The 2025 International Thriller Writers Thriller Awards Winners were announced at the ThrillerFest XX Awards Banquet on Saturday, June 21, 2025 in New York City:
Best Standalone Thriller Novel
Jason Rekulak – THE LAST ONE AT THE WEDDING, Flatiron Books
Best Standalone Mystery Novel
Kellye Garrett – MISSING WHITE WOMAN, Mulholland Books
Best Series Novel
David Baldacci – TO DIE FOR, Grand Central Publishing
Best First Novel
Marie Tierney – DEADLY ANIMALS, Henry Holt & Co.
Best Audiobook
Kate Alice Marshall – NO ONE CAN KNOW, Macmillan Audio, narrated by Karissa Vacker
Best Young Adult Novel
Marisha Pessl – DARKLY, Delacorte
Best Short Story
Ivy Pochoda – Jackrabbit Skin, Amazon Original Stories
Also receiving special recognition during the ThrillerFest XX Awards Banquet:
2025 ThrillerMaster, John Grisham
2025 Silver Bullet Award, James Patterson
2025 Spotlight Guest, Oyinkan Braithwaite
2025 Spotlight Guest, Jennifer Hillier
2025 Thriller Legend, Neil Nyren
2025 ThrillerFan, McKenna Jordan
Here is the complete list of all the 2025 finalists:
Best Standalone Thriller Novel
Kimberly Belle – THE PARIS WIDOW, Harlequin – Park Row
Will Dean – THE CHAMBER, Little, Brown & Co.
T.J. Newman – WORST CASE SCENARIO, Harlequin – MIRA Books
Jason Rekulak – THE LAST ONE AT THE WEDDING, Flatiron Books
Lisa Scottoline – THE TRUTH ABOUT THE DEVLINS, Penguin/Putnam
Best Standalone Mystery Novel
Libby Cudmore – NEGATIVE GIRL, Datura Books
Laura Dave – THE NIGHT WE LOST HIM, Simon & Schuster
Kellye Garrett – MISSING WHITE WOMAN, Mulholland Books
Harry Hunsicker – THE LIFE AND DEATH OF ROSE DOUCETTE, Oceanview Publishing
Dervla McTiernan – WHAT HAPPENED TO NINA?, William Morrow
Lori Roy – LAKE COUNTY, Thomas & Mercer
Best Series Novel
David Baldacci – TO DIE FOR, Grand Central Publishing
Eric Beetner – THE LAST FEW MILES OF ROAD, Level Best Books
Ann Cleeves – THE DARK WIVES, Minotaur
Meg Gardiner – SHADOWHEART, Blackstone Publishing
Iris Johansen, Roy Johansen – FLASHBACK, Grand Central Publishing
Isabella Maldonado – A FORGOTTEN KILL, Thomas & Mercer
Best First Novel
Kate Brody – RABBIT HOLE, Soho Crime
Jaime DeBlanc – AFTER IMAGE, Thomas & Mercer
Carinn Jade – THE ASTROLOGY HOUSE, Atria
Alejandro Nodarse – BLOOD IN THE CUT, Flatiron Books
Marie Tierney – DEADLY ANIMALS, Henry Holt & Co.
Best Audiobook
Sally Hepworth – DARLING GIRLS, Macmillan, narrated by Jessica Clarke
Jon Lindstrom – HOLLYWOOD HUSTLE, Dreamscape Media, narrated by Jon Lindstrom
Kate Alice Marshall – NO ONE CAN KNOW, Macmillan Audio, narrated by Karissa Vacker
Hilton Reed – BEYOND ALL DOUBT, Dreamscape Media, narrated by George Newbern
Amy Tintera – LISTEN FOR THE LIE, Macmillan, narrated by January LaVoy and Will Damron
Best Young Adult Novel
Adam Cesare – INFLUENCER, Union Square & Co., LLC
Ripley Jones – THE OTHER LOLA, Wednesday Books
Marisha Pessl – DARKLY, Delacorte
Natalie Richards – 49 MILES ALONE, Sourcebooks Fire
Melanie Sumrow – GIRLS LIKE HER, Balzer + Bray
Best Short Story
Stefanie Leder – Not a Dinner Party Person, Soho Crime
Twist Phelan – Double Parked, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
Ivy Pochoda – Jackrabbit Skin, Amazon Original Stories
Lisa Unger – The Doll’s House, Amazon Original Stories
Joseph S. Walker – And Now, an Inspiring Story of Tragedy Overcome, Wildside Press
Website: thrillerfest.com
Website: thrillerwriters.org
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