‘Silence Of The Lambs for the web age’ wins British crime novel prize 

‘Silence Of The Lambs for the web age’ which looks at online crime, where ‘sextortion’ goes hand-in-hand with murder wins British crime novel prize

  • The Intrusions, by Stav Sherez scooped the 2018 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year award
  •  It examines the invidious world of online crime, where ‘sextortion’ – internet-based blackmail – goes hand-in-hand with murder
  • Mr Sherez scooped the prize in a ceremony hosted by broadcaster Mark Lawson

A book dubbed a Silence Of The Lambs for the internet age has been crowned Britain’s best crime novel of the year.

The Intrusions, by Stav Sherez scooped the 2018 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year award, supported by The Mail on Sunday. Now in its 14th year, the crime-writing prize is considered one of Britain’s most prestigious.

The London-based thriller examines the invidious world of online crime, where ‘sextortion’ – internet-based blackmail – goes hand-in-hand with murder.

The Intrusions, by Stav Sherez scooped the 2018 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year award

Mr Sherez was awarded the prize on Thursday in a ceremony hosted by broadcaster Mark Lawson at the opening night of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate.

He said: ‘The Intrusions are the stuff we have all around us; all the static and scatter of TV and phones. Everything is impinging on our consciousness and you don’t have time to think.

‘It’s good to have new criminality to deal with. But it’s not only criminality: the internet is affecting politics; it’s affecting elections; it affects us and our kids.’

Scottish author Ian Rankin described The Intrusions as ‘Silence Of The Lambs for the internet age’.

Past winners of the award, run in partnership with T&R Theakston Ltd, The Mail on Sunday and WHSmith, include Jack Reacher author Lee Child, programming chairman for this year’s festival, Mark Billingham, and Val McDermid.

US novelist John Grisham, 63, won a special award for outstanding contribution to crime fiction.

 

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