2026 McIlvanney Prize Shortlist

Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival announced the shortlist of nominees for the 2026 McIlvanney Prize. The winner will be awarded on September 18.

2026 McIlvanney Prize Shortlist

The Hollow Boys, by Tariq Ashkanani (Viper) 

138 Main Street, by Gavin Bell (Simon & Schuster UK)

A Bad, Bad Place, by Frances Crawford (Bantam) 

The Diary of Lies, by Philip Miller (Polygon) 

The Vanishing Place, by Zoë Rankin (Viper) 

HT: The Rap Sheet

BLOODY SCOTLAND CRIME WRITING FESTIVAL AWARDS 2025

Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival announced the winners of two crime fiction prizes tonight. Congratulations, Tariq and David!

2025 McIlvanney Prize Scottish Crime Novel of the Year

The Midnight King by Tariq Ashkanani 

2025 Bloody Scotland Debut Prize Winner

A Reluctant Spy by David Goodman

McIlvanney Prize Scottish Crime Novel of the Year Longlist

2025 McIlvanney Prize Scottish Crime Novel of the Year Longlist

• Whispers of the Dead, by Lin Anderson (Macmillan)
• The Midnight King, by Tariq Ashkanani (Viper)
• The Dying Light, by Daniel Aubrey (HarperNorth)
• Carnival of Lies, by D.V. Bishop (Macmillan)
• Unsound, by Heather Critchlow (Canelo)
• The Moon’s More Feeble Fire, by Allan Gaw (Polygon)
• The Good Father, by Liam McIlvanney (Bonnier)
• Paperboy, by Callum McSorley (Pushkin Press)
• The Good Liar, by Denise Mina (Vintage)
• Gunner, by Alan Parks (John Murray)
• Death of Shame, by Ambrose Parry (Canongate)
• Midnight and Blue, by Ian Rankin (Orion)
• A Thief’s Blood, by Douglas Skelton (Canelo)

The McIlvanney Prize, named in honor of author William McIlvanney, will be presented on Friday, September 12, during Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival. 

HT: The Rap Sheet

REBUS: New Adaptation of Ian Rankin's Iconic Detective

New Adaptation of Ian Rankin’s Iconic Detective: REBUS: US Debut, Thursday, November 7 on Viaplay

Recently airing on the BBC to rave reviews and more than 10 million streams on BBC iPlayer, the new adaptation of Sir Ian Rankin’s internationally best-selling “Inspector Rebus” novels, Rebus, with Richard Rankin (Outlander) in the title role debuts in the US onThursday, November 7 with all six episodes available to binge on the Viaplay US streaming service. 

The English-language series offers a fresh interpretation of the beloved character from Sir Ian Rankin’s detective novels, which have sold more than 30 million copies and been translated into 36 languages. Rebus reimagines the iconic character John Rebus as a younger Detective Sergeant, drawn into a violent criminal conflict that turns personal when his brother Michael, a former soldier, crosses the line into criminality.
 
Set in present-day Edinburgh, a demoted John Rebus is at a psychological crossroads. As he struggles to navigate a world increasingly driven by technology, Rebus finds himself embroiled in a toxic affair with the wife of his disabled former police partner and replaced in his daughter's life by his ex-wife's wealthy husband. Rebus begins to wonder if he still has a role to play as a father and contemporary police officer. In a world of divisive politics and national deprivation, does the law still have meaning or is everyone reverting to an older set of rules? And if so, why shouldn’t Rebus?
A brazen daylight attack draws Rebus and his new partner into a gang war which escalates when Rebus’s ex-soldier brother steals from drug dealers to provide for his family. Rebus finds himself torn between protecting his brother and enforcing the law to bring him to justice. 
 
A fresh and thrilling offering in the high-end crime genre, with a globally recognizable character at the heart of the story, the series explores family, morality and class through an emotionally-charged story, set against the Scottish landmarks that Rankin’s readers know so well.

