Peculier by Popular Agreement

Twenty books--yes, 20--are currently in contention for the 2007 Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award, to be given out during England’s Harrogate Crime Writing Festival, July 19-22. As the Theakstons folks are fond of pointing out, this is “the only literary prize of its kind to be voted for by the public.” Between now and June 17, you can vote here for your choice among the long-list of titles. A shortlist of half a dozen will then be named, to be followed by a second round of online ballot-marking.

These are the nominees:

• The Dead Place, by Stephen Booth
• All Fun and Games Until Somebody Loses an Eye, by Christopher Brookmyre
• Death of a Chancellor, by David Dickinson
• Never Go Back, by Robert Goddard
• Two-Way Split, by Allan Guthrie
• Little Face, by Sophie Hannah
• Ash & Bone, by John Harvey
• The Stranger House, by Reginald Hill
• The Pure in Heart, by Susan Hill
• Blood and Honey, by Graham Hurley
• The Lighthouse, by P.D. James
• The Death Ship of Dartmouth, by Michael Jecks
• Cold Granite, by Stuart MacBride
• The Excursion Train, by Edward Marston
• Ratcatcher, by James McGee
• After the Armistice Ball, by Catriona McPherson
• Dance with Death, by Barbara Nadel
• Jacquot and the Angel, by Martin O’Brien
• End in Tears, by Ruth Rendell
• Mr. Clarinet, by Nick Stone

Quite a diverse list. I’m just relieved to say that I have read half of the titles nominated. Of those, my personal favorites are MacBride’s Cold Granite (one of January Magazine’s favorite books of 2005), Marston’s The Excursion Train (the second entry in his buoyant series starring mid-19th-century “Railway Detective” Robert Colbeck), James’ The Lighthouse (her 13th novel featuring policeman-poet Adam Dalgliesh), and James McGee’s Ratcatcher, which introduced his swashbuckling Bow Street Runner, Matthew Hawkwood. Unfortunately, I only get to vote for one book.

This, by the way, marks the third-annual Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year competition. Mark Billingham won in 2005, while Val McDermid walked away with the award last year.

Vote here now!