Best British and Irish Crime Novel 2016 Announced

On the opening night of the 14th Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate the Winner of Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2016 was finally announced. With all voices summed up for the shortlist of six, the Award went to I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh

Clare Mackintosh first thriller I Let You Go was one of the fastest selling titles of 2015 and became a Sunday Times bestseller and a Richard & Judy book club winner. Clare spent twelve years in the police force, including time on CID, and as a public order commander. She left the police in 2011 and now writes full time. Praised widely for its astonishing twist, overseas rights have now sold in 30 countries.

Clare was presented the award by title sponsor Simon Theakston and broadcaster Mark Lawson at the opening night of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival. The annual Festival, hosted in Harrogate, is the world’s biggest celebration of the genre.

She beat off stiff competition from the shortlist of six, whittled down from a longlist of 18 crime novels published by British and Irish authors whose novels were published in paperback from 1 May 2015 to 30 April 2016.

Source: http://harrogateinternationalfestivals.com