Elly Griffiths’ novel The Frozen People has been named crime novel of the yearThe 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 has been shortlisted for the prize eight timesHer latest book saw off competition from five other shortlisted authors to win the 2026 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year. Scottish writer Frances Crawford won the McDermid Debut Award for A Bad, Bad PlaceA Bad, Bad Place by Scottish writer Frances Crawford won the McDermid Debut Award. “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. On receiving the Theakston Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution award, Baldacci said: “Having cut my youthful teeth on British crime fiction, this award has special significance for me.