History of the Left Coast Crime Awards
Beginning in 2016, all Left Coast Crime Awards are called “Lefty” Awards. Traditionally, the “Lefty” — first awarded in 1996 — was given for the best humorous mystery. LCC rules now require each annual convention to give Lefty awards for Best Humorous Mystery Novel, Best Historical Mystery Novel (Bruce Alexander Memorial, first given in 2004), Best Mystery Novel, and Best Debut Mystery Novel.
Wildcard awards have been given in a variety of categories, such as for the best mystery set in the LCC geographical region, and variously named depending on the convention location: e.g., the Otter (Monterey 2004), the Calavera (El Paso 2005), the Rocky (Denver 2008 & Colorado Springs 2013), and the Rose (Portland 2015). Other varieties of geographically-based awards include the Hillerman Sky (Southwest settings, Santa Fe 2011), the Golden Nugget (California setting, Sacramento 2012), and the Squid (US) and the Calamari (non-US) (Monterey 2014).
Awards given for best debut mystery include the Eureka! (Sacramento 2012) and the Rosebud (Portland 2015). Other awards include the Watson, for the mystery with the best sidekick (Santa Fe 2011 & Colorado Springs 2013), and the Hawaii Five-O, for best law enforcement or police procedural (Waikoloa, Hawaii 2009). The Panik award was given in memory of Paul Anik for best LA noir (Los Angeles 2010). Cover art was recognized with the Arty (Denver 2008).
The design of the annual Lefty award is left to the discretion of each host Left Coast Crime committee.
2018: Reno, Nevada
| Lefty for Best Humorous Mystery Novel |
| * |
Ellen Byron, A Cajun Christmas Killing (Crooked Lane Books) |
| ° |
Donna Andrews, Gone Gull (Minotaur Books) |
| ° |
Marla Cooper, Dying on the Vine (Minotaur Books) |
| ° |
Cynthia Kuhn, The Art of Vanishing (Henery Press) |
| ° |
Cindy Sample, Dying for a Diamond (Cindy Sample Books) |
Lefty for Best Historical Mystery Novel
(Bruce Alexander Memorial, covering events
before 1960) |
| * |
Rhys Bowen, In Farleigh Field (Lake Union Publishing) |
| ° |
Jennifer Kincheloe, The Woman in the Camphor Trunk (Seventh Street Books) |
| ° |
Renee Patrick, Dangerous To Know (Forge) |
| ° |
Priscilla Royal, The Proud Sinner (Poisoned Pen Press) |
| ° |
Jeri Westerson, Season of Blood (Severn House Publishers) |
| Lefty for Best Mystery Novel |
| * |
William Kent Krueger, Sulfur Springs (Atria Books) |
| ° |
Matt Coyle, Blood Truth (Oceanview Publishing) |
| ° |
Louise Penny, Glass Houses (Minotaur Books) |
| ° |
Terry Shames, An Unsettling Crime for Samuel Craddock (Seventh Street Books) |
| ° |
James W. Ziskin, Cast the First Stone (Seventh Street Books) |
| Lefty for Best Debut Mystery Novel |
| * |
Kellye Garrett, Hollywood Homicide(Midnight Ink) |
| ° |
Susan Alice Bickford, A Short Time To Die (Kensington) |
| ° |
Wendall Thomas, Lost Luggage (Poisoned Pen Press) |
| ° |
Nancy Tingley, A Head in Cambodia (Swallow Press) |
| ° |
Kathleen Valenti, Protocol (Henery Press) |
2017: Honolulu, Hawaii
| Lefty for Best Humorous Mystery Novel |
| * |
Body on the Bayou by Ellen Byron |
| ° |
Die Like an Eagle by Donna Andrews |
| ° |
Fields Where They Lay by Timothy Hallinan |
| ° |
The CEO Came DOA by Heather Haven |
| ° |
Floodgate by Johnny Shaw |
| ° |
A Disguise To Die For by Diane Vallere |
Lefty for Best Historical Mystery Novel
(Bruce Alexander Memorial, covering events
before 1960) |
