Chris Brookmyre and MW Craven celebrated in Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel shortlist

The shortlist for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2025 has been revealed, including beloved crime writers such as Chris Brookmyre and MW Craven.

The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel prize is the UK and Ireland’s most prestigious crime-fiction award, seeking to celebrate the very best of the genre.

The shortlist for the McDermid Debut Award has also been announced. Named in recognition of world-famous crime writer Val McDermid, the award is now in its second year and seeks to celebrate “exciting fresh voices” in the genre.

The winners of both awards will be revealed on the opening night of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival which is running from the 17th to 20th July. 

The winner, who is set to receive £3,000 and a handmade oak beer cask provided by T&R Theakston Ltd, will be selected by a panel of seven expert judges alongside a public vote which will represent the eighth judge.

Readers can vote for their choice. The public vote will close on 10th July.

Three former winners are in contention for the award, including 2017 champion Chris Brookmyre who is nominated for his innovative thriller, The Cracked Mirror.

2021 winner Chris Whitaker is shortlisted for All the Colours of the Dark, a million-copy US bestseller, alongside 2023 champion MW Craven who is nominated for his novel The Mercy Chair.

Highly commended in 2023, Elly Griffiths has been shortlisted for the seventh time, this year for The Last Word.

An alumnus of the festival’s “New Blood” panel which supports fresh talent, Abir Mukherjee is shortlisted for his work Hunted, while the debut novel Deadly Animals by Marie Tierney – which won the inaugural McDermid Debut Award in 2024 – is also on the shortlist.

Simon Theakston, chairman of T&R Theakston, said: “The six thrilling, chilling and hugely entertaining novels on our shortlist highlight the exceptional depth and range of British crime fiction and offer something for every crime fiction fan. We urge readers to get involved and vote for their favourite novels to win the award – and the iconic beer cask trophy – so have your say today.”

The winner of the McDermid Debut Award will be decided by a panel of expert judges without a public vote. All shortlisted authors receive a full weekend pass to the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival and the winner will receive a £500 cash prize.

Broadcaster Louise Minch has been shortlisted for her haunting novel Isolation Island. Other shortlisted works include I Died at Fallow Hall by Bonnie Burke-Patel,  Nilesha Chauvet’s Her Two Lives, Sick to Death by former NHS nurse Chris Bridges, Sean Watkin’s Black Water Rising, and A Reluctant Spy by David Goodman.

McDermid said: “If, like me, you love reading, you’re always on the lookout for exciting fresh voices. And you need look no further than this talented selection of debut authors who will thrill, excite and intrigue you.”

Chief executive of Harrogate International Festivals, Sharon Canavar, said: “It’s exciting to see such a wide range of sub-genres represented across the shortlists, and timely themes tackled with such originality and insight. We are looking forward to celebrating all of these incredible shortlisted writers and their brilliant books at what promises to be an unmissable awards ceremony on the opening night of the festival.”