Was your New Year’s resolution to read plemnty of good books? Get started early at your local library. Try some of these award-winning novels:

The Edgar Award for Best Mystery Novel was named for Edgar Allan Poe, the father of the modern detective story. This award is presented by the Mystery Writers Association and is considered the most prestigious in the realm of mystery and detective fiction. It is given in about a dozen different categories including Best Novel and Best First Novel, shown here.

▪ 2010 – Best Novel: The Last Child by John Hart Best First Novel: In the Shadow of Gotham by Stefanie Pintoff

▪ 2009 – Best Novel: Blue Heaven by CJ Box Best First Novel: Foreigner by Francie Lin

▪ 2008 – Best Novel: Down River by John Hart Best First Novel: In the Woods by Tana French

▪ 2007 – Best Novel: The Janissary Tree by Jason Goodwin Best First Novel: The Faithful Spy by Alex Berenson

▪ 2006 – Best Novel: Citizen Vince by Jess Walter Best First Novel: Officer Down by Theresa Schwegel

▪ 2005 – Best Novel: California Girl by T. Jefferson Parker Best First Novel: Country of Origin by Don Lee

▪ 2004 – Best Novel: Resurrection Men by Ian Rankin Best First Novel: Death of a Nationalist by Rebecca Pawel

▪ 2003 – Best Novel: Winter and Night by S.J. Rozan Best First Novel: The Blue Edge Of Midnight by Jonathon King

▪ 2002 – Best Novel: Silent Joe by T. Jefferson Parker Best First Novel: Line Of Vision by David Ellis

▪ 2001 – Best Novel: The Bottoms by Joe R. Lansdale Best First Novel: A Conspiracy Of Paper by David Liss

▪ 2000 – Best Novel: Bones by Jan Burke Best First Novel: The Skull Mantra by Eliot Pattison

▪ 1999 – Best Novel: Mr. White's Confession by Robert Clark Best First Novel: A Cold Day In Paradise by Steve Hamilton

▪ 1998 – Best Novel: Cimarron Rose by James Lee Burke Best First Novel: Los Alamos by Joseph Kanon

▪ 1997 – Best Novel: The Chatham School Affair by Thomas H. Cook Best First Novel: Simple Justice by John Morgan Wilson

▪ 1996 – Best Novel: Come to Grief by Dick Francis Best First Novel: Penance by David Housewright

Edgar award winners for young adults

▪ 2010 - Reality Check by Peter Abrahams

▪ 2009 - Paper Towns by John Green

▪ 2008 - Rat Life by Tedd Arnold

▪ 2007 – Buried by Robin Merrow McCready

▪ 2006 – Last Shot by John Feinstein

▪ 2005 - In Darkness, Death by Dorothy & Thomas Hoobler

▪ 2004 - Acceleration by Graham McNamee

▪ 2003 - The Wessex Papers, Vols. 1-3 by Daniel Parker Find more award-winning novels online at www.wakegov.com/libraries.