The 2025 BestThrillers.com Book Awards
The award series specifically devoted to recognizing amazing mystery and thriller novels across 15 categories.
Get Noticed. Grow Sales.
The BestThrillers.com book awards helps deserving authors stand out from the pack.
BestThrillers.com Awards By The Numbers
$1,000
Awarded to Book of the Year
16
Winners
60
Category Finalists
Be One of 16 Winners
The 2025 Overall Book of the Year Winner will receive $1,000 in cash. Our 15 category finalists will receive our gold-and-black award seal, their book featured in our popular “Best Of The Year” post, permanent listing on the BestThrillers.com website, inclusion in the BestThrillers.com featured books email newsletter, social channels and more.
Be One of 60 Finalists
Up to sixty category finalists will receive a silver seal for their book cover or website, inclusion in an article announcing the contest winners and finalists, and a one-sentence quote from Bestthrillers.com for use in book marketing campaigns.
2025 Award Series Categories
Award categories focus on the sub-genres mystery & thriller fans are most consistently passionate about. These categories are broad enough to be inclusive for almost any title, but specific enough to help authors grow their audience.
A-D
Action Thriller
Conspiracy Thriller
Crime Thriller
Detectives/Sleuths
Domestic Thriller
H-M
Historical Thriller Horror/SupernaturalLegal Thriller
Medical Thriller
Military Thriller
M-S
Mystery
Political Thriller
Psychological
Sci-Fi Thriller
Spy Thriller
Notable Past Winners
Frequently Asked Questions
What books are Eligible?
Any English-language mystery or thriller published in 2024 or 2025 is eligible. See detailed terms and conditions here.
What is the entry deadline?
The early entry period began on March 28 2025, with discounts for early entries ending on May 31 2025. The final deadline for entry is September 30 2025.
What if my book is not published yet?
If your book is not yet published, but is targeting a publication date prior to December 31, 2025, it is eligible. See detailed terms and conditions here.
Is there a discount for entering in multiple categories?
Yes. With acknowledgement that few books fit neatly into any single sub-genre, each category entry is ultimately routed to separate judges specializing in specific sub-genres. Enter in two or more categories and receive an automatic 25% discount at checkout. See detailed terms and conditions here.
When will winners be announced?
Winners will be notified in November 2025. The public “Best Thrillers of 2025” campaign will begin in early December 2025 and continue through December 31. See detailed terms and conditions here.
Who won last year?
Winners and finalists included both first-time novelists and established writers from several countries across 15 categories. See the 2024 complete list of winners and finalists here.