BLOODY SCOTLAND DEBUT PRIZE SHORTLIST

I missed posting the shortlist for the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize, so here it is. Thanks to TheRapSheet, I now have the info. There are five nominees for this year’s Bloody Scotland Debut Prize. And, if you missed it, here is the Longlist for the McIlvanney Prize. 

BLOODY SCOTLAND DEBUT PRIZE SHORTLIST

• Crow Moon, by Suzy Aspley (Orenda)
• Dark Island, by Daniel Aubrey (Harper North)
• The Silent House of Sleep, by Allan Gaw (SA Press)
• Blood Runs Deep, by Doug Sinclair (Storm)
• Double Proof, by Martin Stewart (Polygon)

The 2024 festival will be held in Stirling, Scotland, September 13 to 15, where the winners will be announced.

2023 McILVANNEY PRIZE & BLOODY SCOTLAND DEBUT PRIZE ANNOUNCED

The 2023 Winners of The McIlvanney Prize and The Bloody Scotland Debut Prize were announced last night at Bloody Scotland. The finalists for both prizes led the iconic torchlit procession from Stirling Castle through the historic old town this evening accompanied by the pipes and drums of the Stirling and District Schools Pipe Band. 

The winner of The Bloody Scotland Scottish Crime Debut of the Year went to Kate Foster for The Maiden (Mantle)

The McIlvanney Prize Scottish Crime Book of the Year went to another debut author, Callum McSorley for Squeaky Clean (Pushkin Press).

2023 Mcilvanney Prize Longlist & Bloody Scotland Debut Prize Shortlist

Bloody Scotland announced:

The McIlvanney Prize Longlist (Shortlist will be announced in August)

D V Bishop – Ritual of Fire (Macmillan)
Heather Darwent – The Things We Do To Our Friends  (Penguin)
Kate Foster – The Maiden (Mantle)
Mark Leggatt – Penitent (Fledgling Press)
S G Maclean – The Bookseller of Inverness (Quercus)
Callum McSorley – Squeaky Clean  (Pushkin)
Val McDermid – 1989 (Little,Brown)
Denise Mina – The Second Murderer (Vintage)
Robbie Morrison – Cast A Cold Eye (Macmillan)
Ian Rankin – A Heart Full of Headstones (Orion)
Craig Russell – The Devil’s Playground (Little,Brown)
Douglas Skelton – An Honourable Thief (Canelo)

The Bloody Scotland Debut Prize Shortlist

Heather Critchlow with Unsolved (Canelo) – a cold case mystery about two women who disappeared 35 years ago which was inspired by a true crime podcast. Heather Critchlow grew up in rural Aberdeenshire. She lives in St Albans.

Heather Darwent with The Things We Do To Our Friends (Penguin) - a suspense debut about a toxic friendship in 1^st year at Edinburgh University. Originally fromYorkshire, Heather Darwent, now lives outside Edinburgh.

Kate Foster with The Maiden (Mantle) – set in the 17^th Century is a reimagining of true historical events in which Lady Christian Nimmo is charged with the murder of her lover James Forrester. Kate Foster won Pitch Perfect at Bloody Scotland in 2020 with her outline for the book. She lives in Edinburgh.

Callum McSorley with Squeaky Clean (Pushkin) featuring DI Ally McCoist the least popular detective in the Glasgow police. A thriller filled with pitch-black humour. Callum McSorley graduated from the University of Strathclyde in 2013 and since then his stories have appeared in Gutter magazine and New Writing Scotland.

 

Fulton Ross with The Unforgiven Dead (Inkshares) about a Highland Constable who is reluctant to embrace his gift of second sight. Inspired by Gaelic folk tales it is a fresh take on gothic crime noir. Fulton Ross is from the Highlands, went to Glasgow University and now lives in Northern Ireland.