International Thriller Writers Awards


The International Thriller Writers Awards are awarded by International Thriller Writers at the annual Thrillerfest conferences for outstanding work in the field since 2006.
The awards are presented by International Thriller Writers, a non-profit organization founded in 2004 by authors like Gayle Lynds and David Morrell to support and promote thriller writers globally. With over 6,600 members across 52 countries, the ITW Awards recognize excellence in numerous categories, including: Best Hardcover Novel, Best Series Novel, Best First Novel, Best Young Adult Novel, Best Short Story, and Best Audiobook. The eligibility is generally limited to works first published in the English language during the previous calendar year.

Award winners

YearCategoryAuthorTitlePublisher
2006Best First NovelImprobableWilliam Morrow
2006Best NovelThe Patriots ClubDelacorte Press
2006Best Paperback OriginalPride Runs DeepJove
2006Best ScreenplayCachéMichael Haneke
2006Thrillermaster
2007Best First NovelMr ClarinetPenguin
2007Best NovelKiller InstinctSt. Martin's Press
2007Best Paperback OriginalAn Unquiet GravePinnacle
2007Best ScreenplayThe Good Shepherd
2007Thrillermaster
2008Best First NovelHeart-Shaped BoxWilliam Morrow
2008Best NovelThe GhostSimon & Schuster
2008Best Paperback OriginalThe Midnight RoadBantam
2008Silver Bullet AwardMacy's and David Baldacci
2008Thrillermaster
2009Best First NovelChild 44Grand Central Publishing
2009Best NovelThe Bodies Left BehindSimon & Schuster
2009Best Short Story"The Edge of Seventeen"The Darker Mask
2009Silver Bullet Award
2009Silver Bullet AwardDollar General Literacy Foundation
2009Thrillermaster
2010Best First NovelRunning from the Devil
2010Best Hard Cover NovelThe Neighbor
2010Best Paperback Original NovelThe Coldest Mile
2010Best Short Story"A Stab in the Heart"
2010Silver Bullet Award
2010Silver Bullet AwardUS Airways
2010Thrillermaster
2010True Thrill Award
2011Best First NovelStill Missing
2011Best Hard Cover NovelBad BloodVirgil Flowers Series, book 4
2011Best Paperback Original NovelThe Cold RoomTaylor Jackson Series, book 4
2011Best Short Story"The Gods for Vengeance Cry"Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, November 2010
2011Silver Bullet Award
2011Thrillermaster
2011True Thrill Award
2012Best Hard Cover Novel11/22/63
2012Best Paperback Original NovelThe Last Minute
2012Best Short Story"Half-Lives"Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, March/April 2011
2012Silver Bullet Award
2012Thrillermaster
2012True Thrill Award
2013Best E-Book Original NovelBlind Faith
2013Best First NovelThe 500
2013Best Hard Cover NovelSpilled Blood
2013Best Paperback Original NovelLake Country
2013Best Short StoryLost Things
2013Best Young Adult NovelFalse Memory
2013Silver Bullet Award
2013Thrillermaster
2014Best E-Book Original NovelThe World Beneath
2014Best First NovelRed Sparrow
2014Best Hard Cover NovelThe Demonologist
2014Best Paperback Original NovelThe One I Left Behind
2014Best Short Story"Footprints in Water"Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, July 2013
2014Best Young Adult NovelAll Our Yesterdays
2014Silver Bullet Award
2014Thrillermaster
2015Best E-Book Original NovelHard Fall
2015Best First NovelThe Weight of Blood
2015Best Hard Cover NovelThe Fever
2015Best Paperback Original NovelMoonlight Weeps
2015Best Short Story"The Last Wrestling Bear in West Kentucky"Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine
2015Best Young Adult NovelNearly Gone
2015Silver Bullet Award
2015Thrillermaster
2016Best E-Book Original NovelThe Prisoner's Gold
2016Best First NovelBull Mountain
2016Best Hard Cover NovelThe Fifth Gospel
2016Best Paperback Original NovelAgainst All Enemies
2016Best Short Story"Gun Accident: An Investigation"Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine
