A first-time novelist has made history at Scotland’s biggest crime writing festival by winning two of its main awards on the same night. Frances Crawford took both the McIlvanney Prize, which recognises the Scottish crime book of the year, and the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize for her novel A Bad, Bad Place, published by Transworld. It was the first time a single author had claimed both honours in the same year.
The winners were announced on 18 September at the Church of the Holy Rude in Stirling, on the opening night of the 2026 Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival. The three-day event, which ran until 20 September, brings together authors and readers for panels, live broadcasts and late-night sessions across the historic town. The prizes were supported by Glencairn Glass, the Scottish maker of whisky glassware.
Judges praised the novel for its emotional range and its handling of a hard subject through the eyes of a child. Denise Mina, the festival’s guest programmer, described it as ‘a novel of profound depth and scope,’ calling the writing ‘harrowing and very funny.’ Sally Magnusson, one of the McIlvanney judges, pointed to its ‘Glasgow wit and deep humanity,’ while Alex Gray, who chaired the debut panel, called the book ‘beautifully written, thoughtfully perceived from a child’s perspective.’
Crawford’s route to publication drew particular attention. She studied creative writing at the University of Glasgow and graduated with distinction at the age of 60. Her first taste of recognition came in 2023, when she won the Glencairn Glass Crime Short Story Competition. Winning the country’s leading crime fiction award with her opening novel places her among writers who have found their breakthrough later in life.
Bloody Scotland has grown into one of the busiest dates in the crime fiction calendar since it launched in 2012, drawing thousands of readers to Stirling each September. The festival mixes established international names with new voices, and its awards are followed closely within the genre. Organisers said the double win pointed to the strength of debut writing coming out of Scotland, and the attention it can bring to authors at the start of their careers.
