2024 CRIMEFEST AWARD SHORTLISTS

THE 2024 CRIMEFEST AWARD SHORTLISTS
Eligible titles were submitted by publishers, and a team of British crime fiction reviewers votes to establish the shortlist.

SPECSAVERS DEBUT CRIME NOVEL AWARD
In association with headline sponsor, the Specsavers Debut Crime Novel Award is for debut authors first published in the United Kingdom in 2023. The winning author receives a £1,000 prize. 
 
- Stig Abell for Death Under a Little Sky (Hemlock Press/HarperCollins)
- Jo Callaghan for In The Blink Of An Eye (Simon & Schuster)
- Megan Davis for The Messenger (Zaffre)
- Jenny Lund Madsen for Thirty Days of Darkness translated by Megan Turney (Orenda Books)
- Natalie Marlow for Needless Alley (Baskerville)
- Alice Slater for Death of a Bookseller (Hodder & Stoughton)

eDUNNIT AWARD
For the best crime fiction ebook first published in both hardcopy and in electronic format in the United Kingdom in 2023.
 
- Rachel Abbott for Don't Look Away (Wildfire)
-Jane Casey for The Close (HarperCollins)
-Martin Edwards for Sepulchre Street (Head of Zeus)
-Christina Koning for Murder at Bletchley Park (Allison & Busby)
-Laura Lippman for Prom Mom (Faber & Faber)
-Craig Russell for The Devil's Playground (Constable)

LAST LAUGH AWARD
The Last Laugh Award is for the best humorous crime novel first published in the United Kingdom in 2023.
 
- Mark Billingham for The Last Dance (Sphere)
- Elly Griffiths for The Great Deceiver (Quercus)
- Mick Herron for The Secret Hours (Baskerville)
- Mike Ripley for Mr Campion's Memory (Severn House)
- Jesse Sutanto for Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers (HQ)
- Antti Tuomianen for The Beaver Theory (Orenda Books)

H.R.F. KEATING AWARD
The H.R.F. Keating Award is for the best biographical or critical book related to crime fiction first published in the United Kingdom in 2023. The award is named after H.R.F. ‘Harry’ Keating, one of Britain’s most esteemed crime novelists, crime reviewers and writer of books about crime fiction.
 
- M, J, F & A Dall'Asta, Migozzi, Pagello & Pepper for Contemporary European Crime Fiction: Representing History and Politics (Palgrave)
- Lisa Hopkins for Ocular Proof and the Spectacled Detective in British Crime Fiction (Palgrave)
- Kate Jackson for How To Survive a Classic Crime Novel (British Library Publishing)
- Steven Powell for Love Me Fierce In Danger: The Life of James Ellroy (Bloomsbury Academic)
- Nicholas Shakespeare for Ian Fleming: The Complete Man (Harvill Secker)
- Adam Sisman for The Secret Life of John Le Carré (Profile Books)

THALIA PROCTOR MEMORIAL AWARD FOR BEST ADAPTED TV CRIME DRAMA
This award is for the best television crime drama based on a book, and first screened in the UK in 2023. 
Eligible titles were collated from the Radio Times, and CrimeFest newsletter readers established the
shortlist and the winning title.
The winning author and production company each receive a Bristol Blue Glass commemorative award.
 
- Dalgliesh (series 2), based on the Inspector Dalgliesh books by P.D. James (Channel 5)
- Reacher (series 2), based on the Jack Reacher books by Lee Child (Amazon Prime)
- Shetland (series 8), based on the Shetland books by Ann Cleeves (BBC)
- Slow Horses (series 3), based on the Slough House books by Mick Herron (Apple)
- The Serial Killer's Wife, based on the Serial Killer books by Alice Hunter (Paramount+)
- Vera (series 12), based on the Vera Stanhope books by Ann Cleeves (ITV)


CRIMEFEST AWARDS FOR BEST CRIME NOVEL FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS
Eligible titles were submitted by publishers, and reviewers of fiction for children and young adults voted alongside volunteering members of the School Library Association (SLA) to establish the shortlist and the winning title.
The winners receive a commemorative Bristol Blue Glass award.

Best Crime Fiction Novel For Children
This award is for the best crime novel for children (aged 8-12) first published in the United Kingdom in 2023.
 
