The six-strong shortlist also includes The Last Dance (Sphere) and Herron for The Secret Hours (Baskerville) alongside Jewell’s None of This is True, In the Blink of an Eye by Jo Callaghan (Simon & Schuster UK) and Killing Jericho by William Hussey (Zaffre, Bonnier).

The shortlist “take readers on a roller-coaster ride from serial-killer stalked fairgrounds and Blackpool backstreets to the Houses of Parliament, as established bestsellers compete with talented newcomers for the coveted awards,” organisers said.

Regarded as the most prestigious award in crime fiction, the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year, marks its 20th year in 2024.The award celebrates excellence, originality and the very best in crime fiction from UK and Irish authors. A highlight in the literary calendar, past winners include Clare Mackintosh, Mick Herron, Val McDermid and Lee Child. Awarded annually as part of Harrogate International Festivals’ Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, the winner of the most wanted accolade in crime fiction receives a cheque for £3,000 and an engraved oak beer cask, hand-carved by one of Britain’s last coopers from Theakston’s Brewery, nestled in the heart of North Yorkshire in the beautiful village of Masham.

Fans can vote for the winner here:  https://harrogatetheakstoncrimeaward.com/vote/

The 6 titles on the shortlist will be decided by public votes, alongside votes from the Awards Academy, the Crime Writing Festival Programming Committee, and representatives from T&R Theakston Ltd, The Express, and Waterstones.

The Winner will be announced, live at the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award ceremony, on the opening night of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, in Harrogate, on Thursday 18 July 2024.