 

Produced by Eleventh Hour Films (Foyle’s War) for Viaplay, the six-part series is written by the award-winning Gregory Burke (‘71) and is skillfully directed by BAFTA-winner Niall MacCormick (Complicit, The Victim) and Fiona Walton (Shetland, London Kills).

 

In addition to Richard Rankin, the all-star cast includes Brian Ferguson (The Ipcress File), Lucie Shorthouse (We Are Lady Parts),Stuart Bowman (The Rings of Power, Grantchester, Bodyguard), Amy Manson (The Diplomat), Neshla Caplan (The Rig), Noof Ousellam (Andor, Vigil), Caroline Lee-Johnson (Trying), Sean Buchanan (Mary Queen of Scots), Thoren Ferguson (Emmerdale Farm) and Michelle Duncan (Baptiste, Dalgliesh).

McILVANNEY PRIZE: Bloody Scotland

The McIlvanney Prize was announced at Bloody Scotland. The award, previously known as the Bloody Scotland Prize for Scottish Crime Writing, was presented on Friday, September 13, on the first night of the Bloody Scotland Festival. 

Chris Brookmyre is this year’s winner of the McIlvanney Prize for his latest crime thriller, The Cracked Mirror.

The Cracked Mirror, published by Sphere, has been described as a “cross genre hybrid of Agatha Christie and Michael Connelly”, with judges declaring it “a brilliant piece of storytelling”.

The judges were BBC Scotland presenter Bryan Burnett; category manager for Waterstones, Angie Crawford; and journalist and editor, Arusa Qureshi.

Read more Here. 

The Shortlist:

McILVANNEY PRIZE SHORTLIST 2024

The Shortlist for the McIlvanney Prize has been announced by Bloody Scotland. The award, previously known as the Bloody Scotland Prize for Scottish Crime Writing, will be presented on Friday, September 13, on the first night of the Bloody Scotland Festival. Congratulations to all!

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.

2024 McILVANNEY PRIZE Longlist

The longlist for the McIlvanney Prize has been announced by Bloody Scotland. The award, previously known as the Bloody Scotland Prize for Scottish Crime Writing, will be presented on Friday, September 13, on the first night of the Bloody Scotland Festival. Congratulations to all!

McILVANNEY PRIZE LONGLIST

D V Bishop – A Divine Fury (Pan Macmillan) 
Chris Brookmyre – The Cracked Mirror (Sphere) 
Val McDermid – Past Lying (Sphere) 
Charles Cumming – Kennedy 35 (HarperCollins) 
Andrew James Greig – The Girl in the Loch (Storm Publishing) 
Doug Johnstone – The Collapsing Wave (Orenda) 
S G Maclean – The Winter List (Quercus) 
Abir Mukherjee – Hunted (Vintage) C S Robertson – The Trials of Marjory Crowe (Hodder & Stoughton) 
Kim Sherwood – A Spy Like Me (HarperCollins) 
Doug Sinclair – Blood Runs Deep (Storm Publishing) 
Douglas Skelton – The Hollow Mountain (Polygon)

BLOODY SCOTLAND International Crime Writing Festival: Sneak Peek

Bloody Scotland, Scotland's International Crime Writing Festival (September 13-15, 2024) announced a Peek at the Program, just ahead of next week's launch. These are the authors released as part of the 'sneaky peek.' Sounds fabulous..and this is only part of the program. 

Richard Armitage: Headlining the opening night, one of the UK’s most popular actors will talk about his debut thriller, Geneva. His string of acting credits include The Hobbit, North and South, Into the Storm, and Spooks.

Ann Cleeves: The creator of three outstanding crime series, two television dramas in Vera and Shetland and 26 novels translated into over 20 languages will be in conversation with Lin Anderson.  

Peter May: Launching the much-anticipated fourth book in the Lewis series, will be in conversation with Craig Robertson.

