The Clue Book Awards ~ Thriller and Suspense Fiction Novel Writing Contest ~2025 CIBAs
The search for 2025's best Thriller & Suspense Fiction Books
Deadline September 30, 2025
Chanticleer International Book Awards is looking for the best books featuring suspense, thrilling adventure, detective work, private eye, police procedural, and crime solving, we will put them to the test and choose the best among them. (For light-hearted Mystery and Suspense entries see our Mystery & Mayhem Awards)
Prizes to be won:
ENTER TO WIN the 20245CIBA Overall Grand Prize of $1,000 USD for Best Book
Enter to WIN the 2025 CLUE Book Awards Grand Prize of an Exclusive Chanticleer Book Review Package and Author Interview along with e-newsletter and social media promotion (Valued at $795) Exclusive for only CIBA Grand Prize Winners!
More than $30,000 in prizes, services, and awards for Finalists, 1st Place Category Winners and Division Grand Prize Winners from the CIBA sponsors!
- The Overall Grand Prize Winner is named Chanticleer Reviews Best Book of the Year, and awarded the $1000 prize
- All First Place Winners receive a Chanticleer Prize Package which includes a digital badge, a ribbon and a whole assortment of goodies detailed below (winners outside the US pay a shipping & handling fee)
Approximately $30,000.00 worth of cash, prizes, and promotion! The Fine Print.
~$1000 for one lucky Overall Grand Prize Winner
~ $30,000 in prizes, and promotional opportunities awarded to Category Winners & Finalists
Currently accepting entries. Deadline: September 30, 2025.
The 2024 CIBA Awards Winners will be announced at the 2025 Chanticleer Authors Conference and the 2024 CIBA Ceremony and Banquet held April 3 - 6, 2025 at the Sheraton Four Points Ballroom, Bellingham, Wash.
The 2025 CIBA Awards Winners will be announced at the 2026 Chanticleer Authors Conference & 2025 CIBA Ceremony & Banquet.
What are you waiting for? Enter today!
The 2023 CLUE Grand Prize Winner is The OTHER MURDER by Kevin G Chapman
See the Full List of 2023 CLUE Winners here
Email Chanticleer@ChantiReviews.com for membership information or click here for more info about this exciting new Members-Only Community:
- A Prize Ribbon to use in promotion at book signings and book festivals
- Digital Badges for display on your website or incorporation into book covers
- Book stickers to identify your print books to book store shoppers as they browse
In addition to all the ribbons and badges and cash awards we will be showering you with, you will also receive a powerful promotional boost from Chanticleer Reviews, with:
- Your name and book title announced on our high traffic website at the finalist stage, the category winner stage, the genre grand prize stage, and the overall grand prize stage, depending on how far you go in the competition
- Corresponding social media announcements of your contest advancements
- Corresponding newsletter announcements to our sizable email list
- IF reviewed by Chanticleer Reviews, your title's review will be featured in the Chanticleer Reviews Magazine
- Your book may also receive trade show representation as we show off our winners at conferences and trade shows across the US and Internationally. We like to show off our winners in as many ways as we can.
- Your book may also be seen and noticed by agents, publishers, Hollywood producers, and others within the publishing and entertainment industry who see our contests as a way to spot new and upcoming talent and original story ideas
The Clue Awards Categories are:
- Suspense/Thriller
- Detective/Crime
- Private Eye (Noir)
- Legal/Medical/Police Procedural
- Spy/Espionage
Each work submitted will be judged on the following criteria:
- Is the story compelling?
- Professionalism of editing and formatting
- Characterization
- Continuity of storyline
- Satisfying ending (not necessarily “happy”)
- Intriguing opening
- Uniqueness of story
- Writing craft
- World construct
- Premise
Eligibility Requirements:
- Novels may be Manuscripts, Self-published, Indie Published or Traditionally Published.
- E-pubs accepted.
- All published novels must have ISBN/ASIN designation, manuscripts are not required to have this designation at the time of submission.
- Manuscript Submission Guidelines:
- 12 point font - Times New Roman suggested.
- Single or double-spaced. Single spaced preferred by judges.
- Name, title, and word count on cover page.
- Pages should be numbered.
- Digital WORD documents or PDF only.
- Entries must be in the English language.
- No erotica. No graphic violence, please.
- Published works before Dec. 31, 2020 will be disqualified.
- Novels must be 60,000 plus words.
- You may enter in more than one category. However, each entry must be accompanied by the entry fee.
- You may enter more than one novel into a given contest or division.
- Default winners will not be declared. Contests are based on merit and writing craft.
- Digital Files must be submitted in PDF or Word DOC format.
- Fees and Digital File must be received before September 30, 2025 midnight.
- Please read our Terms and Conditions page aka The Fine Print. Prizes and Award Packages may change without notice.
Helpful Links
Previous Winners:
Click here for a list of ALL previous CIBA winners organized by Year
If you have any questions or concerns, please email: info@ChantiReviews.com
Note: You will receive a confirmation email after you have uploaded your work and paid entrance fees through PayPal. PayPal also sends us your contact information. If we have any questions or concerns, we will contact you within 72 business hours of receiving entry(ies).
You should receive a confirmation emails from PayPal and from Chanticleer Book Reviews & Media. If you have any questions or concerns about your submission, please contact us at info@ChantiReviews.com.
If you are having problems seeing the order page, try a different browser or contact us a chanticleer<at>chantireviews.com.
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