Ross' Lindisfarne Prize for Crime Fiction reveals 2023 shortlist

Robert Meddes, Sarah Jeffery, Alan Sendall, Karys Frank and Sarah Williams are the five writers shortlisted for the £2,500 Lindisfarne Prize for Crime Fiction, founded by author L J Ross.

The prize is awarded to as-yet-unpublished crime and thriller storytelling by those who are from, or whose work celebrates, the North East of England.

Meddes is in the running for Those Men, Those Faces, which follows the story of Austin, a man who cheats on his wife and signs up with a "clandestine dating agency". Jeffery’s submission, The Perfect Alibi, follows the story of influencer Sadie and burglar Lola. Meanwhile, Sendell is in the running for Double Infidelity, which tells the story of Polly, "who must fight to prove her innocence when a walk on the beach turns into being charged with murder".

Frank has been shortlisted for Stone Cold Truth, about a daughter running away from her mother "only to run into her mother’s net from which she can’t escape". Finally, Williams has been shortlisted for her submission Vacancy for Murder, which follows Blythe Bainbridge and her daughter, who find themselves embroiled in a murder mystery after inheriting a B&B.

The submissions will be judged by the prize’s panel of judges, comprising founder of Newcastle Noir crime fiction festival Dr Jacky Collins and Newcastle-based crime writer Trevor Wood. "BBC Look North" presenter Carol Malia is also a judge this year, as is the author and founder of the prize, L J Ross.

The winner will be announced on 6th September and will receive the cash prize to support the completion of their work, alongside funding for membership of the Society of Authors (SoA) and the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi). Smaller financial awards will be given to the shortlisted candidates.

Now in its fifth year, the Prize was founded by author Ross and is sponsored by her publishing imprint Dark Skies Publishing. Ross said: “What started as a humble endeavour has now evolved into a prestigious literary prize, celebrating exceptional storytelling from this vibrant region while helping to nurture and uplift writers, providing them with the resources and encouragement they need to succeed.

"Over the years, we have witnessed the emergence of new voices, the growth of established authors, and the enrichment of the literary landscape as a whole. The entries this year were outstanding and I wish them all the best of luck.”