An all-women shortlist has been chosen for a leading Scottish book prize.

The final three novels in contention for this year’s Dundee International Book Prize have been announced.

The Margins by Jessica Thummel, Shadow Jumping by Margaret Ries and London Clay by Amy Spencer will compete for the award, which includes a publishing deal with Freight Books of Glasgow, a £5000 prize and writing time in Dundee.

Jessica, Margaret and Amy’s novels will now go before this year’s judging panel, which consists of broadcaster Shereen Nanjiani, poet Ian McMillan, critic Hannah McGill and Freight publisher Adrian Searle.

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The winner will be announced at this year’s Dundee Literary Festival which takes place from October 19-23.

Peggy Hughes, of Literary Dundee, said: "We’ve got three really brilliant novels on our hands in what’s been a particularly strong year for the Dundee International Book Prize.

"The Dundee International Book Prize is a vital part of our work, and a key way in which we celebrate and champion new voices.

"This year’s shortlist is a stellar mix of international talent and genres, and we’re deeply excited to see which one will win."

Jessica Thummel’s The Margins, is the coming-of-age story of Sam Gavin, who moves from Kansas to San Francisco in the summer of 1989.

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Margaret Ries’ Shadow Jumping is set in Berlin in the early 1990s and Amy Spencer’s London Clay is the story of Evie Gray, a young woman from a family haunted by disappearances.

The Dundee International Book Prize is now in its 12th year.

Previous winners include Amy Mason, with The Other Ida in 2014 and Martin Cathcart Froden, with Devil Take the Hindmost in 2015.

Adrian Searle, Publisher, Freight Books said, “From a strong longlist, after much deliberation, we’ve selected an outstanding shortlist that demonstrates a breadth of experience and powerful storytelling.

“Each of the three writers here have shown real craft and all have exciting futures ahead of them, regardless of who comes out on top.”

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The Dundee International Book Prize is a collaboration between the University of Dundee, Freight Books and Dundee City Council's 'One City, Many Discoveries' campaign.