The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths has been announced as the winner of Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2026, the UK and Ireland’s most prestigious crime fiction award. The award was presented by Harrogate International Festivals at a special ceremony hosted by writer and broadcaster, Steph McGovern, on the opening night of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, Thursday, July 23.
The other finalists include: The Midnight King by Tariq Ashkanani (Profile Books, Viper); The Death of Us by Abigail Dean (HarperCollins, Hemlock Press); Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney (Pan Macmillan, Pan Fiction); Clown Town by Mick Herron (John Murray Books, Baskerville); and Quantum of Menace by Vaseem Khan (Bonnier Books, Zaffre).
Also announced was the McDermid Debut Award, named in recognition of iconic crime writer Val McDermid, which was won by Frances Crawford for A Bad, Bad Place. In addition, playwright Mel Pennant was awarded "Highly Commended" for A Murder for Miss Hortense.
The other presentation of the evening featured bestselling US novelist David Baldacci receiving the Theakston Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution Award in recognition for his exceptional contribution to the crime thriller genre, honoring a remarkable career that has captivated millions of readers worldwide and helped shape modern suspense fiction. Baldacci is the latest in a line of acclaimed authors to have received the coveted award, with previous winners including Sir Ian Rankin, Lynda La Plante, James Patterson, John Grisham, Lee Child, Val McDermid, P.D. James, Michael Connelly, Martina Cole, and last year’s recipient, Elly Griffiths.
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