Bloody Scotland 2020 – Debut Shortlist and McIlvanney Prize Longlist
Debut shortlist & McIlvanney Prize longlist 2020 announced!
There will be no Bloody Scotland gathering in Stirling in September but the prizes must go on!
The shortlist for the Bloody Scotland Debut Crime Book of the Year and the longlist for the McIlvanney Prize for the Scottish Crime Book of the Year have been announced. The McIlvanney Prize recognises excellence in Scottish crime writing, and includes a prize of £1,000 and nationwide promotion in Waterstones.
With thanks to The Glencairn Glass, the World’s Favourite Whisky Glass and the Official Glass for Whisky for sponsoring the prize this year, and to Culture & Business Fund Scotland who have generously matched the funding.
Congratulations to all!

Debut Shortlist
Deborah Masson, Hold Your Tongue (Transworld)
Stephen O’Rourke, The Crown Agent (Sandstone)
Marion Todd, See Them Run (Canelo)
Francine Toon, Pine (Doubleday)

The McIlvanney Prize – Scottish Crime Book of the Year
Lin Anderson, Time for the Dead (Macmillan)
Lisa Gray, Bad Memory (Thomas & Mercer)
Andrew James Greig, Whirligig (Fledgling)
Doug Johnstone, A Dark Matter (Orenda)
Val McDermid, How the Dead Speak (Little, Brown)
Ben McPherson, The Island (HarperCollins)
James Oswald, Bury Them Deep (Headline)
Ambrose Parry, The Art of Dying (Canongate) aka Chris Broomyre and Marisa Haetzman
Mary Paulson-Ellis, The Inheritance of Solomon Farthing (Mantle)
Caro Ramsay, The Red, Red Snow (Severn House)
Craig Robertson, Watch Him Die (Simon & Schuster)
Francine Toon, Pine (Doubleday)
Ian Rankin, Denise Mina, Richard Osman and Karen Robinson announce the lucky nominees
This section: Books, Talks, Poetry and Creative Writing Events, Events, Fairs, Festivals and Fundraisers, New Books by Scottish Writers
Related Pages
- The Two Roberts – An Evening With Damian Barr
- Glass and Concrete Project Launch
- Cottiers – Doors Open Days 2026
- Women Who Built Scotland – Talk
- Ross Wilcock Poetry Workshop at Byres Road Book Festival
- Ando Glaso Roma Fest – Symposium University of Glasgow
- Byres Road Book Festival 2026
- Glasgow Youth Film Festival 2026: Derek vs Derek
- Glasgow Youth Film Festival Closing Gala: Dead Poets Society
- Glasgow Youth Film Festival 2026
- GYFF 2026 Opening Gala: Sense and Sensibility
- Glasgow’s Lost Nightclubs Exhibition – Doors Open Days Festival Hub
- UK TOUR – Madina The Enlightened City Glasgow
- Yorkhill Gala Day 2026
- ARC Conversations: Different by Design – Rethinking Treatment Discovery
- Young Musicians Fundraiser – celebrating the life of Hamish Imlach
- Will Wilson Photography Exhibition – Artist’s Talk, Clydebank Town Hall
- Reel Against Racism: Community Ceilidh
- Glasgow Shanty Day 2026
- Wedding Open Evening at Cottiers