THEAKSTON OLD PECULIER CRIME AWARDS 2025

2025 AWARD WINNERS:

• WINNER of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2025: Hunted by Abir Mukherjee (Vintage; Harvill Secker)
• WINNER of the McDermid Debut Award: A Reluctant Spy by David Goodman (Headline)
• Theakston Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution Award: Elly Griffiths (Quercus)

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Hunted by Abir Mukherjee is the winner of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2025, presented by Harrogate International Festivals at a special ceremony on the opening night of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival.

Abir Mukerjee receives a £3,000 prize, as well as an engraved beer cask handcrafted by one of Britain’s last coopers from Theakston’s Brewery.

The McDermid Debut Award, named in recognition of world-famous crime writer Val McDermid, was won by David Goodman for A Reluctant Spy, it was also announced.

David Goodman receives a £500 cash prize. The award was presented by Chair of Judges, Val McDermid, and Simon Theakston, Chairman of T&R Theakston.

Bestselling novelist Elly Griffiths received the Theakston Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution Award in recognition of her remarkable crime fiction writing career and “unwavering commitment to the genre.”

Elly Griffiths is the author of the Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries; the Brighton Mysteries, the Detective Harbinder Kaur series and an exhilarating new series featuring time-travelling detective Ali Dawson. 

SHORTLISTS: Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year & McDermid Debut Award

Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award Shortlist

The Cracked Mirror, by Chris Brookmyre (Sphere)
The Mercy Chair, by M.W. Craven (Constable)
The Last Word, by Elly Griffiths (Quercus)
Hunted, by Abir Mukherjee (Harvill Secker)
All the Colours of the Dark, by Chris Whitaker (Orion)

McDermid Debut Award (named for crime writer Val McDcDermid)

Sick to Death, by Chris Bridges (Avon) 

I Died at Fallow Hall, by Bonnie Burke-Patel (Bedford Square) 

Her Two Lives, by Nilesha Chauvet (Faber & Faber) 

A Reluctant Spy, by David Goodman (Headline)

Isolation Island, by Louise Minchin (Headline) 

Black Water Rising, by Sean Watkin (Canelo)

Winners will be announced  July 17 at the opening night of this year’s Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate, England. Congratulations to all!

2025 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award Longlist

2025 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award Longlist. Winner will be announced  July 17 at the opening night of this year’s Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate, England. What a great list. Get reading! Anyone can vote to establish the shortlist. Go here to cat your ballot (and check out the covers). Congratulations to all!

The Cracked Mirror, by Chris Brookmyre (Sphere)
Our Holiday, by Louise Candlish (HQ)
A Stranger in the Family, by Jane Casey (Hemlock Press)
The Mercy Chair, by M.W. Craven (Constable)
The Wrong Sister, by Claire Douglas (Michael Joseph)
The Last Word, by Elly Griffiths (Quercus)
Estella’s Revenge, by Barbara Havelocke (Hera)
Redemption, by Jack Jordan (Simon & Schuster UK)
The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby, by Ellery Lloyd (Pan)
Finding Sophie, by Imran Mahmood (Raven)
The Woman on the Ledge, by Ruth Mancini (Century)
The Kill List, by Nadine Matheson (HQ)
Hunted, by Abir Mukherjee (Harvill Secker)
Blood Like Mine, by Stuart Neville (Simon & Schuster UK)
To Die in June, by Alan Parks (Canongate)
Deadly Animals, by Marie Tierney (Zaffre)
The Last Murder at the End of the World, by Stuart Turton (Raven)
All the Colours of the Dark, by Chris Whitaker (Orion)

HT: The Rap Sheet

THEAKSTON OLD PECULIER CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR & McDERMID DEBUT AWARD WINNERS

The 2024 Winners for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year and the new McDermid Debut Award for new writers have been announced. Winners were announced on July 19 at the Theakston Old Peculiar Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate, England. Congratulations to all. 

2024 Theakston Prize 

In the Blink of an Eye, by Jo Callaghan (Simon & Schuster UK)

2024 McDermid Debut Award for new authors

Deadly Animals, by Marie Tierney (Bonnier)

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2024 Theakston Prize Shortlist

The Last Dance, by Mark Billingham (Sphere)
In the Blink of an Eye, by Jo Callaghan (Simon & Schuster UK)
The Secret Hours, by Mick Herron (Baskerville)
Killing Jericho, by William Hussey (Zaffre)
None of This Is True, by Lisa Jewell (Century)
Strange Sally Diamond, by Liz Nugent (Sandycove)

2024 McDermid Debut Award Shortlist 

Crow Moon, by Suzy Aspley (Orenda)
Dark Island, by Daniel Aubrey (HarperCollins)
Knife Skills for Beginners, by Orlando Murrin (Bantam)
Mrs. Sidhu’s Dead and Scone, by Suk Pannu (HarperCollins)
The Library Thief, by Kuchenga Shenjé (Sphere)
Deadly Animals, by Marie Tierney (Bonnier)

2024 THEAKSTON OLD PECULIER CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR SHORTLIST// 2024 McDERMID DEBUT AWARD

The 2024 Shortlists for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year and the new McDermid Debut Award for new writers have been announced. Winners will be announced on July 19 at the Theakston Old Peculiar Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate, England.

