The Decade’s Most Awarded Hard-Boiled Authors

From time to time, it’s a good idea to look back at the past.  The 2000s were a great decade for hard-boiled mysteries and thrillers.

While I’m aware that awards can be very political, I think they can be useful benchmarks.  I pay more attention to patterns and trends rather than individual awards.  For instance, the fact that one particular author continues to receive recognition is a pretty good indication that they are a superb writer.  Thus, I’m much more willing to buy their books and follow their career.  In prioritizing this list, I looked at how many awards were won as well as how many books received nominations.  The result is a very comprehensive list of superb, prolific authors, who truly represent the best of the decade.

1. LAURA LIPPMAN

• What the Dead Know – 2008 Anthony-Novel winner, 2008 Barry-Novel winner, 2008 Macavity-Novel winner, and 2008 Dagger shortlist
• No Good Deeds – 2007 Anthony-Novel winner
• To the Power of Three – 2006 Anthony-Novel nominee
• By a Spider’s Thread – 2005 Anthony-Novel nominee, 2005 Edgar–Novel nominee, and 2004 Agatha–Novel nominee
• Every Secret Thing – 2004 Anthony-Novel winner, 2004 Barry-Novel winner, and 2003 Hammett nominee
• The Last Place – 2003 Shamus-Novel nominee
• In Big Trouble – 2000 Anthony-Paperback winner, 2000 Shamus-Paperback winner, 2000 Edgar-Paperback nominee, 1999 Agatha–Novel nominee

2. MICHAEL CONNELLY

• The Brass Verdict – 2009 Anthony-Novel winner, 2009 Steel Dagger shortlist
• The Lincoln Lawyer – 2006 Macavity-Novel winner, 2006 Shamus-Novel winner, 2006 Anthony-Novel nominee, 2006 Edgar–Novel nominee, 2006 Steel Dagger shortlist, and 2005 LATimes–Mystery finalist
• Echo Park – 2006 LATimes–Mystery winner
• City of Bones – 2003 Anthony-Novel winner, 2003 Barry-Novel winner, 2003 Edgar–Novel nominee, 2003 Macavity-Novel nominee, and 2002 Dagger shortlist
• A Darkness More Than Night – 2002 Barry-Novel nominee

3. GEORGE PELECANOS

• The Turnaround – 2008 Hammett winner
• The Night Gardener – 2007 Barry-Novel winner and 2006 LATimes–Mystery finalist
• Drama City – 2006 Edgar–Novel nominee
• Hard Revolution – 2005 Barry-Novel nominee
• Soul Circus – 2003 LATimes–Mystery winner
• Hell to Pay – 2002 LATimes–Mystery winner, 2003 Anthony-Novel nominee, 2003 Barry-Novel nominee, and 2003 Shamus-Novel nominee
• Right as Rain– 2002 Barry-Novel nominee, 2001 Dagger shortlist, and 2001 Hammett nominee

4. KEN BRUEN

• The Priest – 2007 Barry-British winner and 2008 Edgar–Novel nomine
• The Dramatist – 2007 Shamus-Novel winner and 2005 Barry-British nomine
• The Killing of the Tinkers – 2005 Macavity-Novel winner and 2005 Anthony-Novel nominee
• The Guards – 2004 Shamus-Novel winner, 2004 Barry-Novel nominee, 2004 Edgar–Novel nominee, and 2004 Macavity-Novel nominee

5. REED FARREL COLEMAN

• Empty Ever After – 2009 Shamus-Novel winner
• Soul Patch – 2008 Shamus-Novel winner, 2008 Barry-Novel nominee, 2008 Edgar–Novel nominee, and 2008 Macavity-Novel nominee
• The James Deans – 2006 Anthony-Paperback winner, 2006 Barry-Paperback winner, 2006 Shamus-Paperback winner, 2006 Edgar-Paperback nominee, 2006 Macavity-Novel nominee

6. T. JEFFERSON PARKER

• California Girl – 2005 Edgar–Novel winner, 2005 Anthony-Novel nominee, 2005 Macavity-Novel nominee, and 2004 Hammett nominee
• Silent Joe – 2002 Edgar–Novel winner, 2001 LATimes–Mystery winner, 2002 Barry-Novel nominee, 2002 Macavity-Novel nominee, and 2001 Hammett nominee
• Red Light – 2001 Edgar–Novel nominee

7. S.J. ROZAN

• Winter and Night – 2003 Edgar–Novel winner, 2003 Macavity-Novel winner, 2003 Anthony-Novel nominee, 2003 Barry-Novel nominee, and 2003 Shamus-Novel nominee
• Reflecting the Sky – 2002 Shamus-Novel winner, 2002 Anthony-Novel nominee, and 2002 Edgar–Novel nominee
• Stone Quarry – 2000 Shamus-Novel nominee

8. WILLIAM KENT KRUEGER

• Red Knife – 2009 Anthony-Novel nominee and 2009 Barry-Novel nominee
• Thunder Bay – 2008 Anthony-Novel nominee
• Mercy Falls – 2006 Anthony-Novel winner and 2006 Barry-Novel nominee
• Blood Hollow – 2005 Anthony-Novel winner
• Purgatory Ridge – 2002 Barry-Novel nominee

9. DENNIS LEHANE

• Shutter Island – 2004 Anthony-Novel nominee, 2004 Barry-Novel nominee, 2003 Hammett nominee
• Mystic River – 2002 Anthony-Novel winner, 2002 Barry-Novel winner, 2002 Macavity-Novel nominee, and 2001 Hammett nominee
• Prayers for Rain – 2000 Barry-Novel nominee and 2000 Shamus-Novel nominee

10. JOHN HART

• The Last Child – 2009 Steel Dagger winner and 2010 Edgar–Novel nominee
• Down River – 2008 Edgar–Novel winner and 2008 Barry-Novel nominee
• King of Lies – 2007 Anthony-1st Novel nominee, 2007 Barry-1st Novel nominee, 2007 Edgar-1st Novel nominee, and 2007 Macavity-1st Novel nominee

11. MEGAN ABBOTT

• Bury Me Deep – 2009 LATimes–Mystery finalist, 2010 Edgar-Paperback nominee, and 2010 Hammett nominee
• Queenpin – 2008 Barry-Paperback winner, 2008 Edgar-Paperback winner, and 2008 Anthony-Paperback nominee
• Die A Little – 2006 Anthony-1st Novel nominee, 2006 Barry-1st Novel nominee, and 2006 Edgar-1st Novel nominee

12. ROBERT CRAIS

• The Watchman – 2008 Barry-Thriller winner, 2008 Anthony-Novel nominee, and 2008 Thriller nominee
• The Forgotten Man – 2006 Shamus-Novel nominee
• Hostage – 2002 Steel Dagger shortlist
• L.A. Requiem – 2000 Anthony-Novel nominee, 2000 Barry-Novel nominee, 2000 Edgar–Novel nominee, 2000 Macavity-Novel nominee, 2000 Shamus-Novel nominee, 1999 Hammett nominee

13. SEAN CHERCOVER

• Trigger City – 2009 Anthony-Novel nominee, 2009 Barry-Novel nominee, and 2009 Macavity-Novel nominee
• Big City, Bad Blood – 2008 Shamus-1st Novel winner, 2008 Anthony-1st Novel nominee, 2008 Barry-1st Novel nominee, and 2008 Thriller-1st Novel nominee