Crime Novel of the Year Longlist 2013

Every year there’s one award that shines brightly in the crime writer’s calendar. The Theakstons Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the Year Award has a special place in the heart of crime, not only because it’s presented at the opening of the Harrogate crime writing festival but because it’s a public vote, so readers get to choose their favourite from the short list of books.

The winning author receives a cash prize of £3000 and a handmade, engraved beer barrel provided by Theakstons Old Peculier. 2013 is the ninth award and is sponsored by Theakstons and WH Smith. The long list has just been announced.

The Theakstons Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the Year Long List

The Guilty One by Lisa Ballantyne
Finders Keepers by Belinda Bauer
Rush Of Blood by Mark Billingham
Dead Scared by S J Bolton
The Affair by Lee Child
A Foreign Country by Charles Cumming
Safe House by Chris Ewan
Not Dead Yet by Peter James
Siege by Simon Kernick
Prague Fatale by Philip Kerr
The Rage by Gene Kerrigan
Birthdays for the Dead by Stuart MacBride
The Dark Winter by David Mark
The Lewis Man by Peter May
Gods And Beasts by Denise Mina
Stolen Souls by Stuart Neville
Sacrilege by S. J. Parris
A Dark Redemption by Stav Sherez

From the long-list of 18 titles, a shortlist of six will be announced on 1 July, from which the overall winner will be decided by the results of a public vote online at Theakstons (voting opens Thursday 4 July) and the deliberation of the judging panel.

The 2013 award ceremony hosted by radio broadcaster Mark Lawson will take place on 18 July at the opening night of Europe’s biggest crime writing event, the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, at the Old Swan Hotel, Harrogate.

Read more about the CWA Dagger in the Library Longlist.

Don’t forget to vote after the 4th July, so why not start reading them now?