Toronto-based writer Howard Shrier has captured top prize at the annual Arthur Ellis Awards, which honours the best in mystery writing in Canada.

Shrier, an ex-Montrealer who worked as a journalist for many years, nabbed the Best Novel award for High Chicago.

In fact, it's the only the second mystery novel he's written, his first, Buffalo Jump (2008), which introduced readers to Toronto investigator Jonah Geller, snagged the Crime Writers of Canada's Arthur Ellis Award for best first novel.

Other winners of the prizes handed out a ceremony Thursday night in Toronto are:

• Short story: Dennis Richard Murphy, Prisoner in Paradise, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine.
• Best non-fiction: Terry Gould, Murder Without Borders.
• Best juvenile: Barbara Haworth-Attard, Haunted.
• Best crime writing in French: Jean Lemieux , Le mort du chemin des Arsène.
• Best unpublished first crime novel: Gloria Ferris, The Corpse Flower
• Best first novel: Alan Bradley, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie.

The association also handed the Derrick Murdoch Award to veteran author Peter Robinson. It honours outstanding contributions to crime writing.