Waterstone's and Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival today announced the longlist for the fourth Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award. Now a firm date in the literary awards calendar, the longlist once again covers an exceptional mix of new and also more established writers covering styles from across the crime genre.
The only award of its kind to be voted for by the general public, the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year has generated a real mix of winners in the past, from well established authors like Val McDermid who won in 2006 for The Torment of Others to the surprise win in 2007 of Allan Guthrie for his first novel Two-Way Split.
The longlist this year is:
- Simon Beckett The Chemistry of Death
- Mark Billingham Buried
- Benjamin Black Christine Falls
- Christopher Brookmyre A Tale Etched in Blood and Hard Pencil
- Sophie Hannah Hurting Distance
- John Harvey Darkness and Light
- Reginald Hill The Death of Dalziel
- Susan Hill The Risk of Darkness
- Graham Hurley One Under
- Peter James Not Dead Enough
- Simon Kernick Relentless
- Patrick Lennon Corn Dolls
- Stuart MacBride Dying Light
- Alexander McCall Smith Blue Shoes and Happiness
- Val McDermid The Grave Tattoo
- Mark Mills The Savage Garden
- Stef Penney The Tenderness of Wolves
- Peter Robinson Piece of my Heart
- C.J. Sansom Sovereign
- Chris Simms Shifting Skin
Voting is open now in all Waterstone's stores and online at www.waterstones.com and will continue until 17th June. The shortlist will be released on 26th June and the winner announced on 17th July on the opening night of the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival.
The Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival will take place in Harrogate from 17 - 20 July 2008. Weekend packages are available now by calling (01423) 562303. Individual tickets will be available from May on 0845 130 8840
Picture information: Title sponsor Simon Theakston, best selling author and 2008 programming chair, Simon Kernick