| * |
The Reek of Red Herrings by Catriona McPherson |
| ° |
Crowned and Dangerous by Rhys Bowen |
| ° |
A Death Along the River Fleet by Susanna Calkins |
| ° |
The Murder of Mary Russell by Laurie R. King |
| ° |
What Gold Buys by Ann Parker |
| Lefty for Best Mystery Novel |
| * |
A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny |
| ° |
Dark Fissures by Matt Coyle |
| ° |
Michelangelo’s Ghost by Gigi Pandian |
| ° |
The Necessary Murder of Nonie Blake by Terry Shames |
| ° |
Heart of Stone by James W. Ziskin |
| Lefty for Best Debut Mystery Novel |
| * |
Murder in G Major by Alexia Gordon |
| ° |
Cleaning Up Finn by Sarah M. Chen |
| ° |
Terror in Taffeta by Marla Cooper |
| ° |
Decanting a Murder by Nadine Nettmann |
| ° |
Design for Dying by Renee Patrick |
2016: Phoenix, Arizona
| Best Humorous Mystery |
| * |
Lord of the Wings by Donna Andrews |
| ° |
Plantation Shudders by Ellen Byron |
| ° |
February Fever by Jess Lourey |
| ° |
Dying for a Donut by Cindy Sample |
| ° |
Crushed Velvet by Diane Vallere |
Best Historical Mystery
(Bruce Alexander Memorial, covering events
before 1960) |
| * |
Malice at the Palace by Rhys Bowen |
| ° |
The Masque of a Murderer by Susanna Calkins |
| ° |
The Chocolate Kiss-Off by Heather Haven |
| ° |
The Secret Life of Anna Blanc by Jennifer Kincheloe |
| ° |
Dreaming Spies by Laurie R. King |
| ° |
Mrs. Roosevelt’s Confidante by Susan Elia MacNeal |
Best LCC Regional Mystery
(best mystery set in the LCC region) |
| * |
The Accidental Alchemist by Gigi Pandian |
| ° |
The Crossing by Michael Connelly |
| ° |
Night Tremors by Matt Coyle |
| ° |
The Promise by Robert Crais |
| ° |
Young Americans by Josh Stallings |
Best World Mystery
(set anywhere outside the LCC region) |
| * |
The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny |
| ° |
The Long and Faraway Gone by Lou Berney |
| ° |
Dragon Day by Lisa Brackmann |
| ° |
The Killing Kind by Chris Holm |
| ° |
Stone Cold Dead by James W. Ziskin |
2015: Portland, Oregon
| Lefty Award for Most Humorous Mystery |
| * |
Herbie’s Game by Timothy Hallinan |
| ° |
The Good, the Bad, and the Emus by Donna Andrews |
| ° |
January Thaw by Jess Lourey |
| ° |
Dying for a Dude by Cindy Sample |
| ° |
Suede to Rest by Diane Vallere |
Bruce Alexander Memorial Mystery Award
(historical mystery, covering events
before 1960) |
| * |
A Deadly Measure of Brimstone by Catriona McPherson |
| ° |
Queen of Hearts by Rhys Bowen |
| ° |
From the Charred Remains by Susanna Calkins |
| ° |
City of Ghosts by Kelli Stanley |
| ° |
Cup of Blood by Jeri Westerson |
The Rose
(best mystery set in the LCC region) |
| * |
Pirate Vishnu by Gigi Pandian |
| ° |
One Kick by Chelsea Cain |
| ° |
Glass Houses by Terri Nolan |
| ° |
Deadly Bonds by L.J. Sellers |
| ° |
Plaster City by Johnny Shaw |
The Rosebud
(best debut mystery) |
| * |
The Life We Bury by Allen Eskens |
| ° |
Kilmoon by Lisa Alber |
| ° |
Ice Shear by M.P. Cooley |
| ° |
The Black Hour by Lori Rader-Day |
| ° |
Mistress of Fortune by Holly West |
2014: Monterey, California
| Lefty Award for Most Humorous Mystery |
| * |
The
Good Cop by Brad Parks |
| ° |
The Hen of the Baskervilles by Donna Andrews |
| ° |
The Fame Thief by Timothy Hallinan |
| ° |
The Last Word by Lisa Lutz |
| ° |
Dying for a Daiquiri by Cindy Sample |
Bruce Alexander Memorial Mystery Award
(best historical mystery, covering events
before 1960) |
| * |
Dandy
