{"id":3774,"date":"2026-05-28T08:32:40","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T08:32:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/prestigious-crime-writing-award-makes-history-with-its-2026-shortlist-of-fresh-talent\/"},"modified":"2026-05-28T08:32:40","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T08:32:40","slug":"prestigious-crime-writing-award-makes-history-with-its-2026-shortlist-of-fresh-talent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/prestigious-crime-writing-award-makes-history-with-its-2026-shortlist-of-fresh-talent\/","title":{"rendered":"Prestigious crime writing award makes history with its 2026 shortlist of fresh talent"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_1cf1db\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">The five authors in the running for the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize 2026 include a Scottish journalist, a playwright and a crime writer who was tutored by bestselling author Louise Welsh<\/h2>\n<div class=\"Byline_byline-container__K_Owl\" data-testid=\"byline\"><span class=\"Byline_byline-content-wrapper__Imque\" data-testid=\"byline-content\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"Byline_author-badge-date-wrapper__Q7jj1\">\n<div class=\"Byline_author-and-badge-wrapper__2dsv1\">\n<div class=\"Authors_authors-container__wVWas\" data-testid=\"byline-author\" data-tmdatatrack=\"author\" style=\"--authors-by:&quot;By&quot;\"><span><span><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"AuthorLink_author-link__rg5qj\" data-tmdatatrack=\"author\" data-testid=\"byline-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/authors\/aimee-walsh\/\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35 __className_1cf1db\">Aim\u00e9e Walsh<\/strong><\/a><\/span> Columnist and U35 Deputy Editor<\/span><span> and <strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35 __className_1cf1db\">Lucinda Cameron Press Association Scotland<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"\" data-testid=\"byline-publishedDate\"><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37170572\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Five authors are vying for the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize 2026\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37170572.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/2_Rear-View-Of-Woman-Holding-Book-Against-Lake.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37170572.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/2_Rear-View-Of-Woman-Holding-Book-Against-Lake.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37170572.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/2_Rear-View-Of-Woman-Holding-Book-Against-Lake.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37170572.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/2_Rear-View-Of-Woman-Holding-Book-Against-Lake.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Five authors are vying for the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize 2026\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Five authors are vying for the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize 2026<cite aria-label=\"Image: Getty Images\/EyeEm\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Getty Images\/EyeEm)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A prestigious award for first-time crime <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/lifestyle\/international-booker-prize-taiwan-travelogue-37188667\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">writers <\/a>has unveiled an all-female shortlist for the very first time, organisers have confirmed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Five authors are vying for the Bloody <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/scotland\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Scotland<\/a> Debut Prize 2026, with the winner due to be revealed at the Bloody Scotland festival in Stirling in September.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Crime <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/lifestyle\/britains-most-joyful-books-named-37185867\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">fiction <\/a>is a powerhouse of the modern publishing industry, consistently dominating bestseller lists. This insatiable appetite for thrilling narratives has created a thriving ecosystem for fresh talent, allowing specialised celebrations like the Bloody Scotland festival to catapult new voices into the mainstream and continually reinvent a genre that shows absolutely no signs of slowing down.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Among those shortlisted is <em>A Bad, Bad Place<\/em> by Frances Crawford, who completed the University of Glasgow&#8217;s creative writing course at the age of 60, having been mentored by bestselling crime author Louise Welsh.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37214825\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37214825\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"ENBARGOED UNTIL 0001 THURSDAY MAY 28 An undated handout photo issued by Bloody Scotland of Kirsty Lockwood, who's book 'We Know What You Did' has been nominated in the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize 2026. Issue date: Wednesday May 27, 2026.\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37214825.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_ENBARGOED-UNTIL-0001-THURSDAY-MAY-28-An-undated-handout-photo-issued-by-Bloody-Scotland-of-Kirsty-Lockwood-whos-book-We.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37214825.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_ENBARGOED-UNTIL-0001-THURSDAY-MAY-28-An-undated-handout-photo-issued-by-Bloody-Scotland-of-Kirsty-Lockwood-whos-book-We.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37214825.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_ENBARGOED-UNTIL-0001-THURSDAY-MAY-28-An-undated-handout-photo-issued-by-Bloody-Scotland-of-Kirsty-Lockwood-whos-book-We.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37214825.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_ENBARGOED-UNTIL-0001-THURSDAY-MAY-28-An-undated-handout-photo-issued-by-Bloody-Scotland-of-Kirsty-Lockwood-whos-book-We.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Kirsty Lockwood, who's book 'We Know What You Did' has been nominated in the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize 2026.\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Kirsty Lockwood, who&#8217;s book &#8216;We Know What You Did&#8217; has been nominated in the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize 2026.<cite aria-label=\"Image: Copyright remains with handout provider\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Copyright remains with handout provider)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Also in contention are <em>Original Sins<\/em> by Linda Duncan McLaughlin, a playwright and screenwriter for <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/all-about\/bbc\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">BBC<\/a> Scotland&#8217;s River City, and <em>We Know What You Did<\/em> by Scottish journalist Kirsty Lockwood. <em>The Vanishing Place<\/em> by Zoe Rankin, who was raised in Scotland but now resides in New Zealand, is equally in the running, alongside <em>Liar Thief<\/em> by May Rinaldi, who is based in Dumfries and Galloway.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Celebrated crime writer Denise Mina, who serves as guest programmer for the festival, offered her congratulations to the shortlisted writers. She said: &#8220;As a previous judge of the Women&#8217;s Prize for Fiction, I am absolutely delighted to see that the 2026 Bloody Scotland Debut shortlist is entirely made up of women.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;For decades, shortlists only had occasional women or none at all. A debut is always a howl into an indifferent abyss. Sometimes the abyss is listening and it thinks you&#8217;re brilliant. Congratulations!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Want to hear the latest books news and reviews from The Mirror&#8217;s resident bookworm? Follow Aim\u00e9e Walsh on Tiktok and <\/strong><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"InstagramLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/thereadparts\/?hl=en\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The judging panel for the award comprises broadcaster Bryan Burnett and crime writer Vaseem Khan, with Bloody Scotland co-founder Alex Gray serving as chair. She said: &#8220;Lin Anderson and I decided from the start of Bloody Scotland that we wanted to bring on the crime writers of tomorrow as well as showcasing the best of Scotland and elsewhere.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;Now, as the chair of the judging panel for the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize, I&#8217;m thrilled to read the shortlist and help select the winner each year.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The recipient of the award will be revealed on the festival&#8217;s opening evening at the Church of the Holy Rude on September 18. The prize receives sponsorship from The Glencairn Glass.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Kirsty Nicholson, marketing director at Glencairn, said: &#8220;We&#8217;re always excited to see the shortlist for the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize and this year it&#8217;s particularly encouraging to see so many talented women represented.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;We&#8217;re also delighted to see Frances Crawford included following her success in winning our 2023 Glencairn Glass Crime Short Story Competition \u2013 it&#8217;s wonderful to see her career continuing to flourish.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;We congratulate all of the shortlisted authors and wish them the very best of luck.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">Love reading? Join Dr. Aim\u00e9e Walsh and our community of fellow readers in the <\/strong><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Mirror Book ClubLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/mirrorbookclub\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">Mirror Book Club<\/a><\/strong><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"> to dive deeper into the books everyone is talking about.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/lifestyle\/crime-fiction-scotland-prize-award-37214826\" target=\"_blank\">Source link<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The five authors in the running for the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize 2026 include a<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3775,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3774","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-crime"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2_Rear-View-Of-Woman-Holding-Book-Against-Lake.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3774","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3774"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3774\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3775"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3774"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3774"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3774"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}