Arthur Ellis Award
The Arthur Ellis Award (short form: "Arthur") is the national Canadian literary award for crime literature. It has been awarded by the Crime Writers of Canada (CWC) since 1984 . The authors open to residents of Canada have or Canadian nationality have, if they live abroad. The award is currently given in nine categories. Since 2007 there is a category for the best previously unpublished first work ("Best Unpublished First Novel", called "The Unhanged Arthur"). The latter award is determined blindly, i. H. the jury receives unlabelled manuscripts for evaluation. The name of the author will only be announced after the jury's decision. The publication in book form takes place in the year after the award. The President of the CWC awards the Derrick Murdoch Award for special criminal literary merits . At the first award it was still called the “Chairman's Award”, but was renamed in the second year after the first winner, Derrick Murdoch .
The prize is an ornate wooden jumping jack depicting a hanged person - with a rope around his neck. The arms and legs of the figure can be moved by pulling a small rope. The statue was designed by Peter Blais ; It is handcrafted by the Canadian artist Barry Lambeck and is supposed to evoke memories of the macabre namesake: The Englishman Arthur B. English used the pseudonym Arthur Ellis ; he was Canada's official executioner from 1913.
Current categories
| category | Original title | awarded since |
|---|---|---|
| Best novel * | Best novel | 1984 |
| Best debut novel * | Best First Novel | 1987 |
| Best crime story * | Best Crime Novella | 2013 |
| Best crime non-fiction book | Best Crime Nonfiction | 1985 |
| Best short story | Best short story | 1988 |
| Best book for children and teenagers | Best Juvenile / Young Adult | 1994 |
| Best novel in French | Best Crime Work in the French Language | 2000 |
| Best previously unpublished first work * | The Unhanged Arthur Award (Best Unpublished First Novel) | 2007 |
| Special price for special merits * | Derrick Murdoch Award | 1984 |
The winners of the categories marked with an asterisk are listed below
Award winners
Best Novel - Best Novel
| year | Prize winner | Original title publisher, location year 1 |
German title publisher, location year 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Eric Wright | The Night the Gods Smiled Collins, Toronto 1983 |
The night when the gods smiled Bastei Lübbe, Bergisch Gladbach 1990 |
| 1985 | Howard Engel | Murder Sees the Light Viking, Markham / Ontario 1984 |
Everything comes to light Rowohlt, Reinbek 1986 |
| 1986 | Eric Wright | Death in the Old Country Collins, Toronto 1985 |
Death in the land of the fathers Bastei Lübbe, Bergisch Gladbach 1991 |
| 1987 | Edward O. Phillips | Buried on Sunday McClelland & Stewart, Toronto 1986 |
|
| 1988 | Carol Shields | Swann: A Mystery Random House of Canada, Toronto 1987 |
Mary Swann Orlanda, Berlin 1993 |
| 1989 | Chris Scott | Jack Macmillan of Canada, Toronto 1988 |
|
| 1990 | Laurence Gough | Hot Shots Victor Gollancz, London 1989 |
The golden shot Goldmann, Munich 1990 |
| 1991 | LR Wright | A Chill Rain in January Macmillan of Canada, Toronto 1990 |
Eisregen Heyne, Munich 1994 |
| 1992 | Peter Robinson | Past Reason Hated Viking, Toronto 1991 |
In blind anger Ullstein, Munich 2001 |
| 1993 | Carsten Stroud | Lizardskin Bantam Books, Toronto 1992 |
|
| 1994 | John Lawrence Reynolds | Gypsy Sins HarperCollins, Toronto 1993 |
|
| 1995 | Gail Bowen | A Colder Kind of Death McClelland & Stewart, Toronto 1994 |
A murder like velvet and silk Econ, Düsseldorf 1998 |
| 1996 | LR Wright | Motherlove Doubleday, Toronto 1995 |
Never return Wunderlich, Reinbek 2000 |
| 1997 | Peter Robinson | Innocent Graves Berkley Prime Crime, New York 1996 |
The innocent angel Ullstein, Berlin 2004 |
| 1998 | William Deverell | Trial of Passion McClelland & Stewart, Toronto 1997 |
|
| 1999 | Nora Kelly | Old Wounds HarperCollins, Toronto 1998 |
Old wounds Ullstein, Munich 2000 |
| 2000 | Rosemary Aubert | The Feast of Stephen Bridgeworks Pub., Lanham / Maryland 1999 |
