Mina on Their Minds

For the second time in a row, Scottish author Denise Mina has won the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award, on this occasion for her novel Gods and Beasts (Orion), the third entry in Mina’s Alex Morrow series. The announcement came during this week’s Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate, England.

A news release quotes Mina’s response to the news: “I’m really quite flabbergasted. This was such a hard book. I really love this book and it means a lot other people appreciate it as it could have crashed and burned. I’m so delighted and so glad to have another gigantic ostentatious award in the shape of a Theakstons beer barrel that I don’t have room for on my mantelpiece!”

Gods and Beasts was one of six works shortlisted for this prize. The others were Rush of Blood, by Mark Billingham (Little, Brown); Safe House, by Chris Ewan (Faber and Faber); The Lewis Man, by Peter May (Quercus); Stolen Souls, by Stuart Neville (Vintage); and A Dark Redemption, by Stav Sherez (Faber and Faber).

Congratulations to all of the nominees.

(Hat tip to Crime Fiction Lover.)