Frances Crawford, who is from the North herself, has just won the McDermid Debut Award for her first novel, A Bad, Bad Place. The book follows 12-year-old Janey Devine, who discovers the body of a murdered woman while walking her dog.
Crawford was presented with the prize by Simon Theakston, chairman of T&R Theakston and chair of judges Val McDermid – whom the award was named in recognition of.
Frances Crawford (Image: Alex Farnham/Bloody Scotland/PA Wire)
McDermid, best known for her Dr Tony Hill mystery series, said: “The 2026 shortlist for the McDermid Debut Award was exceptional, and the judges struggled to say goodbye to any of the contenders.
“But we couldn’t resist Frances Crawford’s A Bad Bad Place, a moving and engaging thriller set in Glasgow’s Possilpark in the 1970s.
“It’s an engrossing read, and a remarkable debut from a first-time author in her 60s.”
During the ceremony, held at the Old Swan Hotel in Harrogate, author Mel Pennant was named Highly Commended for her novel A Murder For Miss Hortense, while American novelist David Baldacci, a former trial lawyer, was also honoured for his outstanding contribution to the crime thriller genre.
Meanwhile, The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths, which follows a detective working for a time-travelling police cold case team, has been named crime novel of the year.
British author Griffiths, whose real name is Domenica de Rosa, has been shortlisted for the prize eight times and is known for intricately plotted novels such as her Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries series.
Speaking on the winners, Simon Theakston said: “Congratulations to all of our brilliant winners.
“This was another outstanding year for crime fiction, and we judges faced a difficult task selecting winners from phenomenal shortlists, which truly showcased the depth, breadth and originality of the genre.
“Our Novel of the Year winner, The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths, an enthralling and endlessly entertaining high-stakes mystery by one of our very best storytellers, had me gripped right from the start.
“We are delighted that global crime fiction icon, David Baldacci, has been awarded the Theakston Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution Award in recognition of his stellar writing career, and we’re honoured that he has travelled to Harrogate to receive the award in person and take part in the festival.”
