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
- Palestinian Film Festival – Lochinver Scottish Highlands
- Pints of Knowledge, Glasgow. ‘Big Songs Small Rooms’
- Maryhill Festival 2026
- Book Launch: A Thing So Delicate: The Hidden Voices of Scotland’s Mass Concrete Viaducts. By Moira McPartlin and Colin Baird
- The Bookmonger – Nicola Meighan presents An Evening with Damian Barr
- Spiral Scratch – Kevin Gilday New Material plus Open Mic
- Off the Beatson Track Fundraiser
- Govan International Festival and Carnival Parade
- Bangla Mela, Celebrating Commonwealth Games 2026
- All Elements Scottish Hip Hop Jam 2026
- Ann MacKinnon, Scottish Writers Centre
- tell it slant at Locavore
- Commonwealth Community Festival
- Arepas for Venezuela – Fundraiser
- Scottish Writers Centre Speakeasy The Griffin
- Voices of the Clyde
- Watershed Festival at The Briggait
- Soulguided Soundbath at Arlington Baths
- Wellspring – Tiles and Tales
- Glasgow Merchant City Festival 2026