2026 Minotaur Books/Malice Domestic Best First Traditional Mystery Novel Competition - Minotaur Books

Traditional mystery only.

Today, Panzer's first stop was at the Minotaur Books site. There he found a mystery novel competition.

 

The competition rules, submission rules, entry form, and upload instructions are all found on the landing page. 

 

Panzer says, "Read everything on the landing page carefully before you submit your entry."

 

Note: This is a long post. You'll need to decide what to bring to snack on. 

 

To read the post tootle over to Minotaur/Malice Domestic 

Bloody Scotland Debut Prize Shortlist Revealed

Bloody Scotland is always a lot of fun.

Panzer made a quick stop at the Bloody Scotland site where he found the announcement of the 2025 Debut Book Prize shortlist of nominees.

 

There are five nominees for the prize. The post contains a short bio and book description for each nominee included in the announcement. The winner will be announced September 12.

  

To read the post tootle over to Bloody 

Bloody Scotland Debut Novel Shortlist Announced

Bloody Scotland is always fun.

Panzer made a quick trip to the Bloody Scotland site. Bloody Scotland is Scotland's International Crime Writing Festival.

 

According to the post on the Bloody Scotland blog, the shortlist of five books for the Bloody Scotland Debut Novel has been announced.The blog post lists the author, the book and a description of the plot.

 

Panzer says, "Below the shortlist is a description of the launch event and how to get tickets."

 

Note: This is a long medium length post. Bring a cup of tea and a chocolate chip cookie (biscuit) to snack on while you read.

 

To read the post tootle over to Bloody Scotland Debut Prize

Bloody Scotland: Winning Authors Revealed

They got to lead the procession, too.

Today, Panzer went to the Blood Scotland's International Crime Writing Festival site. There our curious little kitty boy discovered they had announced The McIlvanney Prize and The Bloody Scotland Debut Prize winners.

 

Callum McSorley won The McIlvanney Prize Scottish Crime Book of the Year and Kate Foster won The Bloody Scotland Scottish Crime Debut of the Year.

 

The announcement also includes the judges' remarks about the winning entries

To read the post tootle over to Winners Revealed

Shortlist announced for Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize - The Guardian

 When Panzer was sweeping the floor in the Panzermobile he found a folded up post under the carpet. Smoothing it out our fastidious kitty boy discovered it was a post from The Guardian site about Waterstones.

 

Another debut book prize?

According to Sarah Shaffi's post, Waterstones announced six finalists for their debut fiction prize. The books cover a wide range of genres, locations and times. Waterstones booksellers select the books to be considered for the prize. The post includes a synopsis of each book's plot and has author quotes.

 

Panzer says, "They look like interesting books."

 

Note: This is a very long post. Bring a big glass of iced tea, a sugar cookie (biscuit) and a brownie for this reading selection.

 

To read the post tootle over to Waterstones Debut Fiction

Bloody Scotland Announces Prize Winners

You know it's hybrid this year.

Panzer's trip into the Catosphere today took him to the Bloody Scotland site. Bloody Scotland is the name given to the Scotland International Crime Writing Festival. At the site he discovered the McIlvanney Prize and the Debut Prize winners were announced.

 

The news release announces Craig Russell's novel Hyde won the McIlvanney Prize and Robbie Morrison's novel Edge of the Grave won the Debut Prize.

 

To read the announcement tootle over to 2021 prize winners

Bloody Scotland Update

Things are a little kittywumpus around here.

 

Mom, did you see any unicorns?

Today was the first day of the Bloody Scotland conference. The conference is being held online this year and, because of the time difference, Mom had to get up really, really early to attend. The conference runs all weekend. The organizers said on the site most of the conference will be available for replay later.

One of the first things earlier today was the announcement that the winner of The McIlvanney Prize was Francine Toon for her novel Pine and the winner of the Debut Prize was Deborah Masson for her novel Hold Your Tongue.