Top authors go head-to-head in Mcilvanney Prize battle

IT is a much-sought after literary prize bearing the name of one of Scotland’s best-selling authors. Now four writers are battling to win the prestigious Mcilvanney Prize, formally known as the Scottish Crime Book of the Year.

This year, one of those hoping to take the prize is Liam Mcilvanney, the son of the famous crime writer who sparked what became known as Tartan Noir.

But he faces tough competition.

His book, The Quaker, which is Mr Mcillvaney’s third novel, is shortlisted alongside Follow The Dead by Lin Anderson, Places In The Darkness by Chris Brookmyre and The Man Between by Charles Cumming.

The award was renamed two years ago in honour of the late writer, who penned classics such as Laidlaw and Docherty. He died in 2015. The winner will be announced on September 21 at the Bloody Scotland crime writing festival in Stirling.

This year’s judges are comedian and Strictly Come Dancing star Susan Calman and journalist Alison Flood, chaired by journalist and book reviewer Craig Sisterson.

Denise Mina scooped the prize last year for The Long Drop, her first foray into true crime, making her the first female recipient. Her book was a fictionalised account of the life of Glasgow killer Peter Manuel, who was hanged in 1958 for several murders.

Previous winners include Craig Russell, Peter May, Malcolm Mackay and Chris Brookmyre,

Today, we publish a short extract from each of the award-nominated works. And tomorrow, in The Herald on Sunday, we feature exclusive interviews with each of the shortlisted authors.

The four writers reveal how to get away with the perfect murder.

They wax lyrical about the trials and tribulations of gruesome murder methods, highlighting what they believe is the best way to bump off a character.