2016Best Young Adult NovelPretending to be Erica
2016Silver Bullet Award
2016Thrillermaster
2017Best E-Book Original NovelRomeo's Way
2017Best First NovelThe Drifter
2017Best Hard Cover NovelBefore the Fall
2017Best Paperback Original NovelThe Body Reader
2017Best Short Story"Big Momma"Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine
2017Best Young Adult NovelSteeplejack
2017Silver Bullet Award
2017Thriller Legend Award
2017Thrillermaster
2018Best E-Book Original NovelSecond Chance
2018Best First NovelThe Freedom Broker
2018Best Hard Cover NovelFinal Girls
2018Best Paperback Original NovelGrievance
2018Best Short Story"Charcoal and Cherry"Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine
2018Best Young Adult NovelThe Rains
2018Silver Bullet Award
2018Thriller Legend Award
2018Thrillermaster
2019Best E-Book Original NovelPray for the Innocent
2019Best First NovelThe Chalk Man
2019Best Hard Cover NovelJar of Hearts
2019Best Paperback Original NovelThe Lost Man
2019Best Short Story"Nana"Killer Women: Crime Club Anthology #2
2019Best Young Adult NovelGirl at the Grave
2019Silver Bullet Award
2019Thriller Legend Award
2019Thrillermaster
2020Best E-Book Original NovelClose To You
2020Best First NovelMiracle Creek
2020Best Hard Cover NovelThe Chain
2020Best Paperback Original NovelThe Scholar
2020Best Short Story"The Long-Term Tenant"Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine
2020Best Young Adult NovelKeep This To Yourself
2021Best E-Book Original NovelA Killing Game
2021Best First NovelWinter Counts
2021Best Hard Cover NovelBlacktop Wasteland
2021Best Paperback Original NovelWhat Lies Between Us
2021Best Short Story"Rent Due"
2021Best Young Adult NovelThrowaway Girls
2022Best Audiobook with Adam Lazarre-White Razorblade TearsMacmillan
2022Best E-Book Original NovelBlood ParishE. J. Findorff
2022Best First NovelMy Sweet GirlBerkley
2022Best Hardcover NovelRazorblade TearsFlatiron Books
2022Best Paperback Original NovelBloodlineThomas & Mercer
2022Best Short Story"The Lemonade Stand"Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine
2022Best Young Adult NovelThe ProjectWednesday Books
2022ThrillerMastersFrederick Forsyth
2022ThrillerMastersDiana Gabaldon
2023Best AudiobookJennifer HillierThings We Do in the DarkMacmillan Audio
2023Best E-Book Original NovelDiane JeffreyThe Couple at Causeway CottageHarperCollins
2023Best First NovelLauren NossettThe ResemblanceFlatiron Books
2023Best Hardcover NovelCatriona WardSundialMacmillan
2023Best Paperback Original NovelFreida McFaddenThe HousemaidGrand Central Publishing
2023Best Short StoryCatherine Steadman"Stockholm"
2023Best Young Adult NovelKate McLaughlinDaughterWednesday Books
2024Best AudiobookGregg HurwitzThe Last OrphanMacmillan Audio
2024Best E-Book Original NovelRobert SwartwoodThe Killing RoomBlackstone Audio
2024Best First NovelI.S. BerryThe Peacock and the SparrowAtria Publishing Group
2024Best Hardcover NovelS. A. CosbyAll the Sinners BleedMacmillan
2024Best Paperback Original NovelLuke DumasThe PaleontologistAtria Publishing Group
2024Best Short StoryLisa Unger"Unknown Caller"
2024Best Young Adult NovelElizabeth E. WeinStatelessLittle, Brown and Company
2024ThrillerMastersTess Gerritsen
2024ThrillerMastersDennis Lehane
2025Best AudiobookKate Alice MarshallNo One Can KnowMacmillan Audio
2025Best Series NovelDavid BaldacciTo Die ForGrand Central Publishing
2025Best First NovelJaime deBlancAfter ImageThomas & Mercer
2025Best First NovelMarie TierneyDeadly AnimalsHenry Holt & Co
2025Best Standalone Thriller NovelJason RekulakThe Last One At The WeddingFlatiron Books
2025Best Standalone Mystery NovelKellye GarrettMissing White WomanMulholland Books
2025Best Short StoryIvy Pochoda"Jackrabbit Skin"
2025Best Young Adult NovelMarisha PesslDarklyDelacorte Press
2025ThrillerMasterJohn Grisham
2025Silver Bullet AwardJames Patterson