Theakstons crime shortlist revealed

June 28, 2007: The shortlist for the 2007 Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year has been announced and will now go to a public vote prior to final consideration by a final voting panel on July 19.

The shortlist was created after four weeks and thousands of votes by the crime reading public. it is, indeed, the only award of its kind to be voted for by the general public.

The shortlist comprises: Stephen Booth for The Dead Place; Christopher Brookmyre for All Fun and Games Until Somebody Loses an Eye; Allan Guthrie for Two Way Split; Graham Hurley for Blood and Honey; Michael Jecks for The Death Ship of Dartmouth; and Stuart MacBride for Cold Granite.

Voting now continues online with the public’s choice to go forward to the final voting panel on Thursday 19th July. The winner will be announced that evening on the opening night of the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival.

Won by Mark Billingham in 2005 and Val McDermid in 2006, the shortlist represents the diverse crime reading habits of the world and brings together both new and more established authors with crime styles as diverse as comedy, literary noir, historical crime and police procedural.

Executive director of T R Theakston, Simon Theakston, said: “As ever, the shortlist reflects the eclectic mix of crime novels out there, and we hope that the many thousands of readers who voted last year will do so again. We are delighted to be the sponsor of this prestigious literary award which represents the very best in crime fiction.”

Votes can be cast at any of Waterstone’s branches in England, Scotland and Wales, or by visiting www.harrogate-festival.org.uk/crime/ where further information about the prize, a unique Whodunit online crime novel to solve, and details of the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival can also be found.