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The Top Book List

Award year

1981 Edgar Awards

Sources: official announcement 1, official announcement 2, official announcement 3, official announcement 4, official announcement 5, official announcement 6

Best Novel

  • Cover of Whip Hand by Dick FrancisWinner

    Whip Hand

    Dick Francis

    Edgar Awards Winner

Also recognized

  • Death of a Literary Widow by Robert BarnardFinalist

Best First Novel by an American Author

Also recognized

  • The Watcher by K. Nolte SmithWinner
  • Winds of the Old Days by Betsy AswaldFinalist

Best Paperback Original

Best Fact Crime

Also recognized

  • Assassination of Embassy Row by John Dinges and Saul LandeauFinalist
  • The Trial of Policeman Thomas Shea by Thomas HawserFinalist

Best Juvenile

  • Cover of The Seance by Joan Lowery NixonWinner

    The Seance

    Joan Lowery Nixon

    Edgar Awards Winner

Best Critical/Biographical Work

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