The Holmes Award is the National Literary Award Committee’s recognition for the best in mystery & thriller literature. It’s named after one of the most beloved characters in Mystery books – Sherlock Holmes. This award recognizes the best books, independent and mainstream, in mystery & thriller literature published today. It’s also for the books that best exemplify the art of mystery and suspense in literature and give a true human quality to mystery & thriller stories.  This award is given out to books in this category published within the last three years of the award year.