Crime writer Elly Griffiths has won the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2026 at the opening night of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate.
Griffiths picked up the prestigious award for her novel The Frozen People during a ceremony at the Old Swan Hotel on Thursday evening, hosted by writer and broadcaster Steph McGovern.
The novel, the first in a new series, follows cold case investigator Ali Dawson as she travels back to Victorian London in 1850 to investigate a series of murders with links to the present day.
Judges described the book as "bold", "superbly plotted" and "highly original".
The Sussex-based author, whose books have sold more than five million copies worldwide, had previously been shortlisted for the award eight times and received the festival's Outstanding Contribution Award in 2025.
She was presented with a £3,000 prize and an engraved beer cask handcrafted by one of Britain's last coopers.
Speaking after her win, Griffiths said:
"I'm so excited and just so grateful to everybody. I've been honoured to be shortlisted eight times but to win is just incredible. A bigger twist than I've ever dreamed up in my books."
The festival also celebrated debut crime writing, with Frances Crawford winning the McDermid Debut Award for A Bad, Bad Place. Playwright Mel Pennant received a Highly Commended recognition for A Murder for Miss Hortense.
Meanwhile, internationally bestselling American author David Baldacci was presented with the Theakston Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution Award in recognition of his career, which has seen him sell more than 150 million books worldwide.
The winners were announced as the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival got underway in Harrogate.
The four-day event, which runs until Sunday (26th July), features more than 140 authors and includes appearances from Anthony Horowitz, Ann Cleeves, Alice Feeney, Holly Jackson, Brenda Blethyn, Adam Kay and Denise Mina.
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