CRIME RUNS RIOT AT ASDA

Supermarket giant ASDA have thrown their weight behind the Theakston's Crime Awards. Shock NEWS!!! - Mark Billingham attacks John Harvey, Val Macdermid bottles Chris Simms and Peter Robinson mingles. Award Shortlist On Special Offer In Asda Stores The 14 shortlisted titles hit the shelves in a very special 2 for £7 offer! Holmes and Watson, Morse and Lewis, Daziel and Pascoe - great things often come in pairs. And the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year is thrilled to announce a brand new partnership with Britain's most popular supermarket: Asda. Supermarkets and crime novels are two things destined to get the heart racing. The tackle of trolleys, battle for bread and milk mayhem: it's murder. And now customers can also be gripped and thrilled by some of the best crime novels of the year. As the only literary award voted by the general reading public, the 'people's award' has found the perfect partner in crime with the people's supermarket. Under the bright lights of Asda, the dark currents of crime fiction will rage as the 14 shortlisted crime novels vie for the readers' vote. And Asda will urge shoppers to vote for the 2009 award by selling the shortlist for a criminally low price of £7 for two novels. After the frozen pea aisle, get chilled to the bone by bagging a Mark Billingham with your beer, a Val McDermid with your McVities or a bit of Daziel and Pascoe with the Tabasco. Now in its fifth year, the Theakstons Old Peculier award is open to British and Irish paperbacks published in 2008. Supermarkets can be inspirational to crime authors - and not just because the queues fill them with criminal intent. One of the shortlisted authors is the bestselling (and tall) Lee Child who named his hero Jack Reacher after his wife told him if the novels didn't sell he could get a job reaching things down from supermarket shelves. The shortlist in full: Death Message (Mark Billingham) The Accident Man (Tom Cain) Bad Luck and Trouble (Lee Child) Gone to Ground (John Harvey) Ritual (Mo Hayder) The Garden of Evil (David Hewson) A Cure for all Diseases (Reginald Hill) The Colour of Blood (Declan Hughes) Dead Man's Footsteps (Peter James) Broken Skin (Stuart MacBride) Beneath the Bleeding (Val McDermid) Exit Music (Ian Rankin) Friend of the Devil (Peter Robinson) Savage Moon (Chris Simms). The novels will be promoted in selected stores nationwide from the 7 - 27 July. Steph Bateson, Books Buying Manager for Asda said: 'Asda are thrilled to be working with the Festival to promote the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award. Crime is our biggest selling genre and the award represents the best novels within that genre. We are very much looking forward to working with the festival to drive voting and raise national consumer awareness of the Asda book offer.' Simon Theakston Executive Director of T&R Theakston said: 'The award is going from strength to strength and we are delighted to welcome Asda on board, they have fast become a force to be reckoned within book selling, bringing books to an ever wider audience, and I am looking forward to another exciting award.' And the winner is... The winner of the 2009 Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year, as voted for by the reading public, will be announced at the award ceremony hosted by BBC Radio 4 presenter Mark Lawson on the opening night of the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival on 23rd July 2009. Previous winners have included Val McDermid, Mark Billingham, Allan Guthrie and also Stef Penney in 2008 for The Tenderness of Wolves (pictured left with Simon Theakston). The winner takes home £3,000 and a handmade Theakstons Old Peculier Cask made by the last cooper in England. YOU can be there in person for the cheers and the tears. Tickets to the award ceremony and opening party are £15 per person and include the price of canapés and a glass of wine or Old Peculier. To book call the Ticket Hotline on 0845 130 8840 or Book Online. Photo Story: The Rivals With such a high quality shortlist, competition for readers' votes is hotting up between the nominees. Festival photographer Sam Atkins captured a number of the contenders canvassing votes at their local Asda stores. David Hewson with his book 'The Garden of Evil' Mo Hayder with her novel 'Ritual' Mark Billingham sends a 'Death Message' but John Harvey's far from 'Gone To Ground' Peter James and 'Dead Man's Footsteps' Val McDermid teaches Chris "Savage [Moon]" Simms the real meaning of 'Beneath The Bleeding' Stuart MacBride with his novel 'Broken Skin' Peter Robinson tries to win round the Book Buying Team at Asda House to vote for his novel 'Friend of the Devil' but it looks like they have already chosen their favourites... Have you? VOTE NOW!

Principal Partners Theakstons Old Peculier Leeds Metropolitan University Premier Partners

Looking to make a late break this July? Treat yourself for an entire weekend's worth of thrills, chills and kills by booking a Festival Weekend Break Package and enjoying all four days of the biggest and best crime writing Festival in the world. Weekend Break Packages include 3 nights accommodation in the beautiful Victorian Spa Town of Harrogate, located at the gateway to the spectacular Yorkshire Dales, and tickets to all Festival events* from the announcement of the Crime Novel of the Year Award and Opening Party on Thursday evening to the last event on Sunday. With prices starting from just £359 per person when sharing double or twin accommodation, why not stay in the UK this summer and experience the cultural delights of the North of England's friendliest and most fun literature festival! To book now or for more information on accommodation options, call: 01423 562303 or email: crime@harrogate-festival.org.uk ____________________________________________________ *Weekend Break tickets include admission to all festival events excepting the dinner event on Saturday 25 July and Creative Thursday places. These must be booked separately. ____________________________________________________ The Harrogate International Festival is not responsible for the content of external websites. email: crime@harrogate-festival.org.uk phone: +(0)1423 562303 web: http://www.harrogate-festival.org.uk/crime