Presented annually by the Private Eye Writers of America to honor writers of private-eye mystery fiction. Winners are selected by committees of writers. The award for Best First Private Eye Novel was first presented in 1985.
| 2002 |
David Fulmer |
Chasing the Devil's Tail |
| 2001 |
Bob Truluck |
Street Level |
| 2000 |
John Connolly |
Every Dead Thing |
| 1999 |
Steve Hamilton |
A Cold Day in Paradise |
| 1998 |
Rick Riordan |
Big Red Tequila |
| 1997 |
Carol Lea Benjamin |
This Dog for Hire |
| 1996 |
Richard Barre |
The Innocents |
| 1995 |
Dennis Lehane |
A Drink Before the War |
| 1994 |
Lynne Hightower |
Satan's Lambs |
| 1993 |
James Straley |
The Woman Who Married a Bear |
| 1992 |
Thomas D. Davis |
Suffer Little Children |
| 1991 |
Walter Mosley |
Devil in a Blue Dress |
| 1990 |
Karen Kijewski |
Katwalk |
| 1989 |
Gar Anthony Haywood |
Fear of the Dark |
| 1988 |
Michael Allegretto |
Death on the Rocks |
| 1987 |
J.W. Ryder |
Jersey Tomatoes |
| 1986 |
Wayne Warga |
Hardcover |
| 1985 |
Jack Early |
A Creative Kind of Killer |