
First off — what exactly are the Carol Awards?
They are awards given out by American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) in recognition of outstanding Christian fiction in the previous calendar year. So these 2026 finalists are books published in 2025. You might have read them already, you might not. I’ll include links to books I’ve read and reviewed.
Carol Award Winners will be announced on August 29 2026 at the ACFW Gala in Memphis, Tennessee (wouldn’t you love to be there?!)
How does this giveaway work?
You select which of the Carol Award finalists 2026 – Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Category you would like to receive. Mention the title in your comment (or an email if you’re entering that way) and if you win, that’s the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE:
Giveaway details may vary with each book (print, ebook only or winner’s choice of either, plus audible options for Canadians.) Edition availability will be noted in bold after the title/author/publisher of each entry. ALSO NOTE: Giveaway is for US and Canada OR ebook international if you have US Kindle account.

Midnight Masquerade by Elle E. Kay – independently published – Giveaway Options: US – ebook, Canada – ebook, International – ebook with a US Kindle account.
When everyone wears a mask, who can you trust?
CIA operative Dante Reyes stumbles onto a chilling discovery in this Christian romantic suspense. American women, including his former SEAL teammate’s sister Wendy, are being trafficked overseas to fuel a terrorist plot, orchestrated through a sinister dating app scheme. Thrust into forced proximity with HSI Agent Lisa Harper, a sharp-witted investigator with a painful past, Dante faces a task force shadowed by suspicion.
Lisa, hardened by life and skeptical of faith, must lead the mission despite a mysterious leak threatening their every move. As they race to dismantle the network, Dante’s quiet strength and protective nature chip away at Lisa’s defenses in this enemies to lovers romance, igniting an attraction neither can ignore.
The trail leads to a glittering masquerade ball, where international buyers gather for a final, explosive transaction. With high stakes and time running out, Dante and Lisa must navigate a web of deception, where trust in each other and something greater becomes the ultimate weapon and their hearts the greatest risk.
In a world where loyalties shift like shadows, can they overcome their fears and forge a bond strong enough to save the innocent, or will betrayal from within shatter everything they hold dear?

Every Hour Until Then by Gabrielle Meyer – Bethany House – Giveaway Options: US – paperback or ebook, Canada – paperback, ebook or audible, International – ebook with a US Kindle account.
Gifted with the ability to time-cross between Victorian-era London and World War II Washington, DC, Kathryn faces two lives fraught with danger. In 1938 amid the looming shadow of war, Kathryn is invited to the London Museum as a guest curator to create a groundbreaking exhibit on Jack the Ripper and his reign of terror. As she delves into her grim research, she uncovers a chilling discovery: her own sister is destined to become the Ripper’s final victim decades earlier.
In 1888, in a race against fate, Kathryn is assisted by her handsome childhood friend in hunting down history’s most elusive killer. As they unravel the threads of mystery woven through time, Kathryn must decide if she’ll unmask the murderer history has chosen to hide, forfeiting a life with the man she loves to save her sister.
Bestselling author Gabrielle Meyer presents yet another thrilling time-travel tale of intrigue, loyalty, and romance–threaded with suspense and decisions that could change history.

Innocence Sold by B.F. Randall – Iron Stream Media – Giveaway Options: US – ebook, Canada – ebook, International – ebook with a US Kindle account.
In 1978, Detective Lieutenant Bobby Richards takes his family on an outing to the San Francisco Headlands, where his sons briefly go missing. He soon finds them near a wildly painted VW bus, totally mesmerized by strangers whose appearance easily identify them as part of the current hippie culture. The strangers become belligerent when Bobby tells his sons that it’s time to go, but he quickly defuses the situation by flashing his badge. But, something about the strangers, the incident, the bus stays with Bobby. Months later, while investigating a missing-child case, he connects a similar VW bus sighting to a larger pattern and the incident from the Headlands quickly unravels into a haunting investigation of unthinkable crimes, revealing the darkness lurking beneath the surface of society.
Bobby learns too well that in the shadows, watching, waiting, are those who need but a moment to rip the heart out of a family and steal the most precious gift God ever gave them.
Steeped in suspense, faith, and the raw realities of crime and redemption, this gripping thriller from a pastor and former police officer will pull you into a world where justice comes at a cost—and sometimes, where the greatest battles are fought in the soul.
Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday June 20 2026. REMEMBER TO CHECK EDITION AVAILABILITY FOR EACH BOOK





















