BARRHEAD author Chris Brookmyre is the first winner of a Scottish crime writing award named in honour of the late William McIlvanney.
Mr Brookmyre scooped the inaugural McIlvanney Prize for his novel Black Widow on the opening evening of crime writing festival Bloody Scotland.
Judges for the award, which was previously known as Scottish Crime Book Of The Year, described the novel as being "like watching Olympic diving", adding: "Just when you think the plot can't twist again, it takes a new turn. Even the twists have twists."
The winner of the McIlvanney Prize 2016 is @cbrookmyre! #bloodyscotland #mcilvanneyprize pic.twitter.com/o4rinN5iAI
— Bloody Scotland (@BloodyScotland) 9 September 2016
Mr Brookmyre saw off competition from shortlisted authors Val McDermid, Doug Johnstone and ES Thomson to scoop the £1,000 prize.
McIlvanney, who revitalised the Scottish crime genre and became known as the Godfather Of Tartan Noir, died at his home in Glasgow on December 5 2015, aged 79.
His brother, renowned sports journalist Hugh McIlvanney, presented the award at the ceremony in Stirling.
All four finalists were also presented with a full set of McIlvanney novels, including the acclaimed Laidlaw trilogy.
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