A ‘rising star’ writer and mother-of-two from Crook in County Durham has been shortlisted for Britain’s most prestigious award for debut authors.
The shortlist for this year’s McDermid Debut Award was announced this week, and includes How To Get Away With Murder, a novel written by Rebecca Philipson (42) and published just over two months ago by Transworld, Penguin. The novel is already a best-seller.
The McDermid Debut Award, founded by ‘Queen of Crime’ Val McDermid, celebrates the ‘brightest new voices’ from across the UK and Ireland. The award is given annually to writers with ‘bold voices and fresh perspectives’ who have the ‘potential to be tomorrow’s bestselling crime writers.’
Val McDermid said: ‘Rebecca Philipson has turned the serial killer novel on its head,’ and called How to Get Away With Murder, ‘clever and all too credible.’
Rebecca said, ‘I’m so grateful. How to Get Away With Murder is my first novel and I’m delighted readers are loving it! I’m a lifelong Val McDermid fan and I couldn’t believe it when I found out that she read and enjoyed my book.’
The winner of the McDermid Debut Award will be revealed on the opening night of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival at the Old Swan Hotel in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, on July 23rd 2026. Psychological thriller writer Lisa Jewell is this year's programming chair, and tickets are now on sale.
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