Gilver and a Bothersome Number of Corpses by Catriona McPherson |
| ° |
Heirs and Graces by Rhys Bowen |
| ° |
His Majesty’s Hope by Susan Elia MacNeal |
| ° |
Murder as a Fine Art by David Morrell |
| ° |
Covenant with Hell by Priscilla Royal |
| ° |
Leaving Everything Most Loved by Jacqueline Winspear |
The Squid
(best mystery set within the United States) |
| * |
Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger |
| ° |
W Is for Wasted by Sue Grafton |
| ° |
Purgatory Key by Darrell James |
| ° |
The Wrong Girl by Hank Phillippi Ryan |
| ° |
A Killing at Cotton Hill by Terry Shames |
The Calamari
(best mystery set anywhere else in the world) |
| * |
How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny |
| ° |
Murder Below Montparnasse by Cara Black |
| ° |
Hour of the Rat by Lisa Brackmann |
| ° |
As She Left It by Catriona McPherson |
| ° |
Mykonos After Midnight by Jeffrey Siger |
2013: Colorado Springs, Colorado
| Lefty Award for Most Humorous Mystery |
| * |
The
Girl Next Door by Brad Parks |
| ° |
Cruising in Your Eighties Is Murder by Mike Befeler |
| ° |
Swift
Run by Laura DiSilverio |
| ° |
December Dread by Jess Lourey |
| ° |
Trail
of the Spellmans by Lisa Lutz |
| ° |
Fit to Be Dead by Nancy G. West |
Bruce Alexander Memorial Mystery Award
(historical mystery, covering events
before 1960) |
| * |
Dandy
Gilver and an Unsuitable Day for a Murder by Catriona McPherson |
| ° |
The
Twelve Clues of Christmas by Rhys Bowen |
| ° |
A
City of Broken Glass by Rebecca Cantrell |
| ° |
Live
by Night by Dennis Lehane |
| ° |
Elegy
for Eddie by Jacqueline Winspear |
Rocky Award
(best mystery set in the LCC region) |
| * |
As
the Crow Flies by Craig Johnson |
| ° |
Buffalo
Bill’s Dead Now by Margaret Coel |
| ° |
Hush
Money by Chuck Greaves |
| ° |
Wicked Eddies by Beth Groundwater |
| ° |
Sonora Crossing by Darrell James |
Watson Award
(mystery novel with best sidekick) |
| * |
Bruja
Brouhaha by Rochelle Staab |
| ° |
In
a Witch’s Wardrobe by Juliet Blackwell |
| ° |
Taken by Robert Crais |
| ° |
Fun
House by Chris Grabenstein |
| ° |
When
the Past Haunts You by L.C. Hayden |
2012: Sacramento, California
| Lefty Award for Most Humorous Mystery |
| * |
The
Real Macaw by Donna Andrews |
| ° |
Getting
Old Can Kill You by Rita Lakin |
| ° |
October
Fest by Jess Lourey |
| ° |
Magical
Alienation by Kris Neri |
| ° |
Dying
for a Dance by Cindy Sample |
| ° |
The Albuquerque Turkey by John Vorhaus |
Bruce Alexander Memorial Mystery Award
(for best historical mystery, covering
events before 1960) |
| * |
Mercury’s
Rise by Ann Parker |
| ° |
Naughty
in Nice by Rhys Bowen |
| ° |
A
Game of Lies by Rebecca Cantrell |
| ° |
A
Killing Season by Priscilla
Royal |
| ° |
Troubled
Bones by Jeri Westerson |
| ° |
A
Lesson in Secrets by Jacqueline Winspear |
Golden Nugget Award
(for best mystery set in California) |
| * |
City
of Secrets by Kelli
Stanley |
| ° |
Disturbance by Jan Burke |
| ° |
The
Drop by Michael Connelly |
| ° |
Bit
Player by Janet Dawson |
| ° |
V
Is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton |
Eureka! Award
(for best first mystery) |
| * |
Nazareth
Child by Darrell
James |
| ° |
The
Baffled Beatlemaniac Caper by Sally Carpenter |
| ° |
Dead
Man’s Switch by Tammy Kaehler |
| ° |
Who
Do, Voodoo? by Rochelle Staab |
2011: Santa Fe, New Mexico
| Lefty Award for Most Humorous Mystery |
| * |
The
Pot Thief Who Studied Einstein by J.
