Val McDermid and Chris Simms battle for the prize

Award Shortlist On Special Offer In Asda Stores

Holmes and Watson, Morse and Lewis, Daziel and Pascoe – great things often come in pairs. And the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year is thrilled to announce a brand new partnership with Britain’s most popular supermarket: Asda.

Supermarkets and crime novels are two things destined to get the heart racing. The tackle of trolleys, battle for bread and milk mayhem: it’s murder. And now customers can also be gripped and thrilled by some of the best crime novels of the year.

Peter James

After the frozen pea aisle, get chilled to the bone by bagging a Mark Billingham with your beer, a Val McDermid with your McVities or a bit of Daziel and Pascoe with the Tabasco.

Now in its fifth year, the Theakstons Old Peculier award is open to British and Irish paperbacks published in 2008.

Supermarkets can be inspirational to crime authors – and not just because the queues fill them with criminal intent. One of the shortlisted authors is the bestselling (and tall) Lee Child who named his hero Jack Reacher after his wife told him if the novels didn’t sell he could get a job reaching things down from supermarket shelves.

The novels will be promoted in selected stores nationwide from the 7 – 27 July.
Steph Bateson, Books Buying Manager for Asda said: ‘Asda are thrilled to be working with the Festival to promote the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award. Crime is our biggest selling genre and the award represents the best novels within that genre.  We are very much looking forward to working with the festival to drive voting and raise national consumer awareness of the Asda book offer.’

Simon Theakston Executive Director of T&R Theakston said:  ‘The award is going from strength to strength and we are delighted to welcome Asda on board, they have fast become a force to be reckoned within book selling, bringing books to an ever wider audience, and I am looking forward to another exciting award.’

Peter Robinson and the Asda book buying team

The shortlist in full:

Death Message (Mark Billingham)
The Accident Man (Tom Cain)
Bad Luck and Trouble (Lee Child)
Gone to Ground (John Harvey)
Ritual (Mo Hayder)
The Garden of Evil (David Hewson)
A Cure for all Diseases (Reginald Hill)
The Colour of Blood (Declan Hughes)
Dead Man’s Footsteps  (Peter James)
Broken Skin (Stuart MacBride)
Beneath the Bleeding (Val McDermid)
Exit Music (Ian Rankin)
Friend of the Devil (Peter Robinson)
Savage Moon (Chris Simms).

Mark Billingham and John Harvey battle it out

The 14 short-listed titles that will vie with each other to take the coveted title of Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2009 have been revealed!

Now it is down to YOU – the readers – to decide the winner. The Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year is the only award of its kind voted for by the general reading public. The winning title will be announced at the opening of the 2009 Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, Harrogate on Thursday 23 July at a glittering Awards Ceremony hosted by Radio 4’s Mark Lawson. And unlike most literary award presentations – YOU – can be there when it happens! Tickets are available to book now online or by calling the Ticket Hotline on 0845 130 8840.

Not read some (or any!) of the best crime novels
of the last year?

The 14 short-listed titles will be on promotion in Asda stores for three weeks from 7th July at the amazing offer price of 2 books for £7 making reading crime fiction great value for money.

Voting is now open. Make sure your favourite crime book is a real contender for the title – click here to cast your vote!

The 2009 short-list in full

Death Message – Mark Billingham

The Accident Man – Tom Cain

Bad Luck And Trouble – Lee Child

Gone To Ground – John Harvey

Ritual – Mo Hayder

The Garden of Evil – David Hewson

A Cure For All Diseases – Reginald Hill

The Colour Of Blood – Declan Hughes

Dead Man’s Footsteps – Peter James

Broken Skin – Stuart MacBride

Beneath The Bleeding – Val McDermid

Exit Music – Ian Rankin

Friend Of The Devil – Peter Robinson

Savage Moon – Chris Simms