In recognition of his contribution to forensic medicine he was awarded an honorary membership of the Mystery Writers of America.
In 1965, Kirst was nominated for an Edgar Award of the Mystery Writers of America for his 1962 book, Die Nacht der Generale, translated into English as The Night of the Generals.
The category of Best Juvenile Mystery is also part of the Edgar Award, with such notable recipients as Barbara Brooks Wallace having won the honor twice, for The Twin in the Tavern in 1994 and Sparrows in the Scullery in 1998, and Tony Abbott for his novel The Postcard, which received critical accolades in 2009.
In 1961, her book The Mystery of the Haunted Pool won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Juvenile novel, and she duplicated the honor in 1964, for The Mystery of the Hidden Hand.
As a member of the Mystery Writers of America, the International Thriller Writers, the International Crime Writers Association, the Crime Writers' Association and Crime Writers of Canada, Rick continues to be a featured panelist at mystery conferences across the United States and Canada.
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She was named a Library of Congress Intern on receipt of her Masters in Library Science, and is a member of the Crime Writers of Canada, The British Crime Writers Association, and Mystery Writers of America.
She has been a member of the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists, Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, the International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, Student Affiliate of the American Psychological Association, the Mystery Writers of America, and the California Writers Club.
She was awarded runner-up scrolls for best first mystery novel from the Mystery Writers of America for her 1960 novel, Case Pending, which introduced her most popular series character, LAPD Homicide Lieutenant Luis Mendoza.
In 2007, Sharp Objects was shortlisted for the Mystery Writers of America Edgar for Best First Novel by an American Writer, Crime Writers' Association Duncan Lawrie, CWA New Blood and Ian Fleming Steel Daggers, winning in the last two categories.
The film was released in 1965; Trosper (posthumously) and co-writer Paul Dehn received a 1966 Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America, for Best Motion Picture Screenplay.
She was a recipient of the Carl Sandburg Literary Arts Award in 1985, and was elected president of the Mystery Writers of America in 1990.
It is the 87th novel in The Top 100 Crime Novels of All Time as compiled by the Mystery Writers of America (it is not included in the U.K. version of the list).
For episodes of Law & Order and its sequels he received an Edgar Award nomination from the Mystery Writers of America, four Emmy nominations and a Humanitas Award nomination as a producer, The Shine Award, The Silver Gavel Award, and the GLAAD Media Award.