Michael Orenduff |
| ° |
Stork
Raving Mad by Donna
Andrews |
| ° |
Swift Justice by Laura DiSilverio |
| ° |
Old
Dogs by Donna Moore |
| ° |
Revenge
for Old Times’ Sake by Kris
Neri |
Bruce Alexander Memorial Mystery Award
(historical mystery, covering events
before 1950) |
| * |
The
Mapping of Love and Death by Jacqueline
Winspear |
| ° |
A
Night of Long Knives by Rebecca Cantrell |
| ° |
Murder for Greenhorns by Robert Kresge |
| ° |
City
of Dragons by Kelli Stanley |
| ° |
The
Demon’s Parchment by Jeri Westerson |
Hillerman Sky Award
(mystery that best captures the
landscape of the Southwest) |
| * |
The
Spider’s Web by Margaret
Coel |
| ° |
Wild
Penance by Sandi Ault |
| ° |
The
Bone Fire by Christine Barber |
| ° |
Snare by Deborah J Ledford |
Watson Award
(mystery novel with best sidekick) |
| * |
Junkyard
Dogs by Craig Johnson |
| ° |
Wild
Penance by Sandi Ault |
| ° |
Dead Lift by Rachel Brady |
| ° |
Rolling
Thunder by Chris
Grabenstein |
| ° |
To
Fetch a Thief by Spencer Quinn |
2010: Los Angeles, California
| Lefty Award for Most Humorous Mystery |
| * |
Getting
Old Is a Disaster by Rita
Lakin |
| ° |
Swan
for the Money by Donna
Andrews |
| ° |
Living with Your Kids Is Murder by Mike Befeler |
| ° |
Strangle
a Loaf of Italian Bread by Denise Dietz |
| ° |
High
Crimes on the Magical Plane by Kris Neri |
Bruce Alexander Memorial Mystery Award
(historical mystery, covering events
before 1950) |
| * |
A
Trace of Smoke by Rebecca
Cantrell |
| ° |
Tears
of Pearl by Tasha Alexander |
| ° |
In
a Gilded Cage by Rhys Bowen |
| ° |
Freedom’s
Flight by Gary Phillips |
| ° |
Serpent
in the Thorns by Jeri
Westerson |
The Panik
(in honor
of the late Paul Anik for
the best Los Angeles Noir) |
| * |
Death
Was in the Picture by Linda
Richards |
| ° |
Cemetery
Road by Gar Anthony Haywood |
| ° |
Trust
No One by Gregg Hurwitz |
| ° |
Boulevard by Stephen Jay Schwartz |
2009: Waikoloa, Hawaii
| Lefty Award for Most Humorous Mystery |
| * |
Greasing
the Piñata by Tim
Maleeny |
| ° |
Six
Geese A-Slaying by Donna Andrews |
| ° |
It
Happened One Knife by Jeffrey Cohen |
| ° |
Thugs & Kisses by Sue Ann Jaffarian |
| ° |
Murder at the Bad Girl’s Bar and Grill by N.M.
