Left Coast Crime


Left Coast Crime is an annual conference organised by mystery fiction fans for mystery fiction fans, first held in San Francisco in 1991. It is concerned with western North American region mysteries, but the conference itself travels worldwide, having been held in Canada and the United Kingdom, as well as different parts of the United States. The conference enables fans to mix with authors. A prominent author of western mystery fiction is invited to be guest speaker.
In December 2019 Mystery Writers of America awarded the convention organization the 2020 Raven Award for "outstanding achievement in the mystery field outside the realm of creative writing."

Lefty Awards

Best Humorous Mystery Novel Award

Conference participants have voted on an award for the most humorous mystery novel since 1996.

Best Historical Mystery Novel

The Best Historical Mystery Novel Award, also known as the Bruce Alexander Memorial Historical Mystery Award, established in 2004, is presented "to mystery novels covering events before 1960."

Best Mystery Novel

Best Début Mystery

The Lefty for Best Debut Mystery has gone by many names, include the Eureka! Award, the Rosebud Award, and finally, the Left for Best Debut Mystery.
YearAuthorTitleResultRef.
2012Nazareth ChildWinner
2012Who Do, Voodoo?Finalist
2012'Finalist
2012Dead Man's SwitchFinalist
2015'Winner
2015KilmoonFinalist
2015Ice ShearFinalist
2015'Finalist
2015Mistress of FortuneFinalist
2017Murder in G MajorWinner
2017Cleaning Up FinnFinalist
2017Terror in TaffetaFinalist
2017Decanting a MurderFinalist
2017Design for DyingFinalist
2018Hollywood HomicideWinner
2018'Finalist
2018Lost LuggageFinalist
2018'Finalist
2018ProtocolFinalist
2019'Winner
2019Broken PlacesFinalist
2019Cobra ClutchFinalist
2019'Finalist
2019What Doesn't Kill YouFinalist
2019Deadly SolutionFinalist
2019Give Out CreekFinalist
2020MurderabiliaWinner
2020'Finalist
2020Miracle CreekFinalist
2020One Night GoneFinalist
2020Three-FifthsFinalist
2021Winter CountsWinner
2021Murder Goes to MarketFinalist
2021DerailedFinalist
2021Murder at the Mena HouseFinalist
2021'Finalist
2021'Finalist
2022All Her Little SecretsWinner
2022Who Is Maud DixonFinalist
2022BlackoutFinalist
2022Finalist
2022Arsenic and AdoboFinalist

Wildcard Awards

In addition to regular Lefty Awards, wildcard awards have occasionally been presented. One regularly occurring wild card award is based on geographical location, with its name changing depending upon the location of the convention, such as the Otter, the Calavera, the Rocky, and the Rose. Left Coast Crime has also presented awards according to other geographic regions, such as the Hillerman Sky, the Golden Nugget, the Squid, and the Calamari.
Other wildcard awards "include the Watson, for the mystery with the best sidekick, and the Hawaii Five-O, for best law enforcement or police procedural. The Panik award was given in memory of Paul Anik for best LA noir. Cover art was recognized with the Arty."
AwardYearAuthorTitleResultRef.
Otter Award2004More Than You KnowWinner
Otter Award2004Dragonfly BonesFinalist
Otter Award2004Murder Pans OutFinalist
Calavera Award2005Grave EndingsWinner
Calavera Award2005Snap ShotFinalist
Calavera Award2005Shadow PlayFinalist
Calavera Award2005What Others KnowFinalist
Calavera Award2005Family ClaimsFinalist
Arty Award2008Her Royal SpynessWinner
Arty Award2008QueenpinFinalist
Arty Award2008Isabella MoonFinalist
Arty Award2008Silent CounselFinalist
Arty Award2008Stealing the DragonFinalist
Rocky Award2008'Winner
Rocky Award2008Free FireFinalist
Rocky Award2008Lost DogFinalist
Rocky Award2008Stealing the DragonFinalist
Rocky Award2008False FortuneFinalist
Hawaii Five-O2009Mahu FireWinner
Hawaii Five-O2009Angels FallFinalist
Hawaii Five-O2009'Finalist
Hawaii Five-O2009'Finalist
Hawaii Five-O2009Death of a Cozy WriterFinalist
Hawaii Five-O2009FracturedFinalist
The Panik2010Death Was in the PictureWinner
The Panik2010Cemetery RoadFinalist
The Panik2010Trust No OneFinalist
The Panik2010BoulevardFinalist
Hillerman Sky Award2011'Winner
Hillerman Sky Award2011Wild PenanceFinalist
Hillerman Sky Award2011'Finalist
Hillerman Sky Award2011SnareFinalist
Watson Award2011Junkyard DogsWinner
Watson Award2011Wild PenanceFinalist
Watson Award2011Dead LiftFinalist
Watson Award2011Rolling ThunderFinalist
Watson Award2011To Fetch a ThiefFinalist
Golden Nugget Award2012City of SecretsWinner
Golden Nugget Award2012DisturbanceFinalist
Golden Nugget Award2012'Finalist
Golden Nugget Award2012Bit PlayerFinalist
Golden Nugget Award2012V Is for VengeanceFinalist
Rocky Award2013As the Crow FliesWinner
Rocky Award2013Buffalo Bill's Dead NowFinalist
Rocky Award2013Hush MoneyFinalist
Rocky Award2013Wicked EddiesFinalist
Rocky Award2013Sonora CrossingFinalist
Watson Award2013Bruja BrouhahaWinner
Watson Award2013In a Witch's WardrobeFinalist
Watson Award2013TakenFinalist
Watson Award2013Fun HouseFinalist
Watson Award2013When the Past Haunts YouFinalist
The Calamari2014How the Light Gets InWinner
The Calamari2014Murder Below MontparnasseFinalist
The Calamari2014Hour of the RatFinalist
The Calamari2014As She Left ItFinalist
The Calamari2014Mykonos After MidnightFinalist
The Squid2014Ordinary GraceWinner
The Squid2014W Is for WastedFinalist
The Squid2014Purgatory KeyFinalist
The Squid2014'Finalist
The Squid2014'Finalist
The Rose2015Pirate VishnuWinner
The Rose2015One KickFinalist
The Rose2015Glass HousesFinalist
The Rose2015Deadly BondsFinalist
The Rose2015Plaster CityFinalist
Best LCC Regional Mystery2016'Winner
Best LCC Regional Mystery2016'Finalist
Best LCC Regional Mystery2016Night TremorsFinalist
Best LCC Regional Mystery2016'Finalist
Best LCC Regional Mystery2016Young AmericansFinalist
Best World Mystery2016'Winner
Best World Mystery2016'Finalist
Best World Mystery2016Dragon DayFinalist
Best World Mystery2016'Finalist
Best World Mystery2016Stone Cold DeadFinalist