Bloody Scotland – McIlVanney Longlist!

Submitted: 1st July 2026

Bloody Scotland – McIlVanney Longlist!

Today is the day!

Just look at this! The amazing Longlist for Bloody Scotland 2026 and it’s a humdinger of a list. Get yourself to the nearest indie bookshop to pick up your copies. Don’t think the judges are going to have an easy ride here!

Judges:

Author and broadcaster – Sally Magnusson

Radio and podcast presenter – Nicola Meighan

Crime blogger – Gordon McGhie.

The 2026 longlist includes last year’s winner, Tariq Ashkanani and last year’s debut winner David Goodman. It also includes two other former McIlvanney Prize winners, Chris Brookmyre and Callum McSorley and FOUR of the five women crime writers who have been shortlisted for the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize 2026:

Bloody scotland

THE HOLLOW BOYS by Tariq Ashkanani (Viper)
138 MAIN STREET by Gavin Bell (S&S)
QUITE UGLY ONE EVENING by Chris Brookmyre (Abacus)
A BAD, BAD PLACE by Frances Crawford (Bantam)
UNKNOWN by Heather Critchlow (Canelo Crime)
SOLITARY AGENTS by David Goodman (Headline)
WE KNOW WHAT YOU DID by Kirsty Lockwood (Orion)
RAT RACE by Callum McSorley (Pushkin Vertigo)
THE DIARY OF LIES by Philip Miller (Polygon)
THE PINNACLE by Abir Mukherjee (Harvill)
THE VANISHING PLACE by Zoe Rankin (Viper)
LIAR THIEF by May Rinaldi (Black Spring Crime)

The list features eight authors who have been or are currently shortlisted for the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize, indicative of the important role the Debut Prize plays in developing the careers of new Scottish writers..

Which of the above are you going to buy and read first? ooh exciting to see who wins but it’s SUCH a good list, it’s going to be a hard choice for the judges!

Congratulations to all authors and books nominated!

Susan x

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