Murdle

The final judging panel crowned the Non-Fiction Lifestyle & Illustrated Book of the Year winner, Murdle, as the Overall Book of the Year. They "loved the whole concept", praising the book as a "really clever idea done really well" and agreed this "genius" book had expanded the market.

Our judges "admired" GT Karber for creating a "truly special" book that captivated a broad readership of all ages, from puzzle lovers to crime enthusiasts. Souvenir Press actioned an all-year­ round campaign to feed the word-of-mouth frenzy. Everything from bookseller-led "Murdle nights" and bespoke merchandise to a week-long author tour meant this book was the word on everyone’s lips, and the imprint’s work helped Murdle top the charts as the Christmas Number One.

The discussion was chaired by The Bookseller books editor Alice O’Keeffe and the judges comprised Anita Singh, arts and entertainment editor at the Telegraph; Lorraine Kelly, TV presenter and author; Adrian Chiles, writer and broadcaster; Sarah Gwonyoma, book critic; Claire Walker, co-chief executive of the Society of London Theatre; and Kate Skipper, chief operating officer of Waterstones. Our panel felt Murdle stands as the book of 2023, with "phenomenal" sales of more than 360,000 copies.