De Shamus Awards worden weggegeven door de Private Eye Writers of America en is bedoeld ter promotie van de romans over de professionele privé-detective die niet in dienst is bij de politie of de overheid. De winnaars worden jaarlijks bekend gemaakt tijdens de World Mystery Convention. De Shamus Awards bestaan uit vier categorieën:

• Best P.I. Novel
• Best P.I. Original Paperback
• Best First P.I. Novel
• Best P.I. Short Story

1997:

Best Novel Nominaties:

• Max Allan Collins - "Damned In Paradise"
• Robert Crais - "Sunset Express"
• Steven Greenleaf - "Flesh Wounds"
• Jeremiah Healy - "Invasion Of Privacy"
• Bill Pronzini - "Sentinels"
• Sandra West Prowell - "When Wallflowers Die"

Best First Novel Nominaties:

• Carol Lea Benjamin - "This Dog For Hire"
• Greg Rucka - "Keeper"
• Michael Stone - "The Low End Of Nowhere"
• John Wessel - "This Far No Further"

Best Original Paperback Nominaties:

• Harlan Coben - "Fade Away"
• Steven Womack - "Chain Of Fools"
• Ruthe Furie - "Natural Death"

1996:

Best Novel: S.J. Rozan - "Concourse"

Nominaties:

• Earl Emerson - "The Vanishing Smile"
• Dick Francis - "Come To Grief"
• Parnell Hall - "Movie"
• Dick Lochte - "The Neon Smile"

Best First Novel: Richard Barre - "The Innocents"

Nominaties:

• G.M. Ford - "Who In Hell Is Wanda Fuca?"
• Ruthe Furie - "If Looks Could Kill"
• David Housewright - "Penance"
• Allan Pedrazas - "The Harry Chronicles"

Best Original Paperback: William Jaspersohn - "Native Angels"

Nominaties:

• J.D. Knight - "Zero Tolerance"
• Shelley Singer - "Interview With Mattie"
• Gloria White - "Charged With Guilt"
• Steven Womack - "Way Past Dead"