Brookmyre takes home Theakston Old Peculier crime novel of the year award
Scottish author Chris Brookmyre has been named as the winner of a major crime-writing prize, beating renowned fellow Scots novelist Val Mcdermid to the accolade.
Brookmyre’s book Black Widow – which features his long-time character investigative detective Jack Parlabane – scooped the Theakston Old Peculier crime novel of the year award at the annual ceremony last night.
He was up against five other authors on the shortlist, including Mcdermid for Out Of Bounds, part of her Inspector Karen Pirie series. Mcdermid also won the title in 2006 and last year took home the awards’ outstanding contribution to crime fiction award.
Brookmyre also fended off competition from Eva Dolan (After You Die), Sabine Durrant (Lie With Me), Mick Herron (Real Tigers) and Susie Steiner (Missing, Presumed).
The six shortlisted authors were chosen from a longlist of 18 British and Irish crime novels published in paperback between 1 May, 2016 and 30 April, 2017.
Brookmyre was presented with his award, which included a £3,000 cash prize, at a ceremony during the opening night of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate by broadcaster and author Mark Lawson and title sponsor Simon Theakston.
The event also saw Lee Child become the recipient of the eighth outstanding contribution to crime fiction award.
Mr Theakston, executive director of T&R Theakston, said: “We’re particularly delighted to be honouring Lee Child. He is nothing short of a phenomenon.”
He added that Child is “very deserving” of the accolade, adding that he “will have his rightful place in a pantheon of legendary crime authors who have achieved this honour to date”.
The British author follows in the footsteps of Mcdermid, Lynda La Plante, Ruth Rendell, PD James and Colin Dexter in taking the title.