Louise Minchin: The BBC Breakfast TV presenter will talk about her debut novel, Isolation Island. The book draws heavily on her TV experience.

Ruth Ware: – The international bestselling crime writer, in conversation with Louise Minchin, discussing her new mystery, One Perfect Couple, chaired by TV and radio presenter, Bryan Burnett.

Tickets for all of these events are now on sale! See https://bloodyscotland.com/whats-on/ for details.

PAYBACK: Britbox TV series

Payback (2023) is a new British TV series on Britbox. I am enjoying it (final episode to drop here in the U.S. this Thursday). Yes, I've seen the plot before, but the acting is great, and the slowly developing storyline is well done. It's a Jed Mercurio production, so I shouldn't be surprised. 

It's an Accounting Mystery, not usually the most exciting, but this one is. I'll add it to my Tax/Accounting mystery list in April .

Lexie Noble becomes entangled in a police investigation into a dangerous crime boss. It's set in Edinburgh and stars Morven Christie and Peter Mullan. Written by Debbie O'Malley, directed by Andrew Cummings, and produced by Jed Mercurio’s HTM Television, there are six episodes.

Lexie's life implodes overnight after she discovers the life she has been living has possibly been funded by dirty money,” executive producer Madonna Baptiste says. She calls the six-episode tale a “thriller seen through the eyes of an ordinary woman thrown into an extraordinarily dangerous world.”
Indeed, an impatient crime boss threatens her family, demanding she find the millions her husband apparently embezzled. But the mom of two is reluctant to go to the police, who suspect her of killing her spouse.

Read The Guardian review here.
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/oct/04/payback-review-every-actor-in-this-gangland-drama-oozes-quality

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 Shortlist: Bloody Scotland

The Shortlist for the 2023 McIlvanney Prize for Scotland's prestigious annual crime writing award, was announced. The Prize is named in memory of the 'Godfather of Tartan Noir', the great William McIlvanney: 

SQUEAKY CLEAN by Callum McSorley (Pushkin): the judges said: "A wonderfully rich and funny new voice in Scottish crime. McSorley has created characters you invest in and plot that keeps you hooked right from the start."

 

THE SECOND MURDERER by Denise Mina (Vintage): the judges said: "Seriously stylish and oozing with attitude, this Philip Marlowe mystery is an exquisite read."

 

CAST A COLD EYE by Robbie Morrison (Macmillan): the judges said: "A story inhabited by brilliantly drawn characters. Not just a crime novel but a vivid and immersive account of life in Glasgow in the 1930s."

 

THE DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND by Craig Russell (Little, Brown): the judges said: "Mesmerising from the start. Devilishly dark and dripping with menace. A breath-taking masterclass in twisty crime writing."

These events are part of a three-day annual showcase of crime writing at Bloody Scotland, which is Scotland's international crime writing festival. Both prizes are again sponsored by The Glencairn Glass, Kirsty Nicholson, Design and Marketing Manager at Glencairn Crystal, said: 

"Now in our third year of sponsoring these prestigious awards with the Glencairn Glass, we’re very proud to be a part of this amazing Scottish annual event in the world of crime fiction. We continue to be impressed and enthralled by the talented authors who enter and we wish everyone the very best of luck."

The 2023 Bloody Scotland festival begins at 1: 30pm on Friday, September 15 , with the final event concluding at 2pm on Sunday September 17. It takes place at various venues in the historic centre of Stirling, including the Albert Halls, Trinity Church, and the Golden Lion Hotel. 

Scottish Mysteries: Mystery Readers Journal

Mystery Readers Journal: Scottish Mysteries (Volume 31:3) is a great issue, filled with articles, reviews, and essays by your favorite writers. It's still available as a PDF. Buy the PDF.  Here's the Table of Contents and a few sample articles. Enjoy! 

