Awards News: Scottish Crime Book of the Year - Shortlist announced

I've just received the following press release announcing the shortlist for the Scottish Crime Book of the Year, the winner will be announced at Bloody Scotland.

SHORTLIST ANNOUNCEMENT: THE DEANSTON SCOTTISH CRIME BOOK OF THE YEAR

Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival and the Deanston Distillery are delighted to announce the shortlist for the third annual Deanston Scottish Crime Book of the Year. The award, which recognises excellence in Scottish crime writing, includes a prize of £1000 and nation-wide promotion in Waterstone’s, will be announced at a gala event on Saturday 20 September as part of the Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival. The previous winners are Malcolm Mackay with How A Gunman Says Goodbye in 2013 and Charles Cumming with A Foreign Country in 2012.

The shortlist, which was chosen by a panel of readers from a longlist of 49 books, is as
follows:
Chris Brookmyre, Flesh Wounds
Neil Broadfoot, Falling Fast
Natalie Haynes, The Amber Fury
Peter May, Entry Island
Louise Welsh, A Lovely Way To Burn
Nicola White, In The Rosary Garden

Magnus Linklater, journalist and former newspaper editor; Angie Crawford, Scottish
Buyer, Waterstones, and Jenny Niven, Portfolio Manager for Literature, Creative Scotland,
form the 2014 Deanston panel of judges.

Dom Hastings, Festival Manager, Bloody Scotland, said:
‘We are delighted to be working with Deanston again on what is increasingly one of the most prestigious prizes on the Scottish literary scene – and especially given that the lineup this year is so strong. Christopher Brookmyre, Peter May and Louise Welsh are well known to both Scottish and international audiences, but it’s great to be able to welcome Natalie Haynes, known for her work in television and comedy rather than writing, with her first novel, and brand new writers Neil Broadfoot and Nicola White. They’ve all written fantastic books, which take a variety of approaches to the whodunnit structure, whether they’re experimenting with form and darker tones, trying to get inside the mind of a disturbed teenager, creating a dystopian plague-ridden London, examining the murky underworld beneath Edinburgh’s political sheen, imagining reincarnation around the Highland Clearances or exploring the restrictions of convent school life. The strength and diversity of this year’s shortlist proves that Scottish crime writing is still burgeoning and pushing boundaries, whilst enthralling readers.’


AUTHOR COMMENT:
Neil Broadfoot:
‘Being shortlisted for the Deanston is an absolute honour – and totally surreal. The crime-writing scene is bursting with incredible talent and great people at the moment, and to be plucked from all those superb writers to be shortlisted for the Book of the Year Award along with some of the biggest names in the business is a humbling experience. I’ve been a fan of Bloody Scotland as a reader since the festival began, so to be here now on the shortlist is just fantastic. Bloody brilliant, in fact!’

Chris Brookmyre:
‘It is an almighty validation to see Flesh Wounds on this shortlist. I believe that it is the most accomplished novel I have written, so having won plaudits for my earlier humorous work, it is particularly heartening to have the greater maturity and complexity of my more recent writing recognised.

Natalie Haynes:
‘I’m thrilled that Amber Fury has made the Deanston shortlist. This book is - aside from being a psychological thriller - my love letter to Edinburgh. When I was writing it, I hoped very much that Scottish readers would see it as one of their own. I couldn’t be more proud or delighted.’

Peter May:
‘I’m honoured to be on the shortlist for the Deanston Scottish Crime Book prize which, in its third year is going from strength to strength.’

Louise Welsh:
‘I'm surprised and delighted to be nominated for the Deanston Scottish Crime Book of the Year Award, it's lovely to be part of an award that celebrates crime fiction in Scotland.’

Nicola White:
‘I’ve lived in Scotland for thirty years but today I’m feeling freshly adopted. It’s a huge honour to be nominated for the Deanston Prize with my first book, particularly among such talented company and given the mighty strengths of Scottish crime writing now.’