This award is for the best crime novel by a first-time author of any nationality first published in the UK in English during the Judging Period.
| Author | Title | Publisher |
| G.D. Abson | Motherland | Mirror Books |
| Claire Askew | All The Hidden Truths | Hodder & Stoughton |
| Alex Dahl | The Boy At The Door | Head of Zeus |
| Mark Griffin | When Darkness Calls | Little, Brown – Piatkus |
| Chris Hammer | Scrublands | Headline – Wildfire |
| Vicky Newham | Turn A Blind Eye | HQ |
| Laura Shepherd-Robinson | Blood and Sugar | Pan Macmillan – Mantle |
| Catherine Steadman | Something In The Water | Simon & Schuster |
| Søren Sveistrup, tr. Caroline Waight | The Chestnut Man |
Penguin Random House |
| Vanda Symon | Overkill | Orenda |
Maxim Jakubowski (Chair)Maxim worked for many years in book publishing as an editor and launched the Murder One Bookshop, which he owned and ran for over 20 years. He now writes, edits and translates full-time in London. The series The Mammoth Book of Best British Crime Volume, which he edits and now at volume 13, has printed many winners of the CWA Short Story Dagger. His website is maximjakubowski.co.uk.
Susan MoodySusan Moody was born and brought up in Oxford. Her first crime novel, Penny Black, was published in 1984. She has written a number of suspense thrillers. Susan spent two years as Creative Writing Tutor at Bedford Prison and is a former Chairman of the Crime Writer’s Association.
Edwin BuckhalterEdwin Buckhalter is the son of a London bookseller, growing up in the book trade, and founding Severn House Publishers in 1974. Having sold the company in 2017 and ostensibly retired, he still reads widely and avidly, especially his first love of crime fiction, whilst devoting much time as a Trustee of an orchestra and not enough time to watching cricket.
Karen RobinsonKaren Robinson is the Supplements Editor of the Sunday Times. She also writes, on property, education, books, travel and food.
California gang wars in which the power behind the bloody throne is, for once, a woman, whose control of the macho cliques is a subtle blend of aggression and emotional intelligence. Intense, on a knife-edge and constantly defying expectations. A powerful and surprising debut.
