Thursday, July 22, 2010

“Violence” Brings Victory

British thriller writer R.J. “Roger” Ellory has won the 2010 Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award for his book A Simple Act of Violence, beating a field of seven other distinguished authors.

As a press release explains, “The Birmingham-born author was presented the prize by broadcaster and regular festival-goer Mark Lawson at the opening night party (Thursday 22nd July) of the Theakstons Old Peculiar Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate [England]. He receives a £3,000 cash prize, as well as a handmade, engraved beer barrel provided by Theakstons Old Peculier.”

Simon Theakston, the executive director of T&R Theakston, said: “The standard of the shortlist was particularly high this year and our decision was a tough one. However, R.J. Ellory’s A Simple Act of Violence is a most impressive, fascinating, and surprising book and a worthy winner of this year’s Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award. A fast-paced thriller, each page seems to bring about a new twist and take you deeper into a world that could only have come from a true master of crime fiction.”

The shortlist of nominees for this commendation can be found here. The original longlist of 20 competitors is posted here.

During the same ceremony, Reginald Hill (The Woodcutter) was given the inaugural Theakstons Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution to Crime Fiction Award.

READ MORE:R.J. Ellory Wins Crime Novel of the Year Award,” by Alison Flood (The Guardian); “Harrogate,” by Dan Waddell (Murder Is Everywhere).

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