It would be a crime to miss this Peculier vote

May 22, 2007: The longlist has been announced for one of the most prestigious awards in the international crime writing calendar — the 3rd Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year, the only literary prize of its kind to be voted for by the general public.

Won by Mark Billingham in 2005 and Val McDermid in 2006, the award longlist once again features an eclectic mix of big names such as PD James and Ruth Rendell as well as aspiring new writers, spanning crime novels across the genre, from historical and police procedural to psychological.

To mark the announcement, for the first time, the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival has commissioned an exclusive whodunnit with celebrated crime author Natasha Cooper, which will challenge crime fans across the globe to solve a unique, web-based competition at www.harrogate-festival.org.uk/crime

Selected by Waterstone’s booksellers, this year’s longlist represents the very best in crime writing.

Festival director Sharon Canavar said: “This is the reader's chance to choose the six shortlisted books from a fantastic range representing the very best in crime writing, from PD James and Ruth Rendell to exciting new writers such as Nick Stone and Sophie Hannah.”

Sponsor Simon Theakston added: “With each year this competition becomes more exciting and I for one cannot wait to start reading the books that have been nominated. We are very proud to be associated with this award and are delighted to see that the longlist once again features a strong mix of newcomers and well-known authors. Now it is up to the public to decide who their winner is.”

Votes can be cast at any Waterstone’s branch in England, Scotland and Wales, or by visiting www.harrogate-festival.org.uk/crime where further information about the prize and the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival can also be found.

Clues for the Whodunit? competition will appear on www.harrogate-festival.org.uk as well as at www.theakstons.co.uk and www.waterstones.com. Budding sleuths will be invited to e-mail their final suspect at the end of the tale.

The reward for the competition winner is an exclusive prize including a full weekend package to the Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate plus a personal tour of the Theakstons brewery, at Masham, by executive director Simon Theakston.