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The Short Mystery Fiction Society is a group of writers, readers, editors, publishers, and others dedicated to the promotion and celebration of mystery and crime short stories. Since 1998, the SMFS has awarded the annual Derringers to outstanding published stories and people who've greatly advanced or supported the form. The inaugural Best Anthology Derringer was presented in 2025.
Our volunteer judges evaluated 495 story submissions to determine the finalists. The winners will be determined by member vote in April and announced May 1.
The 2026 Derringer Award finalists are
Best Flash Story
(Up to 1,000 words)
"Bradycardia" by Elizabeth Dearborn (Punk Noir Magazine, 2/4/2025)
"Check Rear Seat" by Carl Tait (Exquisite Death, 5/1/2025)
"It All Comes Out in the Wash" by James Patrick Focarile (Gumshoe Review, 10/31/2025)
"Just Like Old Times" by Shari Held (Yellow Mama, 2/15/2025)
"The Man Under the Bridge" by Bern Sy Moss (Spillwords, 6/1/2025)
Best Short Story
(1,001 to 4,000 words)
"Blind Pig" by Michael Bracken (Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, September/October 2025)
"Chains" by Frank Vatel (All Due Respect, 9/1/25)
"Hollywood Prometheus" by Christa Faust (Crime Ink: Iconic: An Anthology of Crime Fiction Inspired by Queer Icons, Bywater Books)
"The Artist" by Linda Ann Bennett (Midnight Schemers & Daydream Believers: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense, Superior Shores Press)
"Wax On, Wax Off" by Nina Mansfield (Donna Andrews Presents Malice Domestic: Mystery Most Humorous, Wildside Press)
Best Long Story
(4,001 to 8,000 words)
"A Sign of the Times" by Tom Milani (Sleuths Just Wanna Have Fun: Private Eyes in the Materialistic Eighties, Down & Out Books)
"Masterpiece" by Mark Thielman (Black Cat Mystery Magazine 16, September 2025)
"Six-Armed Robbery" by Ashley-Ruth M. Bernier (Donna Andrews Presents Malice Domestic: Mystery Most Humorous, Wildside Press)
"Whatever Kills the Pain" by C.W. Blackwell (Whatever Kills the Pain, Rock and a Hard Place Press)
"Zebra Finch" by donalee Moulton (The Most Dangerous Games, Level Best Books - Level Short)
Best Novelette
(8,001 to 20,000 words)
"Aswarby Hall" by David Dean (Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, March/April 2025)
"Loose Change from a Mini Cooper" by Frank Zafiro (Chop Shop Episode 10, Down & Out Books)
"Saint Bullethead" by Nick Kolakowski (Fighting Words: Bruisers, Brawlers, & Bad Intentions, Leonardo Audio)
"The High Priest of Low Men" by C.W. Blackwell (Myopic Duplicity: Do the Ends Ever Justify the Means?, Leonardo Audio)
"The Temporary Murder of Thomas Monroe" by Tia Tashiro (Clarkesworld, January 2025) (audio version)
Best Anthology
Crimeucopia - The Not So Frail Detective Agency edited by John Connor (Murderous Ink Press)
Gone Fishin': Crime Takes a Holiday, The Eighth Guppy Anthology edited by James M. Jackson (Wolf's Echo Press)
Hollywood Kills: An Anthology edited by Adam Meyer & Alan Orloff (Level Best Books - Level Short)
Midnight Schemers & Daydream Believers: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense edited by Judy Penz Sheluk (Superior Shores Press)
On Fire and Under Water: A Climate Change Crime Fiction Anthology edited by Curtis Ippolito (Rock and a Hard Place Press)
SoWest: Danger Awaits! A Desert Sleuths Anthology edited by Claire A. Murray, Eva Eldridge, Suzanne E. Flaig, Denise Galley, and Sarah Smith (DS Publishing)
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