He founded The Private Eye Writers of America in 1981, where he created the Shamus Award.

The Deader the Better was nominated for the "Best Novel" Shamus Award in 2001.

"The Black Hand" was nominated for a 2009 Shamus Award.

It won the 2006 Shamus Award and Macavity Award for "Best Novel".

Nomination for "2009 Shamus Award for Best Novel"

He won the Shamus Award for best mystery novel of 1989.

In this field he has twice won a Shamus Award for Best Short Story of the Year.

It won the Shamus Award and was named as one of the "Best Books of 1996" by Publishers Weekly.

It was nominated for the Shamus Award.

Muller had been nominated for the Shamus Award four times previously.