Thomas Lipinski (Carroll Dorsey)
* The Blazing Tree by Mary Jo Adamson (Michael Merrick)
* The Sporting Club by Sinclair Browning (Trade Ellis)
* The Hindenburg Murders by Max Allan Collins (Leslie Charteris, P.I.?)
* Bad To The Bone by Katy Munger (Casey Jones)
* Dirty Money by Steven Womack (Harry James Denton)

BEST P.I. FIRST NOVEL
* Street Level by Bob Truluck (Duncan Sloan)
* Brigham's Day by John Gates (Brigham Bybee)
* The Heir Hunter by Chris Larsgaard (Nick Merchant)
* Resurrection Angel by William Mize (Monty Crocetti and Denton Ward)
* Lost Girls by Andrew Pyper (Bartholomew Crane)

2002 SHAMUS AWARDS

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievement)
* Lawrence Block

BEST HARDCOVER P.I. NOVEL
* Reflecting The Sky by S.J. Rozan (Bill Smith and Lydia Chin)
* Angel In Black by Max Allan Collins (Nate Heller)
* Ashes Of Aries by Martha C. Lawrence (Dr. Elizabeth Chase)
* The Devil Went Down To Austin by Rick Riordan (Tres Navarre)
* Cold Water Burning by John Straley (Cecil Younger)

BEST P.I. PAPERBACK ORIGINAL
* Archangel Protocol by Lyda Morehouse (Dierdre McMannus)
* Ancient Enemy by Robert Westbrook (Howard Moon Deer )
* Keepers by Janet Lapierre (Patience and Verity Mackellar)

BEST P.I. FIRST NOVEL
* Chasing the Devil's Tail by David Fulmer (Valentin St. Cyr)
* Epitaph by James Siegel (William Riskin)
* Rat City by Curt Colbert (Jake Rossiter)
* A Witness Above by Andy Straka (Frank Pavlicek)
* Pilikia Is My Business by Mark Troy (Val Lyon)

FRIEND OF PWA
* Jan Grape

ST. MARTINS' PRESS/PWA CONTEST FOR BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL
* The Sterling Inheritance by Michael Siverling (Jason Wilder)

2003 SHAMUS AWARDS
The Shamus Awards were presented in October at the PWA banquet to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, during Bouchercon, the World Mystery Convention.

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievement)
* Sue Grafton

BEST P.I. NOVEL
* Blackwater Sound by James W. Hall (Thorn)
* North Of Nowhere by Steve Hamilton (Alex McKnight)
* The Last Place by Laura Lippman (Tess Monaghan)
* Hell To Pay by George Pelecanos (Derek Strange and Terry Quinn)
* Winter And Night by S.J. Rozan (Lydia Chin and Bill Smith)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL
* The Distance by Eddie Muller (Billy Nichols)
* Westerfield's Chain by Jack Clark (Nick Acropolis)
* The Bone Orchard by D. Daniel Judson (Declan "Mac" MacManus)
* Open And Shut by David Rosenfeld (Andy Carpenter)
* Private Heat by Robert Bailey (Art Hardin)

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL P.I. NOVEL
* The Poisoned Rose by D. Daniel Judson (Declan "Mac" MacManus)
* Cash Out by Paul Boray (John "Tomb" Tomei)
* Juicy Watusi by Richard Helms (Pat Gallegher)
* The Lusitania Murders by Max Allan Collins (S.S. Van Dine, P.I. -- yeah, right)
* Paint It Black by P.J. Parish (Louis Kincaid)

ST. MARTINS' PRESS/PWA CONTEST FOR BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL
* Tonight I Said Goodbye by Michael Koryta (Lincoln Perry)

2004 SHAMUS AWARDS
The 2004 Shamus Awards were announced at the Bouchercon in Toronto.

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)
* Donald Westlake

BEST P.I. NOVEL
* The Guards by Ken Bruen (Jack Taylor)
* Scavenger Hunt by Robert Ferrigno (Jimmy Gage)
* Blood is the Sky by Steve Hamilton (Alex McKnight)
* Fatal Flaw by William Lashner (Victor Carl)
* A Visible Darkness by Jonathon King (Max Freeman )

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL
* Black Maps by Peter Spiegelman (John March)
* Spiked by Mark Arsenault (Eddie Bourque)
* Lovers Crossing by James C. Mitchell (Roscoe Brinker)

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL P.I. NOVEL
* Cold Quarry by Andy Straka (Frank Pavlicek)
* Thicker Than Water by PJ Parrish (Louis Kincaid)
* Wet Debt by Richard Helms (Pat Gallegher)
* Dragonfly Bones by David Cole (Laura Winslow)

ST. MARTINS' PRESS/PWA CONTEST FOR BEST FIRST PRIVATE EYE NOVEL
* First Kill by Michael Kronenwetter (Hank Berlin)

2005 SHAMUS AWARDS
The 2005 Shamus Awards will be announced at the Bouchercon in Chicago. And lemme say, I like the idea of a lot of fresh blood this time. But a lot of these private eyes are NOT private eyes at all.

