Theakstons Old Peculier long list for 2008

Europe's largest crime writing festival, the Harrogate Festival, begins on Thursday 17th July this year, and runs until Sunday 20th July, at The Crown Hotel in Harrogate. As always you can expect appearances from some of the very best crime authors around. This year's special guests include Andy McNab and Jeffery Deaver, Peter Robinson and Tess Gerritsen will be facing questions from Simon Kernick and Paul Blezard, the topics under discussion will include religious symbolism and James Bond, and MC Beaton will be talking us through her own particular brand of the cosiest crime.

The Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year runs in conjunction with the Harrogate Festival and is usually an interesting list and this year's is no exception. The Harrogate Festival call it a great mix of heavyweights and rising stars. The short list is decided by the public and anybody can vote. You must vote for only one book, so I wonder which you will choose? Go to the voting page, select the book of your choice, enter your email address. If you are a resident of UK or Ireland there is a competition you can enter for a chance to win tickets to the festival, with accommodation included. The shortlist is announced at the end of June. Last year's winner was Alan Guthrie with Two-Way Split.

The 2008 longlist

Blue Shoes & Happiness Alexander McCall Smith	Christine Falls Benjamin Black	A Tale Etched in Blood and Hard Black Pencil Christopher Brookmyre	Shifting Skin Chris Simms
Sovereign CJ Sansom	One Under Graham Hurley	Darkness and Light John Harvey	Buried Mark Billingham
The Savage Garden Mark Mills	Corn Dolls Patrick Lennon	Not Dead Enough Peter James	Piece of My Heart Peter Robinson
The Death of Dalziel Reginald Hill	The Chemistry of Death Simon Beckett	Relentless Simon Kernick	Hurting Distance Sophie Hannah
The Tenderness of Wolves Stef Penney	Dying Light Stuart MacBride	The Risk of Darkness Susan Hill	The Grave Tattoo Val McDermid

It makes, if nothing else, a nice checklist of what to read in British crime fiction.