2024 Theakston Prize Shortlist

The Last Dance, by Mark Billingham (Sphere)
In the Blink of an Eye, by Jo Callaghan (Simon & Schuster UK)
The Secret Hours, by Mick Herron (Baskerville)
Killing Jericho, by William Hussey (Zaffre)
None of This Is True, by Lisa Jewell (Century)
Strange Sally Diamond, by Liz Nugent (Sandycove)

2024 McDermid Debut Award for new authors

Crow Moon, by Suzy Aspley (Orenda)
Dark Island, by Daniel Aubrey (HarperCollins)
Knife Skills for Beginners, by Orlando Murrin (Bantam)
Mrs. Sidhu’s Dead and Scone, by Suk Pannu (HarperCollins)
The Library Thief, by Kuchenga Shenjé (Sphere)
Deadly Animals, by Marie Tierney (Bonnier)

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HT: The Rap Sheet

THEAKSTON OLD PECULIER CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR SHORTLIST

The shortlist for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2023, produced by Harrogate International Festivals, has been announced today, with six bestselling authors competing to win the UK’s most wanted crime writing prize. The public is now invited to vote for the winner here.

This award celebrates excellence, originality, and the very best in crime fiction from UK and Irish authors. Awarded annually as part of Harrogate International Festivals’ Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, the winner of the most wanted accolade in crime fiction receives a cheque for £3000, and an engraved oak beer cask, hand-carved by one of Britain’s last coopers from Theakstons Brewery. 

THEAKSTON OLD PECULIER CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2023 SHORTLIST

• The Botanist by M.W. Craven (Little, Brown Book Group; Constable)
• Into The Dark by Fiona Cummins (Pan Macmillan; Macmillan/Pan)
• The Locked Room by Elly Griffiths (Quercus)
• Black Hearts by Doug Johnstone (Orenda Books)
• Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister (Penguin Random House; Michael Joseph)
• The It Girl by Ruth Ware (Simon & Schuster)

2023 THEAKSTON OLD PECULIER CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR LONGLIST

Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year announced their 2023 Longlist. Great books. The winner of the award will be announced at Harrogate. Everyone is invited to vote for their favorite long listed book to make the shortlist. Vote here. 

This award celebrates excellence, originality, and the very best in crime fiction from UK and Irish authors. Awarded annually as part of Harrogate International Festivals’ Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, the winner of the most wanted accolade in crime fiction receives a cheque for £3000, and an engraved oak beer cask, hand-carved by one of Britain’s last coopers from Theakstons Brewery. 

THEAKSTON OLD PECULIER CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2023 LONGLIST

Theakstons Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the Year Shortlist

Last month the organizers of the annual Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year announced their longlist. Great books there. Today they announced the shortlist. The winner of the award will be announced at Harrogate.

This award celebrates excellence, originality, and the very best in crime fiction from UK and Irish authors. Awarded annually as part of Harrogate International Festivals’ Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, the winner of the most wanted accolade in crime fiction receives a cheque for £3000, and an engraved oak beer cask, hand-carved by one of Britain’s last coopers from Theakstons Brewery. 

THEAKSTON OLD PECULIER CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR SHORTLIST

• The Night Hawks, by Elly Griffiths (Quercus)
• True Crime Story, by Joseph Knox (Penguin)
• Daughters of Night, by Laura Shepherd-Robinson (Pan)
• Slough House, by Mick Herron (John Murray)
• Midnight at Malabar House, by Vaseem Khan (Hodder Paperbacks)
• The Last Thing to Burn, by Will Dean (Hodder Paperbacks)

THEAKSTON OLD PECULIER CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR

The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2021 was announced last night during opening ceremonies at Theakston Old Peculier Writing Festival being held in Harrogate, England. Chris Whitaker won for We Begin at the End (Zaffre). The win also includes 3000 Pounds and an engraved oak beer cask, hand-carved by one of Britain's last coopere. 

In addition, Ian Rankin and Mark Billingham were names as recipients of the Theakston Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution to Crime Fiction Award for 2021, and 2020. 

HT: The Rap Sheet

2020 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year

Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2020

The Chain by Adrian McKinty


Belfast born Adrian McKinty has been awarded the UK’s most prestigious accolade in crime writing, the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year, for his best-selling thriller, The Chain, that sees parents forced to abduct children to save the lives of their own.

The Chain was chosen by public vote and the prize judges.