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievement)
* Sara Paretsky

BEST P.I. NOVEL
* While I Disappear by Ed Wright (John Ray Horn)
* Fade To Clear by Leonard Chang (Allen Choice)
* The Wakeup by Robert Ferrigno (Frank Thorpe)
* After The Rain by Chuck Logan (Phil Broker)
* Choke Point by James Mitchell (Roscoe Brinker)

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL P.I. NOVEL

* Fade To Blonde by Max Phillips (construction worker Ray Corson)
* Call The Devil by His Oldest Name by Sallie Bissell (Assistant D.A.Cherokee Mary Crow)
* Shadow Of The Dahlia by Jack Bludis (Rick Page)
* The London Blitz Murders by Max Allan Collins (amateur sleuth Agatha Christie)
* Island Of Bones by P. J. Parrish (Louis Kincaid)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL

* The Dead by Ingrid Black (true-crime writer Saxon)
* Little Girl Lost by Richard Aleas (John Blake)
* The Last Goodbye by Reed Arvin (Jack Hammond)
* Aspen Pulp by Patrick Hasburgh (Jake Wheeler)
* Some Danger Involved by Will Thomas (Thomas Llewelyn and Cyrus Barker)

2006 SHAMUS AWARDS
The 2006 Shamus Awards were announced at the Bouchercon in Madison, Wisconsin on seoptember 29, in a rollicking affair that saw Mickey Spillane honoured, Max Allan Collins presented with The Eye for Lifetime Achievment, and PWA founder Robert Randisi roasted slowly -- and none too gently -- over an open flame. A grand old time was had by Al. And Bob had a good time too.

THE EYE (Lifetime Achievment Award)
* Max Allan Collins

BEST P.I. NOVEL
* The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Connelly (Mickey Haller)
* Oblivion by Peter Abrahams (Nick Petrov)
* The Forgotten Man by Robert Crais (Elvis Cole)
* In A Teapot by Terence Faherty (Scott Elliott)
* The Man with the Iron-On Badge by Lee Goldberg (Harvey Mapes)
* Cinnamon Kiss by Walter Mosley (Easy Rawlins)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL
* Forcing Amaryllis by Louise Ure (Calla Gentry)
* Blood Ties by Lori G. Armstrong (Julie Collins)
* Still River by Harry Hunsicker (Lee Henry Oswald)
* The Devil's Right Hand by J. D. Rhoades (Jack Keller)

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL P.I. NOVEL
* The James Deans by Reed Farrell Coleman (Moe Prager)
* Falling Down by David Cole (Laura Winslow)
* Deadlocked by Joel Goldman (Lou Mason)
* Cordite Wine by Richard Helms (Eamon Gold)
* A Killing Rain by PJ Parrish (Louis Kincaid)

2007 SHAMUS AWARDS
The 2007 Shamus Awards were presented in the course of the annual PWA banquet, held in Anchorage, Alaska, during the Bouchercon convention.

THE EYE
* Stuart M. Kaminsky

THE HAMMER
A new annual prize celebrating a memorable private eye character or a series. Named after Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer, of course.
* Shell Scott by Richard S. Prather

BEST P.I. NOVEL
* The Dramatist by Ken Bruen (Jack Taylor)
* The Darkest Place by Daniel Judson (Reggie Clay)
* The Do-Re-Me by Ken Kuhlken (Clifford and Tom Hickey)
* Vanishing Point by Marcia Muller (Sharon McCone)
* Days of Rage by Kris Nelscott (Smokey Dalton)

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL
* An Unquiet Grave by P.J. Parrish (Louis Kincaid)
* Hallowed Ground by Lori G. Armstrong (Julie Collins)
* The Prop by Pete Hautman (Peeky Kane)
* The Uncomfortable Dead by Paco Ignacio Taibo II and Subcomandante Marcos (Hector Belascoaran Shayne)
* Crooked by Brian M. Wiprud (Nicholas Palihnic)

BEST FIRST NOVEL
* The Wrong Kind of Blood by Declan Hughes (Ed Loy)
* Lost Angel by Mike Doogan (Nik Kane)
* A Safe Place for Dying by Jack Fredrickson (Dek Elstrom)
* Holmes on the Range by Steve Hockensmith (Gustav "Old Red" Amlingmeyer)
* 18 Seconds by George D. Shuman (Sherry Moore)

2008 SHAMUS AWARDS
The 2008 awards were presented at the PWA banquet, October 10, 2008, in Baltimore, Maryland, during the Bouchercon World Mystery Convention.

BEST P.I. NOVEL
* Soul Patch by Reed Farrel Coleman (Moe Prager)
* Head Games by Thomas B. Cavanagh (Mike Garrity)
* The Color of Blood by Declan Hughes (Ed Loy)
* A Welcome Grave by Michael Koryta (Lincoln Perry)
* A Killer's Kiss by William Lashner (Victor Carl)

BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL
* Songs of Innocence by Richard Aleas (John Blake)
* Exit Strategy by Kelley Armstrong (Nadia Stafford)
* Stone Rain by Linwood Barclay (Zack Walker)
* Deadly Beloved by Max Allan Collins (Ms. Tree)
* Blood of Paradise by David Corbett (Jude McManus)

BEST FIRST P.I. NOVEL
* Big City, Bad Blood by Sean Chercover (Ray Dudgeon)
* The Cleaner by Brett Battles (Jonathan Quinn)
* Keep It Real by Bill Bryan (Ted Collins)
* When One Man Dies by Dave White (Jackson Donne)
* The Last Striptease by Michael Wiley (Joe Kozmarski)