MYSTERY READERS JOURNAL:
SCOTTISH MYSTERIES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ARTICLES

• Performing Scottish Crime: Ian Rankin’s Dark Road by Charlotte Beyer
• The Many Hues of Tartan Noir by Nancie Clare
• Escape Through Idyllic Scotland by Ann-Marie Lamb
• Tartan Noir: Scottish Mystery Fiction by Chris Longmuir
• Beautiful Mysterious Scotland by Patricia Smiley

AUTHOR! AUTHOR!

• Crime Writing — Scotland’s Other National Export by Lin Anderson
• Beatrice Who? Some Thoughts on Scotland by Rhys Bowen
• Rain and Scottish Crime Writing by G.J. Brown
• The Deadly Flower of Scotland by Lillian Stewart Carl
• At Home in Edinburgh by C.S. Challinor
• Casanova and the Scottish Connection by Myra Duffy
• Finding My Scottish Essence by David Hagerty
• By Yon Bonnie Braes by Jo A. Hiestand
• A Brief History of Bodysnatching by Anna Lee Huber
• My Search To Belong by Coco Ihle
• Scottish Heads and Scottish Hearts by Paul Johnston
• Mystery and Murder in the Heart of Scotland by Chris Longmuir
• Ghosts, Whisky, Fire… and a Single Flower by Bonnie MacBird
• The Angel’s Share by Diane Gilbert Madsen
• The Emergence of Muirteach Macphee by Susan McDuffie
• Writing About Scotland by Peter May
• Land of My Heart by Catriona McPherson
• Grunt Goes to Canada by Grant McKenzie
• What’s in a Name? by T. Frank Muir
• Childhood Adventures in Scotland by Gigi Pandian
• A Tale of Haggis, Neeps, and Tatties by Martha Reed
• Scotland the Grave by Craig Robertson
• My Heart’s in the Highlands by A.D. Scott
• An American Guide to Scotland by Alexandra Sokoloff
• Shetland? But what do you find to do with yourself up there… ? by Marsali Taylor
• Is This Edinburgh? by Marty Wingate

COLUMNS

• Mystery in Retrospect: Reviews by Sandie Herron, John Patrick Lang, Lesa Holstine, L.J. Roberts, Craig Sisterson
• Scotland and British Crime Fiction: Some Observations by Philip L. Scowcroft
• Children’s Hour: Scotland by Gay Toltl Kinman
• Crime Seen: Detecting Scotsmen by Kate Derie
• In Short: The Short Scottish Mystery by Marvin Lachman
• Scotland’s Classic Mysteries by Cathy Pickens
• From the Editor’s Desk by Janet Rudolph

McILVANNEY PRIZE FINALISTS 2022: BLOODY SCOTLAND

Bloody Scotland revealed the finalists for The McIlvanney Prize 2022:

Liam McIlvanney – The Heretic (HarperCollins)
Alan Parks – May God Forgive (Canongate)
Ambrose Parry – A Corruption of Blood (Canongate)
Louise Welsh – The Second Cut (Canongate)

The McIlvanney Prize recognizes excellence in Scottish crime writing, includes a prize of £1000 and nationwide promotion in Waterstones.

The winners will be revealed in Stirling on Thursday 15 September.  There will be a VIP reception at the Church of the Holy Rude at 7pm and to lead the torchlit procession from Stirling Castle to The Albert Halls where the winner of both the McIlvanney and the Bloody Scotland Debut Prizes will be revealed at approximately 8.30pm. They will then be interviewed on stage by BBC Radio Scotland’s Janice Forsyth.

Read more here. 

The shortlist for The Bloody Scotland Debut Prize for crime fiction:

Tariq Ashkanani, Welcome to Cooper (Thomas & Mercer, Amazon).
Frankie Boyle, Meantime (John Murray).
Amanda Mitchison, The Wolf Hunters (Fledgling Press).
George Paterson, The Girl, The Crow, The Writer and The Fighter (Into Books).
Sarah Smith, Hear No Evil (Two Roads).

