Uber driver turned author wins Harrogate crime writing prize

Chosen by a public vote and the prize academy, the crowning of the winner on Thursday, July 23 also marked the launch of the HIF Weekender, Harrogate International Festival’s free virtual festival bringing world-class culture to everyone at home.

Adrian McKinty, winner of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2020 for The Chain said the news was "life changing" and he was "gobsmacked and delighted" to win the award for his bestseller The Chain.

Belfast-born McKinty had written 12 books before he found success with The Chain, a thriller that sees parents forced to abduct children to save the lives of their own.

In fact, before the book published by Orion became a big hit, McKinty had fallen back on being an Uber driver to make ends meet after after his family were evicted from their home.

Adrian McKinty said: “I am gobsmacked and delighted to win this award. Two years ago, I had given up on writing altogether and was working in a bar and driving an uber, and so to go from that to this is just amazing.

"People think that you write a book and it will be an immediate bestseller.

"For 12 books, my experience was quite the opposite, but then I started this one.

"It was deliberately high concept, deliberately different to everything else I had written - and I was still convinced it wouldn’t go anywhere… but now look at this.

"It has been completely life changing.”

The news was revealed in a virtual awards ceremony on what would have been the opening night of Harrogate’s legendary Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, which was cancelled due to the pandemic.

Instead, the announcement of this coveted trophy has marked the launch of the HIF Weekender, Harrogate International Festival’s free virtual festival bringing world-class culture to everyone at home, featuring performances and interviews with internationally acclaimed musicians, best-selling authors and innovative thinkers.

Previous winners include legends such as Val McDermid, Lee Child, Belinda Bauer, and Mark Billingham.

Adrian McKinty, who was previously nominated in 2011, 2014 and 2016 for his Sean Duffy series, will now receive £3,000 and an engraved oak beer cask, hand-carved by one of Britain’s last coopers from Theakstons Brewery.

Executive director of T&R Theakston, Simon Theakston, said: “Looking at the titles in contention for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2020, it is clear to see why crime fiction remains the UK’s genre of choice.

"Adrian McKinty is a writer of astonishing talent and tenacity, and we could not be more grateful that he was persuaded to give his literary career one last shot because The Chain is a truly deserving winner.

"Whilst we might be awarding this year’s trophy in slightly different, digital circumstances, we raise a virtual glass of Theakston Old Peculier to Adrian’s success – with the hope that we can do so in person before too long, and welcome everyone back to Harrogate next year for a crime writing celebration like no other.”

The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2020 shortlist also included:

My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite (Atlantic Books)

Worst Case Scenario by Helen Fitzgerald (Orenda Books)

The Lost Man by Jane Harper (Little, Brown Book Group, Little, Brown)

Joe Country by Mick Herron (John Murray Press)

Smoke and Ashes by Abir Mukherjee (VINTAGE, Harvill Secker)

Remarkable Harrogate festivals launch exciting HIF Weekender today

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