Theakstons Old Peculier Award shortlist unveiled
4th July 2011
The shortlist for the 2011 Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award has been unveiled, with six titles in the running for the GBP 3,000 prize.
Mark Billingham's From the Dead, Blood Harvest by S. J. Bolton and Lee Child's 61 Hours are all in contention for the award, which is open to British and Irish authors whose novels were published in paperback between January 1st 2010 and 31st May 2011.
Dark Blood by Stuart MacBride, William Ryan's The Holy Thief and The Anatomy of Ghosts by Andrew Taylor complete the list.
The winner of the prize will be announced on the opening night of the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate on July 21st, with the victorious author also receiving a handmade, engraved beer barrel.
Simon Theakston, executive director of T&R Theakston, commented: '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.'
This year's festival will also see P. D. James receive the second Theakstons Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution to Crime Fiction Award, in recognition of her 50-year career as a crime writer.