We are delighted to share the news that The Malt Whisky Murders by Natalie Jayne Clark has been shortlisted for the 2025 Bloody Scotland Debut Prize. The timing could not be more perfect as Natalie’s debut novel was just published yesterday and was celebrated with a launch event at Waterstones in Glasgow.
Natalie was runner up in Pitch Perfect in 2023 and had an agent and a book deal less than a week later. Rights for her darkly comic novel about two women who have just taken over a distillery in Kintyre have already sold to Spain and Hungary. Natalie has won various poetry slams and is a certified whisky ambassador.
The Malt Whisky Murders has already been receiving rave reviews, with SNACK Magazine saying ‘This is a novel which informs as it entertains as it thrills, managing to achieve the perfect balance between mystery and malt.’ It has also been chosen as a LoveReading Book of the Month for June, who in their review called the book ‘A tale told with humour and intensity, jam-packed full of murder, amateur sleuthing, relationships, community, and whisky!’
To hear Natalie discussing her wonderful book in person, don’t miss her event at Waterstones Perth on 18th June.
The winner of the prize will be announced at the Bloody Scotland festival in Stirling. On the opening day of the festival, Friday 12 September, the shortlisted debut authors will appear on a free but ticketed Debut Prize panel at Central Library in Stirling at 3.30pm interviewed by festival co-founder Alex Gray. The presentation of both prizes will take place in the ballroom of The Golden Lion Hotel at 5.15pm where the winners will be interviewed on stage by TV and radio presenter Bryan Burnett, after which they will join the new ‘Day of the Deid’ procession led by Ian Rankin to the first event of the evening at The Albert Halls.
The Bloody Scotland prize is one particularly close to our hearts. Last year’s winner was the self-published author Allan Gaw who is now published by our Polygon imprint in a multi-book deal.
You can find out more about the full shortlist in the Bookseller here. A huge congratulations to Natalie on this well-deserved recognition of her novel. Make sure to sign up to our newsletter and follow us on social media to be the first to hear about exciting news and events for The Malt Whisky Murders.
