Previous Award Winners 2005-2012

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2006 |

2007 |

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2011|

2012

2005 | Lazy Bones, Mark Billingham

The first winner of the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 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. 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.”

2006 | The Torment of Others, 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.”

2007 | Two Way Spilt, 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.

2008 | The Tenderness of Wolves, 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.

2009 | Death Message, Mark Billingham

In 2009, Mark Billingham’s novel Death Message beat strong competition to scoop this sought after prize on the opening night of the 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!’

2010 | A Simple Act Of Violence, RJ Ellory

In 2010, R.J. Ellory scooped the award with his novel A Simple Act of Violence, beating off stiff competition from a shortlist that included genre giants Ian Rankin, Peter James and Mark Billingham.

Ellory was completely stunned upon hearing the news: “I don’t think anyone not in my shoes can understand the definition of speechless. I am utterly speechless. This has really taken me aback. I feel acknowledged for doing something different. Thank you, I’m grateful beyond words.”

2011 | 61 Hours, Lee Child

In 2011 the congratulations went to Lee Child, who beat off competition to take home the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award on the opening night of the Festival. Child won for his Jack Reacher thriller 61 Hours.

Child beat off stiff competition from Mark Billingham, hoping to make this year his hat-trick win, as well 2010 Festival Chair, Stuart MacBride. It wasn’t to be Irish debut novelist William Ryan’s year either, and despite critical acclaim for The Anatomy of Ghosts by Andrew Taylor and Blood Harvest by SJ Bolton, Child emerged as a clear

2012| The End of the Wasp Season, Denise Mina

Scottish author Denise Mina scooped the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award with her ninth book The End of the Wasp Season.

Beating off stiff competition from a shortlist that included SJ Watson’s smash hit debut Before I Go To Sleep; veteran crime writer John Connolly’s The Burning Soul; and Steve Mosby’s acclaimed Black Flowers; this is the first time that Mina has been awarded the coveted accolade.