- A.M. Howell for Mysteries At Sea: Peril On The Atlantic (Usborne Publishing)
- Lis Jardine for The Detention Detectives (Penguin Random House Children's UK)
- Beth Lincoln for The Swifts (Penguin Random House Children's UK)
- Marcus Rashford (with Alex Falase-Koya) for The Breakfast Club Adventures: The Ghoul in the School (Macmillan Children's Books)
- Robin Stevens for The Ministry of Unladylike Activity 2: The Body in the Blitz (Penguin Random House Children's UK)
- J.T. Williams for The Lizzie and Belle Mysteries: Portraits and Poison, illustrated by Simone Douglas (Farshore)

Best Crime Fiction Novel For Young Adults
This award is for the best crime novel for young adults (aged 12-16) first published in the United Kingdom in 2023.
 
- Jennifer Lynn for Barnes The Brothers Hawthorne (Penguin Random House Children's UK)
- Nick Brooks for Promise Boys (Macmillan Children's Books)
- Ravena Guron for This Book Kills (Usborne Publishing)
- Ravena Guron for Catch Your Death (Usborne Publishing)
- Karen M. McManus for One of Us is Back (Penguin Random House Children's UK)
- Elizabeth Wein for Stateless (Bloomsbury YA) 

CRIMEFEST AWARDS SHORTLISTS

Crimefest Awards Shortlists

Specsavers Debut Crime Novel Award

- Eva Björg Aegisdóttir for The Creak on the Stairs (Orenda Books)
- Marion Brunet for Summer of Reckoning (Bitter Lemon Press)
- Robin Morgan-Bentley for The Wreckage (Trapeze)
- Richard Osman for The Thursday Murder Club (Viking)
- Mara Timon for City of Spies (Zaffre)
- Trevor Wood for The Man on the Street (Quercus)

Audible Sounds of Crime Award

- Lee & Andrew Child for The Sentinel, reader Jeff Harding (Transworld)

- Lucy Foley for The Guest List, readers Olivia Dowd, Aoife McMahon, Chloe Massey, Sarah Ovens, Rich Keeble & Jot Davies (HarperFiction)

- Robert Galbraith for Troubled Blood, reader Robert Glenister (Little, Brown Book Group)
- Anthony Horowitz for Moonflower Murders, readers Lesley Manville & Allan Corduner (Penguin Random House Audio)
- Peter James for Find Them Dead, reader Daniel Weyman (Pan Macmillan)
- Lisa Jewell for Invisible Girl, reader Donna Banya, Rebekah Staton & Connor Swindells (Penguin Random House Audio)
- Lynda La Plante for Buried, readers Alex Hassell & Annie Aldington (Zaffre)

- T. M. Logan for The Catch, reader Philip Stevens (Zaffre)

- Richard Osman for The Thursday Murder Club, reader Lesley Manville (Viking)
- Ian Rankin for A Song for the Dark Times, reader James Macpherson (Orion)

eDunnit Award

- Gabriel Bergmoser for The Hunted (Faber)

- Sharon Bolton for The Split (Trapeze) 

- J. P. Carter for Little Boy Lost (Avon)

- Steve Cavanagh for Fifty-Fifty (Orion Fiction)

- Michael Connelly for Fair Warning (Orion Fiction)

- James Lee Burke for A Private Cathedral (Orion Fiction)

- Ian Rankin for A Song for the Dark Times (Orion Fiction)

- Holly Watt for The Dead Line (Raven Books)

H. R. F. Keating Award

- Mark Aldridge for Agatha Christie’s Poirot: The Greatest Detective in the World (HarperCollins)

- Martin Edwards (editor) for Howdunit: A Masterclass in Crime Writing by Members of the Detection Club (Collins Crime Club)

- Colin Larkin for Cover Me: The Vintage Art of Pan Books: 1950-1965 (Telos Publishing)

- Andrew Lycett for Conan Doyle’s Wide World (Tauris Parke)

- Heather Martin for The Reacher Guy (Constable)

- Sheila Mitchell for H. R. F. Keating: A Life of Crime (Level Best Books)
- Craig Sisterson for Southern Cross Crime: The Pocket Essential Guide to the Crime Fiction, Film & TV of Australia and New Zealand (Oldcastle Books)
- Peter Temple for The Red Hand: Stories, reflections and the last appearance of Jack Irish (riverrun)

 

Last Laugh Award

- Ben Aaronovitch for False Value (Gollancz)

- Christopher Fowler for Bryant & May - Oranges and Lemons (Doubleday)
 - Elly Griffiths for The Postscript Murders (Quercus)

- Carl Hiaasen for Squeeze Me (Sphere)

- Richard Osman for The Thursday Murder Club (Viking)

- Malcolm Pryce for The Corpse in the Garden of Perfect Brightness (Bloomsbury Publishing)

- Khurrum Rahman for Ride or Die (HQ)

