Leigh's Cut Short on Short List (OLE)

Leigh Russell at Harrogate with Tom Harper chair of CWA

Cover of CUT SHORT - shortlisted for John Creasy Dagger Award in 2010

Leigh Russell, whose debut novel, Cut Short, was published as she turned 55, is on the shortlist for this year’s Crime Writer’s Association "John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger", a prestigious award recognising the best new authors of crime fiction. The shortlist was announced at this year’s Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate on Friday 23 July and previous winners include crime giants such as Janet Evanovich and Minette Walters.

Described by international bestselling author Jeffery Deaver as ‘a stylish top-of-the-line crime tale,’ Cut Short, published in 2009, is a psychological thriller about the race to catch a deranged killer preying on young women. The book introduces Leigh Russell’s charismatic but troubled female investigator, DI Geraldine Steel.

Leigh said, ‘It is truly an honour to be recognised by the Crime Writer’s Association in this way. The John Creasey Award is fantastic because it showcases emerging authors you might not otherwise be aware of, so to be on this year’s shortlist is tremendously exciting.’

The Crime Writers’ Association Daggers have been synonymous with quality crime writing for over fifty years and this year they are once again merged with the ITV3 Crime Thriller Awards to create the Specsavers Crime Thriller Awards 2010.

The televised event takes place at a star-studded gala dinner at the Grosvenor House in Park Lane on Friday 8 October 2010 when the winners will be announced.

Cut Short by Leigh Russell is published by No Exit Press (978-1-84243-271-6, £6.99, pb) Leigh Russell’s latest book, Road Closed, is out now. Read our interview with Leigh on publication of her newest thriller - and enter our competition to win a Signed First Edition

Read Leigh Russell's Blog

This article was created on Saturday, 31st July 2010. It was last tinkered with on Sunday, 1st August 2010.

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