Christy Awards Finalists 2026 – Mystery/Suspense/Thriller + Giveaway

What are the Christy Awards?

The Christy Award is destined to nurture creativity and quality in the writing and publishing of fiction written from a Christian worldview and showcase the diversity of genres. These 2026 finalists are books published in 2025. 

How does this Giveaway work?

You select one of the Mystery/Suspense/Thriller finalists you would like to receive if your name is drawn. Mention the title in a comment. If you win that’s the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy. Here are the finalists. (I have provided links to my reviews of the books I have read.)

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.

The Accused, Cara Putman
Kregel Publications, 9780825448058

Giveaway Options: US – ebook, Canada – ebook, International – ebook with a US Kindle account

When a popular college student is murdered, her international roommate, Anneliese, becomes a prime suspect. But law professor Margeaux Robbins doesn’t believe that the quiet, lonely German girl in her class is the killer.

Chase Crandall is a burned-out defense attorney ready to extricate himself from the grind of criminal law. After he loses a client to tragedy, he’s ready for an in-house corporate position.

When Chase is assigned to Anneliese’s case, Margeaux is horrified. She doesn’t want him to provide legal counsel—not after what happened to his past client. And not with the evidence incriminating Anneliese.

Despite their mutual misgivings, the lawyer and professor pair up to find the killer and prove Anneliese’s innocence. Will they be able to untangle the mystery—and navigate their growing interest in one another—before the wrong person is charged with murder?

Final Approach, Lynette Eason
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group,

Giveaway Options: US – paperback or ebook, Canada – paperback, ebook or audible, International – ebook with a US Kindle account

Air Marshal Kristine Duncan is not on duty when a hijacker attempts to seize control of the plane she and her friends are on as they head out on a much-needed vacation. Jumping into action and aided by FBI Special Agent Andrew Ross, Kristine thwarts the attack and the plane lands safely. But as the investigation into the incident gets underway, Kristine and Andrew are confused at every step. Nothing about the investigation goes as it should, and each layer they peel back just reveals another layer of perplexity.

As the two work together to navigate a web of deception, blame, and personal reckoning, they find there’s more to this story than meets the eye–and more to love and admire about each other. They’ll have to put their skills to the test–and their hearts on the line–to unravel the truth and ensure that justice prevails. https://kavsbestreads.ca/2025/08/12/lethal-approach-giveaway/

Girl Lost, Kate Angelo
Revell/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780800746636

Giveaway Options: US – paperback or ebook, Canada – ebook or audible, International – ebook with a US Kindle account

Luna Rosati found acceptance and a family during childhood, but when she became pregnant at seventeen, she gave the baby up for adoption and left without a word. Now a CIA counterintelligence officer, Luna wants to reconcile her fractured sense of self by finding the only blood family she has left–the teenage daughter she’s never met. Her mentor, Stryker, promises to reveal her daughter’s identity, but first Luna must meet him in the old neighborhood, the last place she wants to be. Then Stryker is captured.

Special Agent Corbin King changed his surname to escape the shadow of his convicted father serving a life sentence. When he runs into Luna, the object of his failed teenage romance, the two must put their pasts aside and work together toward a greater mission. But when they encounter a kidnapping, missing bodies, and murder, the secrets Corbin and Luna are keeping from one another are only the beginning of the threat they face with more than their own lives at stake

Tempest at Annabel’s Lighthouse, Jaime Jo Wright
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764243790

Giveaway Options: US – paperback or ebook, Canada – ebook or audible, International – ebook with a US Kindle account

In 1874, a battered woman awakens atop a forgotten gravesite by Lake Superior. Identified only by the locket around her neck inscribed with the name Rebecca, she seeks refuge with an elderly lighthouse keeper named Edgar. But as Rebecca struggles to remember who she is, she finds herself haunted by the lingering memories of Annabel, a mysterious woman who perished in the unforgiving waves of Lake Superior years earlier. With the spirit of Annabel seemingly reawakened, and an unknown adversary on the hunt to silence Rebecca once and for all, there is more at stake than just reclaiming her own memories. Rebecca must reclaim Annabel’s as well.