SCOTTISH CRIME DEBUT OF THE YEAR SHORTLIST

The Shortlist for the Scottish Crime Debut of the Year. Winner will be announced at Bloody Scotland in September. Congratulations to all!

Scottish Crime Debut of the Year Shortlist

Tariq Ashkanani, Welcome to Cooper (Thomas & Mercer, Amazon)

Frankie Boyle, Meantime (John Murray).

Amanda Mitchison, The Wolf Hunters (Fledgling Press).

George Paterson, The Girl, The Crow, The Writer and The Fighter (Into Books).

Sarah Smith, Hear No Evil (Two Roads).

***

Bloody Scotland is Scotland’s International Crime Writing Festival, providing a showcase for the best crime writing from Scotland and the world, unique in that it was set up by a group of Scottish crime writers in 2012. Full information at bloodyscotland.com The festival takes place in various venues (including The Albert Halls, The Tollbooth and the social hub of the festival, The Golden Lion Hotel) in the historic town of Stirling from 15-18 September 2022.

McILVANNEY PRIZE LONGLIST 2022

The Longlist for the McIlvanney Prize 2022 was announced today to mark book festival Bloody Scotland’s 10th anniversary. The annual prize goes to the best Scottish crime book of the year.

McILVANNEY PRIZE LONGLIST 2022

A Matter of Time, Claire Askew (Hodder)

The Sound of Sirens, Ewan Galt (Leamington Books)

The Blood Tide, Neil Lancaster (Harpercollins)

From the Ashes, Deborah Masson (Transworld)

The Heretic, Liam McIlvanney (Harpercollins)

Rizzio, Denise Mina (Polygon)

May God Forgive, Alan Parks (Canongate)

A Corruption of Blood, Ambrose Parry (Canongate)

A Rattle of Bones, Douglas Skelton (Polygon)

The Second Cut, Louise Welsh (Canongate)

The shortlist will be revealed in early September, with the winner being announced on September 15 at Bloody Scotland in Stirling.

The Debut Prize Shortlist will be announced in July.

 

 

Cartoon of the Day: Scotland

BLOODY SCOTLAND PRIZES

Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival announced the 2021 awards. Congratulations to all!

McIlvanney Prize for Crime Novel of the Year: Hyde, by Craig Russell (Constable)

Also nominated: The Silent Daughter, by Emma Christie (Wellbeck); The Coffinmaker’s Garden, by Stuart MacBride (HarperCollins); Edge of the Grave, by Robbie Morrison (Macmillan); and The April Dead, by Alan Parks (Canongate)

Scottish Crime Debut of the Year: Edge of the Grave, by Robbie Morrison (Macmillan)

Also nominated: The Silent Daughter, by Emma Christie (Wellbeck); Waking the Tiger, by Mark Wightman (Hobeck); and No Harm Done, by Alistair Liddle (Self-published)

McILVANNY PRIZE SHORTLIST: Scottish Crime Book of the Year

McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year 2021

Silent Daughter by Emma Christie 

The Coffin Maker’s Garden by Stuart MacBride 

Edge of the Grave by Robbie Morrison 

The April Dead by Alan Parks 

Hyde by Craig Russell

The winners of both the McIlvanney Prize and the Scottish Crime Debut of the Year will be revealed at the Albert Halls in Stirling at 5.15pm on Friday 17 September and broadcast live on-line. This year, the prize ceremony will be free but ticketed to watch or attend! 

Get your free ticket for in-person attendance or online viewing.

Bloody Scotland Scottish Crime Debut of the Year 2021: Shortlist

Bloody Scotland Scottish Crime Debut of the Year 2021: Shortlist

The Silent Daughter, Emma Christie 

No Harm Done, AJ Liddle 

Edge of the Grave, Robbie Morrison 

Waking the Tiger, Mark Wightman 

The winners of the Bloody Scotland Scottish Crime Debut of the Year and the 2021 McIlvanney Prize will be revealed on Friday 17 September in the historic town of Stirling.

Congratulations to all!