Shortlists have 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, as well as the McDermid Debut Award for new writers. The prize is run by Harrogate International Festivals and sponsored by T&R Theakston. A public vote is now open. The winners will be revealed July 17, on opening night of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival.
The winner of the Novel of the Year Award receives £3,000 (about $4,075) and an engraved oak beer cask, hand-carved by one of Britain's last coopers from Theakston's Brewery. This year's Novel of the Year shortlisted titles are:
The Cracked Mirror by Chris Brookmyre
The Mercy Chair by M.W. Craven
The Last Word by Elly Griffiths
Hunted by Abir Mukherjee
Deadly Animals by Marie Tierney
All the Colours of the Dark by Chris Whitaker
The McDermid Debut Award 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 gets £500 (about $680) and an engraved oak beer cask. The finalists are:
Sick to Death by Chris Bridges
I Died at Fallow Hall by Bonnie Burke-Patel
Her Two Lives by Nilesha Chauvet
A Reluctant Spy by David Goodman
Isolation Island by Louise Minchin
Black Water Rising by Sean Watkin