Living Canon

Edgar Awards 1997: Complete list of winners

The Edgar Awards have long been the mystery genre’s most prestigious honor, celebrating the best in detective fiction, crime writing, and suspenseful storytelling. Named after Edgar Allan Poe, the founder of the modern detective story, the Edgars are presented annually by the Mystery Writers of America to recognize outstanding achievement across numerous categories. The 1997 Edgar Awards proved to be a particularly interesting year for the organization, as it showcased not just established masters of the genre but also the emerging talent that would shape mystery writing in the years to come.

Among the standout honorees that year was Willo Davis Roberts, whose Twisted Summer earned the Edgar for Best Young Adult Mystery. Roberts brought her considerable skill for crafting suspenseful narratives to a younger audience, delivering a story that proved young adult mysteries could be just as gripping and well-constructed as their adult counterparts. The inclusion of such strong young adult work among the Edgar Award winners highlighted the Mystery Writers of America’s commitment to recognizing quality storytelling across all age categories and reading levels.

The 1997 Edgar Awards winners represent a snapshot of mystery fiction during a vibrant period for the genre, when writers were pushing boundaries and expanding what readers expected from crime and suspense narratives. Below, you’ll find the complete list of honorees from that year.

Best Young Adult