Most Peculier

The longlist of 20 nominees for the 2010 Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award was announced this morning. In contention are:

• In the Dark, by Mark Billingham (Little, Brown)
• If It Bleeds, by Duncan Campbell (Headline)
• The Surrogate, by Tania Carver (Little, Brown)
• The Business, by Martina Cole (Headline)
• A Simple Act of Violence, by R.J. Ellory (Orion)
• Until It’s Over, by Nicci French (Penguin)
• The Crossing Places, by Elly Griffiths (Quercus)
• Cold in Hand, by John Harvey (Arrow)
• Skin, by Mo Hayder (Transworld)
• Vows of Silence, by Susan Hill (Vintage)
• The Dying Breed, by Declan Hughes (John Murray)
• Dead Tomorrow, by Peter James (Pan Books)
• Target, by Simon Kernick (Transworld)
• A Darker Domain, by Val McDermid (HarperCollins)
• Gallows Lane, by Brian McGilloway (Pan Macmillan)
• Geezer Girls, by Dreda Say Mitchell (Hodder)
• Singing to the Dead, by Caro Ramsay (Penguin)
• Doors Open, by Ian Rankin (Orion)
• All The Colors of Darkness, by Peter Robinson (Hodder)
• Child 44, by Tom Rob Smith (Simon & Schuster)

Between now and Friday, June 11, readers may vote online for their favorite book. Click here to do so.

The top eight vote-getters from this first poll will be announced on Thursday, July 1, at which time members of the public will be asked to vote once more. A single winner will finally be declared on the opening night of the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate, Thursday, July 22. The victor will receive £3,000 in cash, plus a handmade, engraved beer barrel provided by Theakstons Old Peculier.