From Fictionophile:

What Adrian McKinty says about his win:

“I am gobsmacked and delighted to win this award. Two years ago, I had given up on writing altogether and was working in a bar and driving an uber, and so to go from that to this is just amazing. People think that you write a book and it will be an immediate bestseller. For twelve books, my experience was quite the opposite, but then I started this one. It was deliberately high concept, deliberately different to everything else I had written – and I was still convinced it wouldn’t go anywhere… but now look at this. It has been completely life changing.”

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2020 marks the 16th year of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year award. The prize was created to celebrate the very best in crime fiction and is open to UK and Irish crime authors whose novels were published in paperback from 1 May 2019 to 30 April 2020. The award is run in partnership with T&R Theakston Ltd, WHSmith, and The Mail on Sunday.

THEAKSTON OLD PECULIER CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR SHORTLIST

Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel Of The Year Shortlist

My Sister The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Worst Case Scenario by Helen Fitzgerald
The Lost Man by Jane Harper
Joe Country by Mick Herron
The Chain by Adrian McKinty
Smoke And Ashes by Abir Mukherjee

Have your say. Vote for the ONE shortlisted book that you feel most deserves to be crowned the 2020 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. Voting closes on July 19. Winner will be announced on July 23 in a digital awards ceremony.

Go here to Vote.

2020 marks the 16th year of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year award. The prize was created to celebrate the very best in crime fiction and is open to UK and Irish crime authors whose novels were published in paperback from 1 May 2019 to 30 April 2020. The award is run in partnership with T&R Theakston Ltd, WHSmith, and The Mail on Sunday.

Theakston Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the Year Longlist

2019 marks the 15th year of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year award. The prize was created to celebrate the very best in crime fiction and is open to UK and Irish crime authors whose novels were published in paperback from 1 May 2018 to 30 April 2019. The award is run in partnership with T&R Theakston Ltd, WHSmith, and The Mail on Sunday. The longlist of 18 titles were selected by an Academy of crime writing authors, agents, editors, reviewers and members of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival Programming Committee.

The shortlist of six titles will be announced on 19 May.

The winner will be announced at an award ceremony hosted by broadcaster Mark Lawson on 18 July on the opening night of the 17th Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival at the Old Swan Hotel, Harrogate.

LONGLIST:

Snap by Belinda Bauer – Transworld

Our House by Louise Candlish – Simon & Schuster UK

Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh – Hachette

Wild Fire by Ann Cleeves – Pan Macmillan

This Is How It Ends by Eva Dolan – Bloomsbury Publishing

Take Me In by Sabine Durrant – Hodder & Stoughton

The Dark Angel by Elly Griffiths – Quercus

London Rules by Mick Herron – John Murray Press

Broken Ground by Val McDermid – Little, Brown Book Group

The Quaker by Liam McIlvanney – HarperCollins

The Way of All Flesh by Ambrose Parry – Canongate Books

East of Hounslow by Khurrum Rahman – HarperCollins

Hell Bay by Kate Rhodes – Simon & Schuster UK

Salt Lane by William Shaw – Quercus

The Chalk Man by C. J. Tudor – Penguin Random House

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton – Bloomsbury Publishing

Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan – Simon & Schuster UK

Changeling by Matt Wesolowski – Orenda Books

Executive director of T&R Theakston, Simon Theakston, said: “So many authors on our longlist have been nominees for major mainstream awards. The literary world is perhaps catching up to the fact that crime fiction is leading the publishing world and shaping our cultural landscape. In 2018, sales of crime novels outstripped general fiction for the first time. It’s a genre that dominates the small and big screen, and attracts critical acclaim, as well as being incredibly popular. There is however, only one Crime Novel of the Year, and the reputation of our Award, built over 15 years, makes this accolade hotly contended.”

Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Shortlist

The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Shortlist. The prize was created to celebrate the very best in crime fiction and is open to UK and Irish crime authors whose novels were published in paperback from 1 May 2017 to 30 April 2018.

2018 marks the 14^th year of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year award. The winner will be announced at the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, hosted in Harrogate each July. 

The shortlist of six titles was announced today. It will be followed by a six-week promotion in libraries and in WHSmith stores nationwide. The overall winner will be decided by the panel of Judges, alongside a public vote. The public vote opens on 1 July and closes 14 July at www.theakstons.co.uk.

The winner will be announced at an award ceremony on 19 July at the opening night of the 16th Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate. They’ll receive a £3,000 cash prize, as well as a handmade, engraved beer barrel provided by Theakston Old Peculier. The awards night will also feature the Outstanding Contribution to Crime Fiction Award.

THEAKSTON OLD PECULIER CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR SHORTLIST

• Spook Street, by Mick Herron (John Murray)
• Insidious Intent, by Val McDermid (Little, Brown)
• The Long Drop, by Denise Mina (Harvill Secker)
• A Rising Man, by Abir Mukherjee (Harvill Secker)
• The Intrusions, by Stav Sherez (Faber and Faber)
• Persons Unknown, by Susie Steiner (The Borough Press)