The Creak on the Stairs
Eva Björg Ægisdóttir
Orenda
The John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger
Winner 2021
The Creak on the Stairs
Eva Björg Ægisdóttir
Orenda
Subtle, complex and reflective, this is a tale of angst and guilt as the secrets of a small but seemingly respectable town are unearthed layer by layer. Atmospheric and immensely satisfying, with a heroine who has great series potential.
This award is for the best crime novel by a first-time author of any nationality first traditionally published in the UK in English during the Judging Period. ‘Best crime novel by a first-time author’ means that the author must not have had a novel of any sort traditionally published before under any name whatsoever. In the case of novels with more than one author, all the authors must meet this requirement.
Shortlist
City of Ghosts
Ben Creed
Welbeck Publishing
The One That Got Away
Egan Hughes
Sphere, Little, Brown Book Group
The Bone Jar
S W Kane
Thomas & Mercer
Fortune Favours the Dead
Stephen Spotswood
Headline, Wildfire
Three-Fifths
John Vercher
Pushkin Press
Current Judges
Edwin Buckhalter (Chair)
Edwin 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, while devoting much time as a trustee of an orchestra and not enough time to watching cricket.
Susan Moody
Susan 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 Chair of the Crime Writers’ Association.
Karen Robinson
Karen Robinson was the Supplements Editor of The Sunday Times. She also writes, on property, education, books, travel and food.
Teddy Hayes
Teddy moved to London in 1996 from Ohio, and began writing a detective series of novels and producing his own plays as well as feature films. He started publishing his novels about Devil Barnett, a black CIA hitman-turned-private-detective in Harlem. The first novel Blood Red Blues was published in 1997. In 2019, he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Equal Arts Foundation in the U.K.
Longlist 2021
| Author | Title | Publisher |
|---|---|---|
| Eva Björg Ægisdóttir | The Creak on the Stairs | Orenda |
| Susan Allott | The Silence | Borough, HarperCollins |
| Emma Christie | The Silent Daughter | Welbeck Publishing |
| Catherine Cooper | The Chalet | HarperFiction, HarperCollins |
| Ben Creed | City of Ghosts | Welbeck Publishing |
| Judi Daykin | Under Violent Skies | Joffe Books |
| Egan Hughes | The One That Got Away | Little Brown, Sphere |
| S W Kane | The Bone Jar | Thomas & Mercer |
| Rob McInroy | Cuddies Strip | Ringwood Press |
| Stephanie Scott | What’s Left of Me Is Yours | Orion, Weidenfeld |
| Stephen Spotswood | Fortune Favours the Dead | Headline, Wildfire |
| John Vercher | Three-Fifths | Pushkin Press |
| S R White | Hermit | Headline |