Bloody Scotland - The McIlvanney Prize Finalists 2025

The latest Scots Whay Hae! podcast is our latest collaboration with Bloody Scotland - Scotland's International Crime Writing Festival - where Ali spoke to the five shortlisted authors for this year's McIlvanney Prize which is awarded for the best Scottish crime book of the year.

They include Tariq Ashkanani (The Midnight King), Liam McIlvanney (The Good Father), Callum McSorley (Paperboy), Denise Mina (The Good Liar) and Sir Ian Rankin (Midnight In Blue).

All the writers give a brief synopsis of their shortlisted novels before explaining a bit more about why they chose to write them, the levels of research involved, how they feel Scottish crime writing has changed over their time as writers (and readers), and so much more.

They also talk about the role crime book festivals, and Bloody Scotland in particular, have had in shaping those changes, encouraging a greater variety of styles, genres, and writers, to be part of the conversation.

The McIlvanney Prize is one of the most significant literary prizes around, and a great guide as to the best crime fiction on offer, so it was such a pleasure, and a privilege, to be able to talk to these great authors. This is a podcast which will be of interest to readers, writers, and book lovers of all kinds, but especially if crime is your thing.

Bloody Scotland is on between 12th - 14th September. Tickets are on sale now.

Full details, including all the ways to listen, can be found over at scotswhayhae.com