Lawyer wins top prize at Bloody Scotland festival

An Edinburgh solicitor has been named as the winner of the top prize at the Bloody Scotland crime writing festival – three years after scooping the award for debut authors.

Tariq Ashkanani picked up the McIlvanney Prize with his novel, The Midnight King.

The award was presented on the opening night of the festival in Stirling by the 2024 winner, Chris Brookmyre.

It recognises excellence in Scottish crime writing and is named in memory of the late William McIlvanney, often described as the godfather of Tartan Noir.

In 2022 Ashkanani won the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize for his book, Welcome to Cooper.

Published by Viper, The Midnight King is a thriller about the son of a serial killer returning home for his father’s funeral.

The celebrated author leaves behind a manuscript which forms a fictionalised confession and a box filled with mementos from each of the children he has killed, including one from a girl who went missing days before his death.

The judges described The Midnight King as: “A dark and utterly unsettling read with victims and crimes that stay with you long after you turn the last page.”

They added: “Tariq Ashkanani manages to create an atmosphere of dread while uniquely exploring the theme of nature vs nurture through the Cole family.

“When we speak about thrillers being page turners (this) should be used an example of how it should be done.”

Others shortlisted were festival guest programmer Sir Ian Rankin (Midnight and Blue); Callum McSorley (Paperboy); Denise Mina (The Good Liar); and William McIlvanney’s son, Liam McIlvanney (The Good Father).

David Goodman won the Debut Prize with A Reluctant Spy.

The festival runs until Sunday.