Shortlist is announced

[John Dean]

The shortlist for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year has been announced. The prize, created to celebrate the very best in crime fiction, was open to UK and Irish crime authors whose novels were published in paperback from 1 May 2017 to 30 April 2018.

Mick Herron’s espionage thriller, Spook Street, is the fourth in his award-winning Jackson Lamb series.

Val McDermid’s Insidious Intent features DCI Carol Jordan and Tony Hill, two of the most iconic characters in crime fiction.

Denise Mina could make it a hat-trick after winning the award in 2012 and 2013. The Long Drop has already attracted a wealth of awards.

Abir Mukherjee is the only author on the shortlist for a debut novel. A Rising Man, saw Abir picked as a 2016 New Blood author by Val McDermid at the Festival.

The Intrusions by Stav Sherez was a 2017 Guardian and Sunday Times book of the year.

Former Guardian journalist Susie Steiner’s first crime novel introduced Detective Manon Bradshaw in Missing, Presumed, a Sunday Times bestseller. Her follow up, Persons Unknown, a Richard and Judy book club pick, has attracted huge critical acclaim.

The shortlist will feature in a six-week promotion in libraries and in WHSmith stores nationwide. The overall winner will be decided by the panel of Judges, alongside a public vote. The public vote opens on 1 July and closes 14 July.

You can find out more and how to vote at http://harrogateinternationalfestivals.com/news/topcnoy2018-shortli...