Lee Child scoops Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year for 61 HOURS

A few hours ago, British-born crime writer Lee Child was named the winner of the 2011 Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year for his Jack Reacher novel 61 HOURS, beating out competition including twice-winner Mark Billingham and Scottish 'gore with guffaws' master Stuart MacBride.

The announcement was made on the opening night of the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, being held in Harrogate, England this weekend. It is the first time Child has won the £3,000 prize and handmade, engraved beer barrel trophy provided by the brewery sponsor.

Simon Theakston, judge and T&R Theakston executive director, said: "All the novels on this year's shortlist were of an exceptionally high standard but 61 Hours was a clear winner. The appeal of the eternal wanderer Jack Reacher is hard to resist as he travels the frozen landscape of South Dakota, fighting the good fight. 61 Hours is a great example of Lee Child's immense talent, and we're thrilled to present him with this much deserved award for the first time."

Although I'm a big fan of both Billingham and MacBride, I'm happy to see Child recognised for 61 HOURS, as I really enjoyed that book when I read it last year. You can read my thoughts on this particular Jack Reacher tale at the Reviewing the Evidence website here. Child was also the first-ever participant in Crime Watch's ongoing 9mm interview series - you can (re)read his quickfire interview here.

Now in its seventh year, the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award, in partnership with Asda, and this year in association with the Daily Mirror, was created to celebrate the very best in crime writing and is open to British and Irish authors whose novels were published in paperback between 1st January 2010 and 31st May 2011.

 A special presentation was also made to 91-year-old novelist P D James, the winner of the second Theakstons Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution to Crime Fiction Award. Booktrade.info reported that the 91-year-old Baroness was delighted to collect the award: "It is always a satisfaction and an encouragement for a writer to win a prize, but I am particularly proud to be honoured by the Theakstons Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution to Crime Fiction Award because it comes from Harrogate, a town which it is always a delight to visit and which is the home of one of the most distinguished and pleasurable English literary festivals."

Theakston added, “We are also hugely honoured and excited to welcome the crime fiction grandmaster P D James to Harrogate this year, to collect her Outstanding Contribution to Crime Fiction Award. Few are as prolific as she, dominating the genre for over 50 years. This award acknowledges that immense achievement."

Congratulations to Baroness James - it's terrific to see her honoured in this way. I really, really enjoyed interviewing her prior to her 90th birthday last year - she was an absolute delight to interview - charming, witty, honest, and gracious. She also participated in the 9mm series - you can read her answers here.

Comments welcome.

Billingham, MacBride, Child and more battle for Theakston!

The shortlist for the 2011 Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award has been announced, with a very strong longlist of 18 good and great books (including the likes of FIFTY GRAND by Adrian McKinty, FEVER OF THE BONE by Val McDermid, THE TWELVE by Stuart Neville, and A ROOM SWEPT WHITE by Sophie Hannah)cut down to a final six. The winner to be revealed on the first night of the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate on Thursday 21st July. Here are your remaining contenders:

• FROM THE DEAD by Mark Billingham
• BLOOD HARVEST by SJ Bolton
• 61 HOURS by Lee Child
• DARK BLOOD by Stuart MacBride
• THE HOLY THIEF by William Ryan
• THE ANATOMY OF GHOSTS by Andrew Taylor

There are some pretty good books there! I've read three of the six; Billingham, Child, and MacBride, and enjoyed them all. I've also got THE ANATOMY OF GHOSTS on my TBR bookshelf at home, and have heard some really good things about SJ Bolton.

Now in its seventh year, the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award, in partnership with Asda, and this year in association with the Daily Mirror, was created to celebrate the very best in crime writing and is open to British and Irish authors whose novels were published in paperback between 1st January 2010 and 31st May 2011.

The winner will receive a £3,000 cash prize, as well as a handmade, engraved beer barrel provided by Theakstons Old Peculier. “I’m delighted to see that the public have recognised the talents of a broad range of authors in this year’s shortlist, from a debut novelist to names that have been bestsellers for several years," said Simon Theakston, Executive Director of T&R Theakston. "This list reflects the wealth of crime fiction talent we have within the UK and Ireland that continues to grow each year."

Billingham is looking to make this year a hat-trick after winning the prize in 2005 and 2009 (for LAZY BONES and DEATH MESSAGE respectively). Lee Child, meanwhile, will be hoping that this will be his lucky year; the bestselling author has yet to win the prize, despite the fact that one of his Jack Reacher novels reportedly sells somewhere in the world every few seconds. Both authors will go head to head with last year’s Festival Chair Stuart MacBride, Andrew Taylor (whose Cambridge-set historical chiller won much critical praise upon publication), SJ Bolton (hailed as the “high priestess of rural gothic crime”), and debutant crime writer William Ryan.


So, who do you think should win? Have you read any of the shortlisted novels? Were any of the other 12 novels on the longlist your favourite instead (see full longlist here)? Comments welcome.

Longlist for CWA Dagger in the Library announced

The Crime Writers’ Association is delighted to announce the longlist for the CWA Dagger in the Library 2011. The CWA Dagger Awards celebrate the very best in crime and thriller writing, and are the longest established literary awards in the UK. These premier awards in crime fiction are recognised internationally as a mark of excellence. The CWA Dagger in the Library is sponsored by The Random House Group.

Authors are nominated by UK libraries and Readers’ Groups and judged by a panel of librarians. The Dagger is awarded to an author for a body of work, rather than a single title. The prize money is £1500 to the author, plus £300 to a participating library's readers' group.

The shortlist will be announced at the CWA reception at CrimeFest, Bristol on May 20. The winner will be announced, along with other Daggers, during the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, Harrogate, on the evening of July 22

Dagger longlist 2011

• Bolton, SJ


• Brodrick, William


• Ellory, RJ


• Goodwin, Jason


• Griffths, Elly


• Hannah, Sophie


• Harvey, John


• Hayder, Mo


• Hill, Susan


• Hurley, Graham


• James, Peter


• Kerr, Philip


• Rickman, Phil


• Sansom, CJ


• Taylor, Andrew


• Tyler, LC

Nice to see a couple of authors I met and interviewed last year, RJ Ellory and Peter James, on the list, along with some other terrific crime writers.