Kelby |
| ° |
Getting
Old Is To Die For by Rita Lakin |
Bruce Alexander Memorial Mystery Award
(historical mystery, covering events before 1950) |
| * |
Nox
Dormienda, A Long Night for Sleeping by Kelli
Stanley |
| ° |
A Fatal Waltz by Tasha Alexander |
| ° |
A
Royal Pain by Rhys Bowen |
| ° |
Tell
Me, Pretty Maiden by Rhys Bowen |
| ° |
Touchstone by Laurie R. King |
Hawaii Five-O
(law
enforcement, police procedural) |
| * |
Mahu Fire by Neil
S. Plakcy |
| ° |
Angels
Fall by Baron Birtcher |
| ° |
The
Angel of Knowlton Park by Kate Flora |
| ° |
The
Black Path by Åsa Larsson |
| ° |
Death of a Cozy Writer by G.M. Malliet |
| ° |
Fractured by Karin Slaughter |
2008: Denver, Colorado
| Lefty Award for Most Humorous Mystery |
| * |
Murder
with Reservations by Elaine Viets |
| ° |
The
Penguin Who Knew Too Much by Donna Andrews |
| ° |
Stuff
To Die For by Don Bruns |
| ° |
Some
Like It Hot-Buttered by Jeffrey
Cohen |
| ° |
Knee High by the Fourth of July by Jess
Lourey |
Rocky Award
(best mystery set in the LCC region) |
| * |
The
Girl with Braided Hair by Margaret Coel |
| ° |
Free
Fire by C.J. Box |
| ° |
Lost Dog by Bill Cameron |
| ° |
Stealing the Dragon by Tim Maleeny |
| ° |
False
Fortune by Twist Phelan |
Arty Award
(best cover art) |
| * |
Her
Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen |
| ° |
Queenpin by Megan Abbott |
| ° |
Isabella Moon by Laura Benedict |
| ° |
Silent Counsel by Ken Isaacson |
| ° |
Stealing the Dragon by Tim Maleeny |
2007: Seattle, Washington
| Lefty Award for Most Humorous Mystery |
| * |
Go
to Helena Handbasket by Donna Moore |
| ° |
No
Nest for the Wicket by Donna
Andrews |
| ° |
Monkey
Man by Steve Brewer |
| ° |
47 Rules of Highly Effective Bank Robbers by Troy Cook |
| ° |
Murder
Unleashed by Elaine
Viets |
2006: Bristol, UK
| Lefty Award for Most Humorous Mystery |
| * |
Cast
Adrift by Peter Guttridge |
| ° |
Cue
the Easter Bunny by Liz Evans |
| ° |
The
Big Over Easy by Jasper
Fforde |
| ° |
Highway
61 Resurfaced by Bill Fitzhugh |
| ° |
Fags
and Lager by Charlie Williams |
Bruce Alexander Memorial Mystery Award
(historical mystery, covering events
before 1950) |
| * |
Spectres
in the Smoke by Tony Broadbent |
| ° |
Night’s
Child by Maureen Jennings |
| ° |
Pardonable
Lies by Jacqueline Winspear |
2005: El Paso, Texas
| Lefty Award for Most Humorous Mystery |
| * |
We’ll
Always Have Parrots by Donna
Andrews (tie) |
| * |
Blue
Blood by Susan McBride (tie) |
| ° |
Carnage
on the Committee by Ruth Dudley Edwards |
| ° |
Holy
Guacamole by Nancy Fairbanks |
| ° |
Perfect
Sax by Jerrilyn
Farmer |
Bruce Alexander Memorial Mystery Award
(historical mystery, covering events
before 1950) |
| * |
The
Witch in the Well by Sharan Newman |
| ° |
Five
for Silver by Mary Reed & Eric Mayer |
