Malice Domestic has announced the 2023 Agatha Award nominations to be awarded at the end of April, 2023 at the Malice Domestic Convention.

Best Contemporary Novel:
• Bayou Book Thief, by Ellen Byron (Berkley Prime Crime)
• Death by Bubble Tea, by Jennifer J. Chow (Berkley)
• Fatal Reunion, by Annette Dashofy (Level Best)
• Dead Man’s Leap, by Tina de Bellegarde (Level Best)
• A World of Curiosities, by Louise Penny (Minotaur)

Best Historical Novel:
• The Counterfeit Wife, by Mally Becker (Level Best)
• Because I Could Not Stop for Death, by Amanda Flower (Berkley)
• The Lindbergh Nanny, by Mariah Fredericks (Minotaur)
• In Place of Fear, by Catriona McPherson (Mobius)
• Under a Veiled Moon, by Karen Odden (Crooked Lane)

Best First Novel:
• Cheddar Off Dead, by Korina Moss (St. Martin’s Press)
• Death in the Aegean, by M.A. Monnin (Level Best)
• The Bangalore Detectives Club, by Harini Nagendra (Constable)
• Devil’s Chew Toy, by Rob Osler (Crooked Lane)
• The Finalist, by Joan Long (Level Best)
• The Gallery of Beauties, by Nina Wachsman (Level Best)

My comments: I’m absolutely shocked that neither THE MAID by Nita Prose nor THE BULLET THAT MISSED by Richard Osman were nominated. In my opinion they were the two best traditional mysteries published in 2022. As much as I like Louise Penny personally, I don’t think she needs another award. Let’s share the wealth, folks.

However, I was glad to see Mariah Fredericks, Karen Odden and Harini Nagendra nominated.