Revealed, the 18 crime novels vying for the most prestigious award in thriller writing

Voting has opened for the 'Oscars' of crime writing with publication of the 18 books long-listed for the prestigious Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year award 2025. Now in its 21st year and supported by the Daily and Sunday Express, it remains one of the crime world's most covered gongs.

Crime fans can vote for their favourite, with the most popular making a final shortlist of six books and the winner announced on the opening night of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival on July 17. Previous recipients include Jo Callaghan, Lee Child, Mick Herron, M W Craven, Steve Cavanagh and Clare Mackintosh.

The festival takes place in the North Yorkshire spa town of Harrogate from July 17 to 20. Thousands of crime writing fans from all over the world descend on the famed Old Swan Hotel, scene of Agatha Christie's infamous 1926 disappearance, to celebrate the best in crime writing over four days.

This year's programming chair is Slow Horses creator Mick Herron and special guests include Lee and Andrew Child, Attica Locke, Mark Billingham and Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh among many others. The prestigious crime novel of the year award kicks off the opening night of the festival.

Simon Theakston, Chairman of title sponsor T&R Theakston, said: "The award is a vital platform for recognising and celebrating British crime writing talent both new and established, and once again our Awards Academy have selected another thrilling crop of books for our longlist. Now it's time for readers to have their say, and we encourage everyone to get involved and vote for their favourites!"

Express Editor-in-Chief Thomas Hunt said: "It's a great pleasure to support the 'Oscars' of the crime writing world - a genre that gives so much pleasure to millions of readers every year. We wish all long-listed authors the best of luck."

THE 18 CRIME NOVELS OF THE YEAR:

The Cracked Mirror by Chris Brookmyre (Little, Brown)

Our Holiday by Louise Candlish (HarperCollins)

A Stranger in the Family by Jane Casey (HarperFiction)

The Mercy Chair by M W Craven (Little, Brown)

The Wrong Sister by Claire Douglas (Michael Joseph)

The Last Word by Elly Griffiths (Quercus Books)

Estella's Revenge by Barbara Havelocke (Hera Books)

Redemption by Jack Jordan (Simon & Schuster)

The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby by Ellery Lloyd (Pan Macmillan)

Finding Sophie by Imran Mahmood (Raven Books)

The Woman on the Ledge by Ruth Mancini (Cornerstone)

The Kill List by Nadine Matheson (HarperCollins)

Hunted by Abir Mukherjee (Vintage)

Blood Like Mine by Stuart Neville (Simon & Schuster)

To Die in June by Alan Parks (Canongate)

Deadly Animals by Marie Tierney (Bonnier Books)

The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton (Raven Books)

All the Colours of the Dark by Chris Whitaker (Orion)

• To vote for your crime novel of the year, visit by May 15. The shortlist will be announced on June 13 and the winner on July 18