Mackintosh, McDermid Take Old Peculier Awards

mackintoshclare iletyougo
I think that sometimes we get so wrapped up in the mystery-fiction awards presented in the United States that we neglect those given in other countries.

So it is with great delight to announce the Theakston Old Peculier Awards.

British author Clare Mackintosh won the novel of the year award for her outstanding novel I Let You Go.

This has been one of my favorite novels of the year—an intense psychological thriller melded with a suspenseful police procedural. It revolves around the death of a five-year-old boy in a hit-and-run accident on a rainy British evening.

I Let You Go was a bestseller when it was released last year in the United Kingdom. It made its US debut in May. Mackintosh included plenty of surprises and twists.

The award was given during the Harrogate Crime Writing Festival. Mackintosh received a £3,000 (about $3,930) cash prize, as well as a hand-made, engraved oak beer cask made by Theakston Old Peculier.

I also am happy to announce that Val McDermid was honored with the Theakston Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution to Crime Fiction Award. Also well deserved.

The award is considered to be the UK’s top crime-fiction award, sponsored by Theakston's Old Peculier. The English brewery is the 16th-largest brewer in the UK by market share, and the second-largest brewer under family ownership.

Mackintosh was in good company in her category. Also nominated for best novel were Mark Billingham for Time of Death, Robert Galbraith for Career of Evil, Eva Dolan for Tell No Tales, Renee Knight for Disclaimer, and Adrian McKinty for Rain Dogs.

Oline Cogdill
2016-08-02 22:00:00