Meet the Judges...
Val McDermid
An icon of crime fiction, Val McDermid has sold over 18.5 million books across the globe and is translated into more than 40 languages. Her multi-award winning series and standalone novels have been adapted for TV and radio, and she has served as a judge for both the Women’s Prize for Fiction and the 2018 Man Booker Prize. Val’s choice of the year’s best debuts at the #TheakstonsCrime New Blood panel has provided a platform for some outstanding new voices in crime fiction.
“Curating the New Blood panel over twenty years exposed me to an extraordinary range of crime fiction I might otherwise have missed. I’m hoping that this new award will do the same for the army of avid readers out there looking for new talent.”
-Val McDermid
Nadine Matheson
Nadine Matheson is an author, the current chair of the Crime Writers' Association, host of The Conversation with Nadine Matheson Podcast and a former criminal defence lawyer. Her bestselling debut crime fiction novel, The Jigsaw Man, launched the Inspector Henley series and has been translated into fifteen languages. The Kill List, the third book in the series, was longlisted for the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2025. The Shadow Carver is the fourth book in the series.
"I'm most excited to discover the breadth and variety of debut voices, and to see how each new writer brings their own fresh perspective to crime fiction. It’s a real privilege to witness the genre growing and evolving through the eyes of first-time authors."
-Nadine Matheson
Zoe West
Zoe West is the Books Editor for Woman&Home, Woman’s Weekly, Woman, and Woman’s Own, where she curates and manages the book coverage. This year, Zoe expanded the brands' digital presence by launching the woman&home online books newsletter, which has quickly become a popular fixture for her readers. In her day-to-day role, Zoe is deeply involved in the literary world, whether she is interviewing authors, hosting live events, or seeking out exciting new voices to share with her audience.
“It’s always exciting to discover a new voice - a part of my job I particularly enjoy. So, to celebrate a debut author at such a prestigious event - and in honour of a crime writing legend - is thrilling indeed.”
-Zoe West
Jon Coates
Jon Coates is currently the News Editor of the Daily and Sunday Express and has reviewed crime fiction and thrillers for the Express and Mirror titles for more than a decade. He is an experienced book prize judge having spent three years helping award the CWA Historical Dagger, two years judging the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize and earlier this year was a judge for the Crime and Thriller prize at the British Book Awards.
“As a judge for the McDermid Debut Award it's exciting to discover and champion new authors who will hopefully go on to have stellar careers for decades.”
-Jon Coates
Elly Griffiths
Elly Griffiths is the bestselling author of the Dr Ruth Galloway and Brighton Mysteries series. Before turning to crime fiction, she wrote four novels under her real name, Domenica de Rosa, and worked as an editor in children’s publishing. Elly’s work has won the Edgar Award and the CWA Dagger in the Library, and her books have been translated into over 30 languages.
“It’s important to hear new voices. A genre can become stale and self-satisfied if it doesn’t get an injection of fresh blood - to use an old cliché/metaphor.”
-Elly Griffiths