Who will you vote for?

Have you read a crime novel that has imprinted itself on your mind? Do you push it into the hands of anyone who crosses your path? This is your opportunity to make your passion heard – to the nation. The Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year is a literary award with a difference: it’s voted for by you.

Promoted throughout the UK in 2009 in partnership with hugely popular UK supermarket chain Asda, readers took advantage of a fantastic deal on the short listed books in Asda’s stores and then voted for their favourite title online at www.theakstons.co.uk.

The winning author receives £3,000 and a handmade, engraved beer barrel, which is presented at the opening ceremony of the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival by sponsor, executive director Simon Theakston.

And the Award Goes to… The Story so Far

Mark Billingham

The first winner of the award in 2005 was Mark Billingham for his novel Lazy Bones. He pipped Simon Kernick, Val McDermid, Ian Rankin, Minette Walters, Andrew Taylor, Reginald Hill and Alexander McCall Smith to the post.

Mark was dubbed a ‘rising star’; his detective Tom Thorne series has since put him firmly in the crime writing hall of fame. A previous stand-up comic, his charisma has attracted legions of dedicated fans, including the famous ‘Billingham Babes’ - an all-female fan club who have made Mark something of the Tom Jones of the crime writing world.

Of his win at the time, Mark said: “I am absolutely delighted to be the winner of the first Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year … I am incredibly proud to have beaten so many great writers. I am really thrilled that so many people voted.”

Val McDermid

2006 saw a victorious Val McDermid when her novel The Torment of Others won the title. She beat Lindsay Ashford, Stephen Booth, Martin Edwards, Susan Hill and Ian Rankin. McDermid is one of the biggest names in crime fiction today. Her bestsellers have sold over an incredible ten million copies. The clinical psychologist Tony Hill who first appeared in her novel The Mermaids Singing became a household name with the ITV hit Wire in the Blood.

The win was a particularly special moment because of Val’s close association with the Festival. Of her win, Val said: “I was Programming Chair for the first three years of the Festival when it was just a twinkle in our eyes. I’ve been involved with the Festival from the very beginning and it feels very special to be honoured here because of the closeness of my involvement with it.”

Allan Guthrie

The 2007 Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year saw Allan Guthrie‘s novel, Two Way Split beat strong competition to scoop the sought after prize.

Allan Guthrie said of his win: “I am stunned, overwhelmed and very pleased. Thank you to everyone who had faith in the book and everyone who voted.”

He beat off strong competition including Stephen Booth, Christopher Brookmyre, Graham Hurley, Michael Jecks and Stuart MacBride.

The win was something of an inspiration for budding crime authors – Allan had faced hundreds of rejection slips before Two-Way Split was picked up by an independent press in America. Two-Way Split was then snatched up by Polygon and his fifth novel Slammer was published in 2009.

Stef Penney

In 2008, the debut novel of Stef Penney, The Tenderness of Wolves conquered crime writing stalwarts Simon Beckett, Mark Billingham, Christopher Brookmyre, Reginald Hill, Graham Hurley, Peter James, Simon Kernick, Stuart MacBride, Alexander McCall Smith, Peter Robinson and CJ Samson.

Stef Penney said of her win: “I feel a bit of a fraud as it is only my first book and I don’t really feel like a proper crime writer, but I am delighted to have won.”

The Tenderness of Wolves also won the Costa prize in 2006.

The 2009 Winner

Mark Billingham with his award-winning novel, Death Message

Mark Billingham’s novel Death Message beat strong competition to scoop this sought after prize on the opening night of the 2009 Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival.

Mark repeated his success from 2005 when he won the very first Crime Novel of the Year award with LazyBones. In total over 5000 votes were cast by the general public in the online poll to decide the winner.

After the announcement Mark Billingham said, ‘To even be on the shortlist with such fantastic authors was amazing and then to win was absolutely amazing!’

The 2009 short list was: