Winner of Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year revealed

The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths, which follows a detective working for a time-travelling police cold case team, has been named crime novel of the year.The book is the first in a new series and sees investigator Ali Dawson travel to Victorian London in 1850 to explore a series of killings that have 21st century consequences for politicians and her own family.British author Griffiths, whose real name is Domenica de Rosa, has been shortlisted for the prize eight times and is known for intricately plotted novels such as her Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries series.British author Griffiths has been shortlisted for the prize eight times (Gerard Binks/PA)Her latest book saw off competition from five other shortlisted authors to win the 2026 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year.Griffiths said: “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.”Other novels up for the prize included Clown Town, the latest instalment in Mick Herron’s highly popular Slough House series, which has been adapted into an award-winning Apple TV show starring Sir Gary Oldman.The Midnight King by Tariq Ashkanani, The Death Of Us by Abigail Dean, Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney, and Quantum Of Menace by Vaseem Khan were also among the shortlisted books.Scottish writer Frances Crawford won the McDermid Debut Award for A Bad, Bad Place (Gerard Binks/PA)A Bad, Bad Place by Scottish writer Frances Crawford won the McDermid Debut Award.The gritty thriller, set in 1970s Glasgow, centres around 12-year-old Janey Devine, who discovers the body of a murdered woman while walking her dog.Crawford said she was “incredibly proud” after being presented with the prize by chairman of T&R Theakston Simon Theakston, and chairwoman of the judges Val McDermid – for whom the award was named.Scottish writer McDermid, known for her Dr Tony Hill mystery series, said: “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.”Scottish writer Crawford said she was ‘incredibly proud’ after being presented with the prize (Gerard Binks/PA)During the ceremony, held at the Old Swan Hotel in Harrogate, author Mel Pennant was named Highly Commended for her novel A Murder For Miss Hortense.US novelist David Baldacci, a former trial lawyer, was also honoured for his outstanding contribution to the crime thriller genre.Read MoreOn receiving the Theakston Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution award, Baldacci said: “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. And it’s also a reminder that we need to continue our collective mentorship and inspiration of new voices in our writing community.“Indeed, we need storytellers from across the human spectrum perhaps now more than ever, for reasons that are all too apparent for anyone who has lifted a pen or turned a page. Thank you again for such an honour.”US novelist David Baldacci was honoured for his outstanding contribution to the crime thriller genre (Gerard Binks/PA)Mr Theakston said: “Congratulations to all of our brilliant winners.“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.“We are delighted that global crime fiction icon, David Baldacci, has been awarded the Theakston Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution Award in recognition of his stellar writing career, and we’re honoured that he has travelled to Harrogate to receive the award in person and take part in the festival.”