2006 Agatha Award Winners and Nominees

Malice Domestic has announced its winners for the 2006 Agatha Awards, honoring the best first mystery novel, best novel, best non-fiction, best short story, and best juvenile/young adult mystery published in 2005. 

The Agatha Awards, named for Agatha Christie, were presented during Malice Domestic XVIII at the Agatha Awards Banquet, April 2006. Malice attendees registered by January 4th made the nominations; the Agathas were selected at the convention by all convention attendees.

Best Novel

Winner

The Body in the Snow Drift by Katherine Hall Page

A birthday celebration on the slopes turns deadly for Faith Fairchild

paperback, $6.99

Other Nominees

Owls Well That Ends Well by Donna Andrews

sixth in the wacky Meg Lanslow series

signed hardcover, $21.95

paperback, $6.99

Pardonable Lies by Jacqueline Winspear

paperback, $14

Rituals of the Season by Margaret Maron

Deborah Knott faces her oft-postponed wedding

paperback, $6.99

The Belen Hitch by Pari Noskin Taichert

Sasha Solomon investigates the death of an avant garde artist

paperback, $6.99

Trouble in Spades by Heather Webber

Landscaper Nina Quinn finds more than perennials in the garden

paperback, $6.50

Best First Novel

Winner

Better Off Wed by Laura Durham

Delightful debut for Annabelle Archer, Washington wedding planner

paperback, $6.99

Other Nominees

Blood Relations by Lisa Tillman

reporter finds big story is nightmare

trade paperback, $16.95

Jury of One by Laura Bradford

reporter and small town chief of police team up to solve murder

paperback   $16.95

Knit One, Kill Two by Maggie Sefton

paperback, $6.99

Witch Way to Murder by Shirley Damsgaard

paperback, $6.99

Best Non-fiction  

Winner

Girl Sleuth by Melanie Rehak

informative and surprising look at the two women behind Nancy Drew: Mildred Wirt Benson and Harriet Stratemeyer

trade paperback, $14

Other Nominees

Behind the Mystery by Stuart M. Kaminsky

Kaminsky interviews his friends and fellow mystery writers in this fascinating, fully illustrated book

hardcover, $29.95

New Annotated Sherlock Holmes: The Novels edited by Leslie S. Klinger

this third volume collects the four novels with annotation by Klinger

hardcover, $59.95