In the present day, author and researcher Shea Radclyffe escapes to the lighthouse outside a historic mining town in Michigan, seeking clarity about her failing marriage. Instantly drawn to the lighthouse’s landlord, Shea contends with the vengeful legend of Annabel’s ghost and a superstitious community that has buried the secrets surrounding a decade-old murder. As the secrets harbored around Annabel’s lighthouse unravel, Shea must navigate a fight of torn loyalty, self-discovery, and the haunting forces of love and a vengeance that should have drowned a century before. https://kavsbestreads.ca/2026/02/09/tempest-at-annabels-lighthouse-giveaway/

Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday October 31 (after 12 pm)  REMEMBER TO CHECK GIVEAWAY EDITION AVAILABILITY FOR EACH TITLE!

39 thoughts on “Christy Awards Finalists 2026 – Mystery/Suspense/Thriller + Giveaway”

  1. I don’t read a lot of mystery/suspense books, but I like Jaime Jo Wright’s books, so I’ll choose Tempest at Annabel’s Lighthouse.

    whthomas13 at yahoo dot com

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  2. If fortunate to be selected, I would LOVE the opportunity to read TEMPEST AT ANNABEL’S LIGHTHOUSE by Jaime Jo Wright.

    Thank you so much for the fabulous chance to win a copy!

    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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  3. Hey Kav, being retired, sometimes I forget to look at the numbers on the calender and they get away from me. Right before bed I thought to myself what’s the date? Then I realized we had already passed the 23rd, eek!

    I want to wish you a very happy birthday! In my family we celebrate all week (or longer) so maybe not too late?! Have a great week celebrating you and all the things you love, books, walks and doggies too! 📚🚶‍♀️🐕🥳🎂🎉❤️

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  7. This one is hard to pick cause I want to read them all. I do think I’ve read “Annabel’s Lighthouse” unless there’s one that has the same story line. I didn’t keep track of the books I’ve read before I joined your Bestreads group. This review is so familiar that I’m almost sure it is this book. So I’ll go with “Girl Lost” Kate Angelo is a new author for me.

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    1. It’s hard to keep track of all that we read. That’s why I love having the combination of this blog and Good Reads to keep me in the know. Especially handy when it comes to cozy mystery series. I’m always checking Good Reads when I’m browsing at the library to figure out what books I’ve read and what books I haven’t.

      I’ve heard great things about Girl Lost and the sequel that came out this year. I need to read them both. Good luck, Becky!

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  8. Girl Lost by Kate Angelo. CIA and special agents are always good!

    I enjoyed Final Approach and Annabel’s Lighthouse. I have Cara Putman’s series on my TBR list too.

    Sandyavery at comcast dot net

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  10. Annabel’s Lighthouse was very good. Girl lost is my choice as it sounds so very interesting. Blessings my friend. leliamae54(at)aol(dot)com

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  12. 🥳 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KAV! I hope you had a wonderful day celebrating!

    I haven’t read one of Cara Putman’s books in a while, so I will choose The Accused, please.

    Alison Boss
    nj(dot)bossman(at)gmail(dot)com

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  13. I understand that Happy Birthday wishes are a bit late on my part! I hope you had a good day, it sounds like you had fun.

    Jaime Jo Wright is an auto buy for me and I have to say that Anabel’s Lighthouse is exceptionally good.  I have no idea how each book just gets better than the last. I just cracked open The Resurrection of Evania James which drops tomorrow.  No doubt it will be good!

    My choice is Girl Lost by Kate Angelo. She’s new to me, but I’ve heard good things about her novels.

    perrianne (DOT) askew (AT) me (DOT) com

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    1. Thanks for the birthday wishes, Perrianne! I’m excited about Jaime Jo Wright’s latest as well. Perfect spooky week for it to release too. Girl Lost has been on my radar for a year so I really need to get to it as well. Good luck, Perrianne!

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  14. Kav, Happy Birthday a little late! Glad you had a good day! If I win, I’ll go with Tempest at Annabel’s Lighthouse by Jaime Jo Wright. I’ll admit I’ve only read one of her books I think. They sound a little creepy so I keep my distance 🙂 But this one sounds like I might like it. I’ll give it at try! 🙂

    ckbarker at gmail dot com

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