Login
Account
Basket
Celebrating the best debut crime writers
Named in recognition of world-famous crime writer, Val McDermid, who co-founded the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in 2003 and whose dedication to fostering new voices in crime fiction through the New Blood panel is legendary, the McDermid Debut Award seeks to continue her legacy, celebrating and platforming the best debut crime writers in the UK. The Award creates an opportunity for readers to discover the next generation of crime authors, showcasing the most original, compelling new voices in the genre and shining a spotlight on the stars of the future.
A shortlist of six titles is selected by an academy of established crime and thriller authors, and the winner is determined by a judging panel of industry experts, including literary, broadcasting and media figures. The Award is presented on the opening night of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival.
Past McDermid Debut Award winners
Marie Tierney was named winner of the inaugural McDermid Debut Award Winner in 2024 for her novel Deadly Animals. Birmingham-born Tierney, who now lives in the Fens, worked in education before becoming a full-time writer.
Deadly Animals tells the story of road–kill obsessed teenager Ava Bonney,who discovers the mauled body of a schoolmate and embarks on a daring quest to unravel the truth behind the string of chilling deaths plaguing her Birmingham community.
Explore HIF
See what’s on
Explore our full range of festivals and events across Harrogate, all year round!
Event listings