Death in Advent Ullstein, Munich 2000 |
| 2001 | Peter Robinson | Cold Is the Grave William Morrow, New York 2000 |
Cold as the Ullstein grave , Munich 2002 |
| 2002 | Michelle Spring | In the Midnight Hour Ballantine, New York 2001 |
Misses Ullstein, Munich 2002 |
| 2003 | Rick Mofina | Blood of Others Kensington Books, New York 2002 |
|
| 2004 | Giles Blunt | The Delicate Storm HarperCollins, London 2002 |
Bloody Ice Droemer, Munich 2005 |
| 2005 | Barbara Fradkin | Fifth Sun RendezVous Press, Toronto 2004 |
|
| 2006 | William Deverell | April Fool McClelland & Stewart, Toronto 2005 |
|
| 2007 | Barbara Fradkin | Honor Among Men RendezVous Press, Toronto 2006 |
|
| 2008 | Jon Redfern | Trumpets Sound No More RendezVous Crime, Toronto 2007 |
|
| 2009 | Linwood Barclay | Too Close to Home Bantam Books, New York 2008 |
Close to death Ullstein, Berlin 2008 |
| 2010 | Howard Shrier | High Chicago Vintage Canada, Toronto 2009 |
|
| 2011 | Louise Penny | Bury Your Dead Gardners Books, Eastbourne / East Sussex 2010 |
|
| 2012 | Peter Robinson | Before the Poison Hodder & Stoughton, London 2011 |
|
| 2013 | Giles Blunt | Until the Night Random House Canada, Toronto 2012 |
|
| 2014 | Sean Haldane | The Devil's Making Stone Flower Press, Ottawa 2013 |
|
| 2015 | CC Humphreys | Plague Double Day Canada, Toronto 2014 |
|
| 2016 | Peter Kirby | Open Season Linda Leith Publishing, Westmount / Quebec 2015 |
|
| 2017 | Donna Morrissey | The Fortunate Brother Viking, Toronto 2016 |
|
| 2018 | Peter Robinson | Sleeping in the Ground Hodder & Stoughton, London 2017 |
|
| 2019 | Anne Emery | Though the Heavens Fall ECW Press, Toronto 2018 |
1 = Publisher and year information refer to the original or German first edition
Best First Novel
| year | Prize winner | Original title publisher, location year 1 |
German title publisher, location year 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Medora Sale | Murder on the Run PaperJacks, Toronto 1986 |
|
| 1988 | Laurence Gough | The Goldfish Bowl St Martin's Press, New York 1987 |
Moving goals Goldmann, Munich 1989 |
| 1989 | John Brady | A Stone of the Heart Collins, Toronto 1988 |
|
| 1990 | John Lawrence Reynolds | The Man Who Murdered God Viking, Markham / Ontario 1989 |
|
| 1991 | Carsten Stroud | Sniper's Moon Viking, Markham / Ontario 1990 |
|
| 1992 | Paul Grescoe | Flesh Wound Douglas & McIntyre, Vancouver 1991 |
|
| 1993 | Sean Stewart | Passion Play Beach Holme, Victoria / British Columbia 1992 |
|
| 1994 | Gavin Scott | Memory Trace Cormorant Books, Dunvegan / Ontario 1993 |
|
| 1995 | Sparkle Hayter | What's A Girl Gotta Do? Soho Press, New York 1994 |
Little girls don't kill Bastei Lübbe, Bergisch Gladbach 1995 |
| 1996 | John Spencer Hill | The Last Castrato Constable, London 1995 |
Castrato Fischer, Frankfurt am Main 1997 |
| DH Toole | Moonlit Days and Nights Cormorant Books, Dunvegan / Ontario 1994 |
||
| 1997 | CC Benison | Death at Buckingham Palace Bantam, Toronto 1996 |
Murder at Buckingham Palace Econ, Düsseldorf 1997 |
| 1998 | Kathy Reichs | Déjà Dead Scribner’s, New York 1997 |
The dead don't lie Blessing, Munich 1998 |
| 1999 | Liz Brady | Sudden Blow Second Story Press, Toronto 1998 |
The 13th murder of the year joke, Frankfurt am Main 2003 |
| 2000 | Andrew Pyper | Lost Girls HarperFlamingo, Toronto 1999 |
The tutoring lesson List, Munich 2000 |
| 2001 | Mark Zuehlke | Hands Like Clouds Dundurn, Toronto 2000 |
|
| 2002 | Jon Redfern | The Boy Must Die ECW Press, Toronto 2001 |
|
| 2003 | James W. Nichol | Midnight Cab Alfred A. Knopf Canada, Toronto 2002 |
Exposed Knaur, Munich 2005 |
| 2004 | Jan Rehner | Just Murder Sumach Press, Toronto 2003 |
Angel of Vengeance Goldmann, Munich 2006 |
| 2005 | Jon Evans | Dark Places HarperCollins, Toronto 2004 |
|
| 2006 | Louise Penny | Still Life Headline, London 2005 |
Because everyone is to blame Limes, Munich 2006 |
| 2007 | Anne Emery | Sign of the Cross ECW Press, Toronto 2006 |
Courier of Death Heyne, Munich 2008 |
| 2008 | Liam Durcan | Garcia's Heart McClelland & Steart, Toronto 2007 |
|
