2008 Agatha Award Winners and Nominees

Agatha Awards were given for materials first published in the United States by a living author during the calendar year 2007 (January 1 through December 31) in hardcover, as paperback originals, or e-published by an e-publishing firm. The final vote was by secret ballot by registered convention attendees at the Malice Domestic XIX convention in April 2008.

Best First Novel

Winner

Prime Time by Hank Phillippi Ryan

Boston investigative reporter Charlotte McNally

paperback, $6.99

Other Nominees

A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch

Victorian gentleman sleuth Charles Lenox investigates the poisoning of a maid

hardcover, $24.95

A Real Basket Case by Beth Groundwater

Claire Hanover, gift basket entrepeneur

hardcover, $25.95

Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn

Regency sleuth Lady Julia Grey investigates the secrets of her late husband's life

paperback, $6.99

Best Novel

Winner

Fatal Grace by Louise Penny

Surete du Quebec Inspector Armand Gamache

paperback, $6.99

Other Nominees

Penguin Who Knew Too Much by Donna Andrews

Meg Lanslow plans her wedding and gets some unexpected wedding gifts

hardcover, $23.95

Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen

Debut for Lady Victoria, an aristocratic sleuth fallen on hard times in '30s London

hardcover, $23.95, signed copies available

Hard Row by Margaret Maron

Deborah Knott adjusts to married life while a simple case uncovers immigrations issues right in her backyard

hardcover, $24.99

Murder With Reservations by Elaine Viets

Helen Hawthorne takes another dead end job, this time as a hotel maid

hardcover, $21.95 Signed copies available

paperback, $6.99

Congratulations, also, to Donna Andrews for her winning short story A Rat's Tale as well asRhys Bowen and Elizabeth Zelvin for short story nominations.