Friday, June 27, 2008


Best Of The Best Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel Of The Year

Press Release:Thursday 26 Jun 2008

Announced today by Waterstone's and the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival the shortlist represents authors from all over the country and all aspects of the crime genre. Set in places as varied as Norfolk to Aberdeen and from Africa to the wilds of Canada. With DI's, DCI's, Detective Superintendents and forensic anthropologists to an investigator in the time of Henry VIII, the shortlist represents the very best of crime writing in Britain today.

Simon Robertson, Waterstone's Crime Buyer today said 'This shortlist is a who's who of Crime writers at the moment. Sherlock Holmes couldn't guess the winner from this lot.'
Simon Theakston, Executive Director of T&R Theakston said 'This is a really strong shortlist and the competition is growing stronger each year. It represents a broad range of authors and I am really looking forward to the debate'

The short list is:

Simon Beckett (The Chemistry of Death),
Mark Billingham (Buried),
Christopher Brookmyre (A Tale Etched in Blood and Hard Black Pencil),
Reginald Hill (The Death of Dalzeil),
Graham Hurley (One Under),
Peter James (Not Dead Enough),
Simon Kernick (Relentless), Stuart MacBride (Dying Light),
Alexander McCall Smith (Blue Shoes and Happiness),
Stef Penney (The Tenderness of Wolves),
Peter Robinson (Piece Of My Heart),
C.J. Sansom (Sovereign)

1 comment:

Vanda Symon said...

So many great crime books to read, so little time. I've read The Chemistry of Death, which was terrific.

Is it just me or do other people find their mind automatically reads Peculier as peculiar?