| 2009 | Howard Shrier | Buffalo Jump Vintage Canada, Toronto 2008 |
|
| 2010 | Alan Bradley | The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie Doubleday Canada, Toronto 2009 |
Murder in the cucumber patch Penhaligon, Munich 2009 |
| 2011 | Avner Mandelman | The Debba Other Press, New York 2010 |
|
| 2012 | Ian Hamilton | The Water Rat of Wanchai House of Anansi Press, Toronto 2011 |
The water rat by Wanchai Kein & Aber, Zurich 2011 |
| 2013 | Simone St. James | The Haunting of Maddy Clare New American Library, New York 2012 |
|
| 2014 | J. Kent Messum | Bait Penguin Canada, Toronto 2013 |
|
| 2015 | Steve Burrows | A Siege of Bitterns Dundurn Press, Toronto 2014 |
|
| 2016 | Ausma Zehanat Khan | The Unquiet Dead St. Martin's Press, New York 2014 |
|
| 2017 | Elle Wild | Strange Things Done TAP Books, Toronto / Ontario 2016 |
|
| 2018 | Dave Butler | Full Curl Dundurn Press, Toronto 2017 |
|
| 2019 | AJ Devlin | Cobra Clutch NeWest Press, Edmonton / Alberta 2018 |
1 = Publisher and year information refer to the original or German first edition
Best Crime Novella
| year | Prize winner | Original title publisher, location year 1 |
German title publisher, location year 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Lou Allin | Contingency Plan Orca Books, Victoria / BC 2012 |
|
| 2014 | Melody Campbell | The Goddaughter's Revenge Orca Books, Victoria / BC 2013 |
|
| 2015 | Yes. R. Petrin | A Knock on the Door Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, New York 04/2014 |
|
| 2016 | Jeremy Bates | Black Canyon Ghillinnein Books, 2015 |
|
| 2017 | Rick Blechta | Rundown Raven Books, Victoria / British Columbia 2016 |
|
| 2018 | Mike Culpepper | How Long Pruitt Was Found Murdered in an Open Field with No Footprints Around Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Sept./Oct. 2017 |
|
| 2019 | John Lawrence Reynolds | Murder Among the Pines Orca Book Publishers, Victoria / British Columbia 2018 |
1 = Publisher and year information refer to the original or German first edition
Best Unpublished First Novel - The Unhanged Arthur Award (Best Unpublished First Novel)
| year | Prize winner | Original title publisher, location year 1 |
German title publisher, location year 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Phyllis Smallman | Margarita Nights McArthur & Co., Toronto 2008 |
|
| 2008 | DJ McIntosh | The Witch of Babylon Penguin Canada, Toronto 2011 |
Babylon Bastei Lübbe, Cologne 2011 |
| 2009 | Douglas A. Moles | Louder | |
| 2010 | Gloria Ferris | The Corpse Flower Dundurn Press, Toronto 2013 |
|
| 2011 | John Jeneroux | Better of Dead | |
| 2012 | Sam Wiebe | Last of the Independents Dundurn Press, Toronto 2014 |
|
| 2013 | Coleen Steele | Sins Revisited | |
| 2014 | Rachel Greenaway | Gold girl | |
| 2015 | Elle Wild | Strange Things Done | |
| 2016 | Jayne Barnard | When the Flood Falls | |
| 2017 | SJ Jennings | The Golkonda Project | |
| 2018 | Dianne Scott | Destruction in Paradise | |
| 2019 | Liv McFarlane | The Scarlet Cross |
1 = Publisher and year information refer to the original or German first edition
Special award for special merits - Derrick Murdoch Award
(No award in 1989, 1991, 1993–1994, 1996–1997, 2007, 2009, 2013–2014, 2016)
| year | Prize winner | year | Prize winner | year | Prize winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Derrick Murdoch | 1985 | Tony Aspler | 1986 | Margaret Millar |
| 1987 | The CBC Drama Department | 1988 | JD Singh , Jim Reicker | 1990 | Eric Wilson |
| 1992 |
William Bankier , James Powell and Peter Selles |
1995 | Jim and Margaret McBride | 1998 | Howard Engel , Eric Wright |
| 1999 | Ted Wood | 2000 |
Eddi Barber , Rick Blechta , John North and David Skene-Melvin |
2001 | LR Wright |
| 2002 | James Dubro , Caro Soles | 2003 | Margaret Cannon | 2004 | Cheryl Freedman |
| 2005 | Max Haines | 2006 | Mary Jane Maffini | 2008 | Edward D. High |
| 2009 | Gail Bowen | 2010 | Peter Robinson | 2011 | Louise Allin and NAT Grant |
| 2012 | Catherine Astolfo and Don Graves | 2015 | Sylvia McConnell | 2017 | Christina Jennings |