Five novels are in the running for the title of Scottish crime book of the year.
The finalists include two of the best-known women in Scottish crime – Val McDermid and Denise Mina, a former winner of the prize, Craig Russell, one of the founders of the Bloody Scotland crime writing festival, Craig Robertson, and writer Jay Stringer.
The winner of the Scottish Crime Book of the Year will be awarded The McIlvanney Prize in memory of William McIlvanney at the opening reception of the festival at Stirling Castle on 8 September.
The short listed books are Val McDermid's Out of Bounds, Denise Mina's The Long Drop, Craig Russell's The Quiet Death of Thomas Quaid, Craig Robertson's Murderabilia and Jay Stringer's How to Kill Friends and Implicate People.
On McDermid's book, the judges said: "The Queen of Scottish crime adds yet more jewels to her crown with Out of Bounds and shows us why she's writing at the very top of her game…Karen Pirie is one of the most engaging and charismatic of all the fictional Scottish Detectives".
Of Mina's book, which looks at the crimes of Peter Manuel, the judges said: "This elegantly written novel confirms Denise Mina's stature among the great Scottish crime writers…The Long Drop transports you to the pubs, grubby back alleys and courtrooms at the heart of this unsavoury chapter of Scottish history".
Lee Randall, chair of the judges said: "It's always an honour to judge the prize and this year I especially enjoyed encountering writers whose work was new to me."
The panel of judges include comedian and crime fan Susan Calman, writer Craig Sisterson and Programmer of Granite Noir, Lee Randall.
Mr Sisterson said: "Reading the books for the prize has been a pleasure and a privilege, and has convinced me that Tartan Noir is a sparkling gem on the global crime-writing stage".
Previous winners are Chris Brookmyre with Black Widow 2016, Craig Russell with The Ghosts of Altona in 2015, Peter May with Entry Island in 2014, Malcolm Mackay with How A Gunman Says Goodbye in 2013 and Charles Cumming with A Foreign Country in 2012.
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