Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year to be announced at 2010 Festival

Occurring during the same dates of the Book Passage Mystery Writers Conference – July 22-25, 2010 – the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival takes place across the ocean in Harrogate, England. Special Guests for the festival, chaired by Stuart MacBride (Logan McRae series), are Christopher Brookmyre (Jack Parlabane series, Angelique De Xavier series), Joanne Harris and Karin Slaughter (Grant County series, Will Trent series).

Conference logo published with permission from
Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival.

A full has been published for the festival. Only a few of these are highlighted below.

Reginald Hill (Dalziel and Pascoe series) will receive the Theakstons Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution to Crime Fiction Award during the introductory session of the festival on Thursday, July 22. At dinner that evening, the book selected as Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year will be announced.

Nominees for Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year include In The Dark by Mark Billingham; The Surrogate by Tania Carver; A Simple Act Of Violence by RJ Ellory; The Crossing Places (Ruth Galloway Mystery, book 1) by Elly Griffiths; Dead Tomorrow (Detective Superintendent Roy Grace series, book 5) by Peter James; Gallows Lane (Inspector Benedict Devlin series, book 2) by Brian McGilloway; Doors Open by Ian Rankin; and Child 44 (Leo Demidov series, book 1) by Tom Rob Smith.

 "120 years of Agatha Christie" will be the festival's Special Event for Friday, July 23. Host Dreda Say Mitchell, Agatha Christie's grandson Mathew Prichard, biographer Laura Thompson and author Andrew Taylor (Lydmouth series) will attempt to explain the causes of Christie's enduring popularity.

On Saturday, July 24, during the session "The Next Big Thing," Val McDermid (Tony Hill / Carol Jordan series) will introduce four new writers considered among 2010's most outstanding new authors.  Belinda Bauer, Attica Locke, Liam McIlvanney and Stuart Neville (Jack Lennon Investigation series) will discuss their debut novels.

The concluding session for Sunday, July 25, will appeal especially to readers of American mystery fiction. In "Double Jefferdy" Jeffery Deaver (Lincoln Rhyme series) and Jeff Lindsay (Dexter series) meet to discuss their works. 

The Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival takes its name from an ale made by the Theakston Brewery, the sponsor of the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award. The £3000 monetary award is accompanied by an oak beer barrel provided by the brewery.