A shortlist has been released for this year's Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award, which "celebrates crime fiction at its very best" by U.K. and Irish authors. The prize is run by Harrogate International Festivals and sponsored by T&R Theakston. This year's shortlisted titles are:
The Secret Hours by Mick Herron
The Last Dance by Mark Billingham
None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent
In the Blink of an Eye by Jo Callaghan
Killing Jericho by William Hussey
A public vote is now open. The winner, who will be named July 18 on the opening night of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, receives £3,000 (about $3,810) and an engraved oak beer cask, hand-carved by one of Britain’s last coopers from Theakston's Brewery.
In addition, the shortlist was unveiled for the inaugural McDermid Debut Award, which is named in recognition of author Val McDermid, co-founder the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, and celebrates the best debut crime writers in the U.K. The winner will be chosen by a panel of industry experts and receive £500 (about $635). The finalists are:
Dark Island by Daniel Aubrey
Mrs. Sidhu's Dead and Scone by Suk Pannu
Knife Skills for Beginners by Orlando Murrin
The Library Thief by Kuchenga Shenjé
Deadly Animals by Marie Tierney
Crow Moon by Suzy Aspley