| ° |
Tyrant
of the Mind by Priscilla Royal |
| ° |
Murder
on Marble Row by Victoria Thompson |
| ° |
Birds
of a Feather by Jacqueline
Winspear |
Calavera Award
(best mystery set in the LCC region) |
| * |
Grave
Endings by Rochelle Krich |
| ° |
Snap Shot by Meg Chittenden |
| ° |
Shadow
Play by David Cole |
| ° |
What
Others Know by L.C. Hayden |
| ° |
Family Claims by Twist Phelan |
2004: Monterey, California
| Lefty Award for Most Humorous Mystery |
| * |
Mumbo
Gumbo by Jerrilyn Farmer |
| ° |
Crouching
Buzzard, Leaping Loon by Donna Andrews |
| ° |
Shop
Till You Drop by Elaine
Viets |
Bruce Alexander Memorial Mystery Award
(historical mystery, covering events
before 1950) |
| * |
For
the Love of Mike by Rhys Bowen |
| ° |
Silver
Lies by Ann Parker |
| ° |
Four
for a Boy by Mary Reed & Eric
Mayer |
Otter Award
(best mystery set in the LCC region) |
| * |
More
Than You Know by Meg Chittenden |
| ° |
Dragonfly
Bones by David Cole |
| ° |
Murder
Pans Out by Emily Toll |
2003: Pasadena, California
| Lefty Award for Most Humorous Mystery |
| * |
The
Hearse Case Scenario by Tim
Cockey (tie) |
| * |
Pipsqueak by Brian
M. Wiprud (tie) |
| ° |
Hard
Eight by Janet Evanovich |
| ° |
This
Pen for Hire by Laura Levine |
| ° |
The Rival Queens by Fidelis Morgan |
| ° |
Buck
Fever by Ben Rehder |
2002: Portland, Oregon
| Lefty Award for Most Humorous Mystery |
| * |
Dim
Sum Dead by Jerrilyn Farmer (tie) |
| * |
Fender
Benders by Bill Fitzhugh (tie) |
| ° |
Revenge
of the Wrought-Iron Flamingos by Donna Andrews |
| ° |
Murder
Can Upset Your Mother by Selma Eichler |
| ° |
Long
Time No See by Susan Isaacs |
2001: Anchorage, Alaska
No Award
Given
2000: Tucson, Arizona
| Lefty Award for Most Humorous Mystery |
| * |
Murder
With Peacocks by Donna Andrews |
| ° |
Big
Trouble by Dave Barry |
| ° |
High
Five by Janet Evanovich |
| ° |
Immaculate
Reception by Jerrilyn Farmer |
| ° |
Murder
Shoots the Bull by Anne George |
1999: Albuquerque, New Mexico
| Lefty Award for Most Humorous Mystery |
| * |
Four
to Score by Janet Evanovich |
1998: San Diego, California
| Lefty Award for Most Humorous Mystery |
| * |
Three
to Get Deadly by Janet Evanovich |
| ° |
Dead
Men Don’t Dance by Margaret Chittenden |
| ° |
Scam by Parnell Hall |
| • |
I
Still Miss My Man But My Aim Is Getting Better by Sarah Shankman |
| ° |
The
Death and Life of Bobby Z by Don Winslow |
1997: Seattle, Washington
No Award Given
1996: Boulder, Colorado
| Lefty Award for Most Humorous Mystery |
| * |
The
Fat Innkeeper by Alan Russell |
| ° |
God
Bless John Wayne by Kinky Friedman |
| ° |
Who
in Hell Is Wanda Fuca? by G.M.
Ford |
| ° |
Movie by Parnell Hall |
| ° |
Miracles
in Maggody by Joan Hess |
| ° |
If
I’d Killed Him When I Met Him by Sharan McCrumb |
|
