Winner of Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year revealed

Crime Fiction Celebrated at Prestigious Harrogate Awards Ceremony

Traveloasisspot.com – The 2026 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year has been awarded to Elly Griffiths for her imaginative work The Frozen People, a captivating tale that blends detective fiction with science fiction elements. This groundbreaking novel introduces readers to investigator Ali Dawson, who serves as part of an extraordinary time-travelling police cold case team. Her journey takes her back to Victorian London in 1850, where she must unravel a series of murders that will ultimately reshape the fate of contemporary politicians and her own family in the twenty-first century.

Griffiths, whose birth name is Domenica de Rosa, represents one of British literature’s most accomplished crime writers. Throughout her distinguished career, she has earned eight shortlist nominations for this prestigious award. Readers worldwide have come to appreciate her meticulously crafted narratives, particularly her beloved Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries series, which has established her as a master of atmospheric mystery storytelling.

A Competitive Field of Literary Excellence

The competition for this year’s top honour proved particularly fierce, with Griffiths ultimately triumphing over five other distinguished authors. Among the notable contenders was Mick Herron’s Clown Town, the newest addition to his celebrated Slough House series. This particular volume has already achieved remarkable success, having been transformed into an acclaimed Apple TV production featuring Sir Gary Oldman in a leading role.

The remaining shortlisted titles included Tariq Ashkanani’s The Midnight King, Abigail Dean’s The Death Of Us, Alice Feeney’s Beautiful Ugly, and Vaseem Khan’s Quantum Of Menace. Each work demonstrated the remarkable diversity and quality currently flourishing within the crime fiction genre.

Expressing her delight at the victory, Griffiths shared:

“I’m so excited and just so grateful to everybody. I’ve been honoured to be shortlisted eight times but to win is just incredible. A bigger twist than I’ve ever dreamed up in my books.”

Debut Success in Scottish Setting

Separate recognition went to Scottish author Frances Crawford, whose novel A Bad, Bad Place captured the McDermid Debut Award. This compelling thriller transports readers to 1970s Glasgow, where twelve-year-old Janey Devine makes a shocking discovery while walking her dog—she finds the body of a murdered woman. Crawford, who is in her sixties, received congratulations from both Simon Theakston, chairman of T&R Theakston, and Val McDermid, chairwoman of the judges and namesake of the award.

McDermid, celebrated for her Dr Tony Hill mystery series, praised the selection process:

“The 2026 shortlist for the McDermid Debut Award was exceptional, and the judges struggled to say goodbye to any of the contenders. But we couldn’t resist Frances Crawford’s A Bad Bad Place, a moving and engaging thriller set in Glasgow’s Possilpark in the 1970s. It’s an engrossing read, and a remarkable debut from a first-time author in her 60s.”

Additional Honours and Recognition

The ceremony, hosted at the historic Old Swan Hotel in Harrogate, also featured a highly commended mention for Mel Pennant’s A Murder For Miss Hortense. Furthermore, American novelist and former trial lawyer David Baldacci received the Theakston Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution Award for his exceptional service to crime fiction.

Baldacci reflected on his connection to British literature:

“Having cut my youthful teeth on British crime fiction, this award has special significance for me. Having read and loved The Adventure Of The Blue Carbuncle, I recall hoping at the time that this Conan Doyle person had written more stories. A lot more. To join a group of some of the finest writers of any genre is humbling but also immensely thrilling.”

Simon Theakston concluded the celebrations by praising the year’s achievements:

“This was another outstanding year for crime fiction, and we judges faced a difficult task selecting winners from phenomenal shortlists, which truly showcased the depth, breadth and originality of the genre. Our Novel of the Year winner, The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths, an enthralling and endlessly entertaining high-stakes mystery by one of our very best storytellers, had me gripped right from the start.”