Christchurch City Libraries lists literary prize winners and links to catalogue searches, but we may not hold copies of all titles mentioned.
The Ngaio Marsh Award for First Novel was first awarded in 2016, and in 2017 the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Non Fiction was introduced. Ngaio Marsh Award for Younger Readers began in 2021.
- Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel
- Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Non Fiction (biennial award)
- Ngaio Marsh Award for Younger Readers
See more literary prize winners.
2025
The shortlist was announced on 29 August. The winners were announced an awards ceremony at Tūranga on Thursday, 25 September.
- The Defiance of Frances Dickinson by Wendy Parkins (Affirm Press) Winner
- Dark Sky by Marie Connolly (Quentin Wilson Publishing)
- Lie Down with Dogs by Syd Knight (Rusty Hills)
- A Fly under the Radar by William McCartney
- The Call by Gavin Strawhan (Allen & Unwin)
- Kiss of Death by Stephen Tester (Heritage Press)
Read Fee's review of the 2025 shortlist.
Read Tanya's report on the Ngaio Marsh Awards event.
2024
-
Dice by Claire Baylis Winner
- El Flamingo by Nick Davies
- Devil's Breath by Jill Johnson
- A better class of criminal by Cristian Kelly
- Mami Suzuki: Private Eye by Simon Rowe
2023
- Better the blood Michael Bennett Winner
- One heart one spade Alistair Luke
- Too far from Antibes Bede Scott
- Surveillance Riley Chance
- The Slow roll Simon Lendrum
- Paper cage Tom Baragwanath
2022
-
Before you knew my name Jacqueline Bublitz Winner
- Isobar precinct Angelique Kasmara
- Small mouth demon Matt Zwartz
- Shadow over Edmund Street Suzanne Frankham
- Waking the tiger Mark Wightman
2021
-
For reasons of their own Chris Stuart Winner
- The Girl in the Mirror Rose Carlyle
- The beautiful dead Kim Hunt
- Where the truth lies Karina Kilmore
- While the fantail lives Alan Titchall
2020
-
The Nancys R. W. R. McDonald Winner
- Tugga's mob Stephen Johnson
- Auē Becky Manawatu
- Into the void Christina O'Reilly
2019
-
Call me Evie J. P. Pomare Winner
- One for another Andrea Jacka
- Crystal reign Kelly Lyndon
2018
-
All our secrets Jennifer Lane Winner
- The Floating Basin Carolyn Hawes
- Broken Silence Helen Vivienne Fletcher
- The sound of her voice Nathan Blackwell
- Nothing bad happens here Nikki Crutchley
2017
- Dead Lemons Finn Bell (eBook) Winner
- Red Herring Jonothan Cullinane (HarperCollins)
- The Ice Shroud Gordon Ell (Bush Press)
- The Student Body Simon Wyatt (Mary Egan Publishing)
- Days Are Like Grass Sue Younger (Eunoia Publishing)
2016
-
Inside the black horse Ray Berard (Mary Egan Publishing) Winner
- The Fixer John Daniell (Upstart Press)
- The Gentlemen's Club Jen Shieff (Mary Egan Publishing)
- Twister Jane Woodham (Makaro Press)
The judging panel of seven crime writing experts from New Zealand, Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Nordic countries, announced the winners at the 2016 WORD Christchurch Writers and Readers Festival on 27 August.