Winner - My Sister, the Serial Killer
My Sister, the Serial Killer
Atlantic Books
What could have been treated as a niche book was championed by Atlantic Books—and loved by the British Book Awards judges. “Funny”, “shocking”, “fascinating”, “fresh” were some of the terms which show how captivated they were by Oyinkan Braithwaite’s début.
The comic writing and new approach to the crime and thriller genre ensured her first novel stood out in a crowded market. With a fascinating protagonist who is a brazen murderer but never gets caught, and no “whodunit” element, it is the story of one sister blindly protecting another because, as the tagline reads, “blood is thicker than water”.
The judges felt these were just some of the ways that the book expanded the horizons of crime fiction. An impressive marketing push from Atlantic helped to garner the book support from the Richard & Judy Book Club and it was a Waterstones Book of the Month. The paperback sold especially well, with a sweep of supermarket spots. “For an indie publisher to get this wind in its sails and chase success is impressive,” commented one of the judges for this category. This first novel by a Nigerian writer has become a global success; rights were sold in 32 languages.
The Shortlist
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My Sister, the Serial KillerOyinkan Braithwaite (Atlantic Books)The story of two sisters, one a serial killer, the other her unwitting accomplice and protector. Atlantic turned this comic crime novel by young Nigerian Oyinkan Braithwaite into a worldwide hit. -
The Hunting PartyLucy Foley (HarperCollins)The standout cover disrupted norms for the genre and made a lasting impression with readers, and a meticulously planned campaign ensured The Hunting Party’s success in a crowded market. -
How the Dead SpeakVal McDermid (Little, Brown)It is not easy to grow sales in a long-running series, but the 11th book in the much-loved Tony Hill and Carol Jordan series from Val McDermid bucked the trend. A strong pre-publication campaign saw hardback sales 25% up on the previous book. -
The Silent PatientAlex Michaelides (Orion)This début psychological thriller kept readers guessing until the end. A huge marketing campaign hooked readers with #BreaktheSilence, so everybody wanted to know why Alicia shot her husband. The Silent Patient quickly became a staple on bestseller lists. -
ImpostorLJ Ross (Dark Skies Publishing)'Impostor' was a success last year as the début publication for Dark Skies Publishing. Author and founder L J Ross believed in her “digital-first” publishing strategy, and it paid off: Impostor had 30,000 pre-orders. -
Blue MoonLee Child (Bantam Press)Will readers ever tire of Jack Reacher? The pace, ferocious violence and thrilling narratives keep fans coming back for more. After a huge marketing effort, which included Transworld’s biggest ever outdoor advertising campaign, Child topped the UK Top 50.
