Each year, a longlist of 18 titles is carefully selected by a panel of industry experts. The public is then invited to take part in two key stages of the voting process: first, to help determine the shortlist of six novels from the longlist, and later, to help choose the overall winner from the shortlist. In both stages, the public vote is combined with the judging panel’s decision to reach the final outcome. The 2025 winner will be revealed at the Opening Ceremony of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival on Thursday 17 July 2025, hosted by broadcaster and author Mark Lawson, who will interview the shortlisted authors live on stage before announcing this year’s champion. The winner will receive a £3,000 cash prize and a hand-engraved oak beer cask, crafted by one of Britain’s last remaining coopers at Theakston’s Brewery in Masham, North Yorkshire. Past winners include Mark Billingham, Denise Mina, Lee Child, Val McDermid, M.W. Craven and 2024’s winner, Jo Callaghan.