Scotland's Finest

The winners were revealed for the 2023 McIlvanney Prize and The Bloody Scotland Debut Prize. Prior to last night's awards dinner announcement, the finalists for both prizes led the iconic torchlit procession from Stirling Castle through the historic old town this evening accompanied by the pipes and drums of the Stirling and District Schools Pipe Band. The McIlvanney Prize is awarded to the best Scottish Crime book of the year (renamed in 2016 in memory of William McIlvanney, often described as the "Godfather of Tartan Noir"); and the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize is awarded to the best first-time crime novelist - although this year, the McIlvanney winner was also a debut novelist. Congrats to all the winners and finalists!

McIlvanney Prize:  Squeaky Clean, by Callum McSorley (Pushkin)

Also nominated:

• Ritual of Fire, by D.V. Bishop (Macmillan)
• The Things We Do to Our Friends, by Heather Darwent (Penguin)
• The Maiden, by Kate Foster (Mantle)
• Penitent, by Mark Leggatt (Fledgling Press)
• The Bookseller of Inverness, by S.G. Maclean (Quercus)
• 989, by Val McDermid (Little, Brown)
• The Second Murderer, by Denise Mina (Vintage)
• Cast a Cold Eye, by Robbie Morrison (Macmillan)
• A Heart Full of Headstones, by Ian Rankin (Orion)
• The Devil’s Playground, by Craig Russell (Little, Brown)
• An Honourable Thief, by Douglas Skelton (Canelo)

Debut Prize:  The Maiden, by Kate Foster (Mantle)

Also nominated:

• Unsolved, by Heather Critchlow (Canelo)
• The Things We Do to Our Friends, by Heather Darwent (Penguin)
• Squeaky Clean, by Callum McSorley (Pushkin)
• The Unforgiven Dead, by Fulton Ross (Inkshares)