- Olga Wojtas for Miss Blaine's Prefect and the Vampire Menace (Contraband)

Best Crime Novel for Children (Ages 8-12)
- Sophie Deen for Agent Asha: Mission Shark Bytes (Walker Books)

- Elly Griffiths for A Girl Called Justice - The Smugglers' Secret (Quercus Children's Group)

- Anthony Horowitz for Nightshade (Walker Books)

- Jack Noel for My Headteacher is an Evil Genius (Walker Books)

- Serena Patel for Anisha, Accidental Detective (Usborne Publishing)

- Serena Patel for School's Cancelled (Usborne Publishing)

- Onjali Q. Rauf for The Night Bus Hero (Orion Children's Group)

- Dave Shelton for The Pencil Case (David Fickling Books)

Best Crime Novel for Young Adults (Ages 12-16)

- William Hussey for Hideous Beauty (Usborne Publishing)

- Lauren James for The Reckless Afterlife of Harriet Stoker (Walker Books)

- Matt Killeen for Devil Darling Spy (Usborne Publishing)

- Patrice Lawrence for Eight Pieces of Silva (Hodder Children's Group)

- Simon Lelic for Deadfall (Hodder Children's Group)

- Robert Muchamore for Hacking, Heists & Flaming Arrows (Hot Key Books)

- Patrick Ness for Burn (Walker Books)

- Nancy Springer for The Case of the Missing Marquess (Hot Key Books)

Congratulations to all the nominees!

The awards will be announced in the first week of June.

Crimefest Award Shortlists

CRIMEFEST AWARD SHORTLISTS
The winners will be announced at the CRIMEFEST Gala Dinner on 21 May.

eDunnit Award
Shortlist for best crime eBook of 2010:
- Alan Furst for Spies of the Balkans (Weidenfeld & Nicolson)
- Sophie Hannah for A Room Swept White (Hodder & Stoughton)
- Philip Kerr for Field Grey (Quercus)
- Michael Ridpath for Where the Shadows Lie (Corvus)
- C.J. Sansom for Heartstone (Mantle)
- Andrew Taylor for The Anatomy of Ghosts (Penguin)
- Andrew Williams for To Kill a Tsar (John Murray)

In addition to £500 and an Elonex eReader, the winner also receives a commemorative award provided by Bristol Blue Glass.

Last Laugh Award
Shortlist for best humourous crime novel of 2010:
- Colin Bateman for Dr. Yes (Headline)
- Colin Cotterill for Love Songs From A Shallow Grave (Quercus)
- Chris Ewan for The Good Thief's Guide to Vegas (Simon & Schuster)
- Robert Lewis for Bank of the Black Sheep (Serpent's Tail)
- Donna Moore for Old Dogs (MaXcrime)
- L.C. Tyler for The Herring in the Library (Macmillan)

Courtesy of sponsor Goldsboro Books, the winner receives £500 and a commemorative award provided by Bristol Blue Glass.

Sounds Of Crime Awards
Shortlists for best ABRIDGED & UNABRIDGED crime audiobooks of 2010.

Abridged:
- Linwood Barclay for Fear the Worst, read by Jeff Harding, abridged by Elsbeth McPherson (Orion)
- Lee Child for Worth Dying For, read by Kerry Shale, abridged by Carolanne Lyme (Random House)
- Michael Connelly for The Reversal, read by Michael Brandon, abridged by Kati Nicholl (Orion)
- Peter James for Dead Like You, read by William Gaminara, abridged by Kati Nicholl (Macmillan)
- John le Carre for Our Kind of Traitor, read by John le Carre, abridged by Peter Mackie (AudioGO)
- Kathy Reichs for Mortal Remains, read by Linda Emond, abridged by Jan Werner (Random House)
- C. J. Sansom for Heartstone, read by Anton Lesser, abridged by Kati Nicholl (Macmillan)

Unabridged:
- Linwood Barclay for Fear the Worst, read by Buck Schirner (Orion)
- Harlan Coben for Caught, read by Christopher Evan Welch (Whole Story Audio Books)
- Michael Connelly for The Reversal, read by Peter Giles (Orion)
- Lindsey Davis for Nemesis, read by Christian Rodska (AudioGO)
- Jeffery Deaver for Edge, read by Skipp Sudduth (Whole Story Audio Books)
- Peter James for Dead Like You, read by David Bauckham (Whole Story Audio Books)

Courtesy of sponsor Audible UK, the winning authors and readers share the £1,000 prize equally, and each receives a commemorative award provided by Bristol Blue Glass.