Val McDermid and Chris Brookmyre in running for McIlvanney prize…

The finalists for a Scottish crime writing award named in honour of the late author William McIlvanney have been announced.

Val McDermid, Chris Brookmyre, Doug Johnstone and ES Thomson are all shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize.

The winner of the Scottish Crime Book of the Year will be awarded The McIlvanney Prize at the opening ceremony of crime writing festival Bloody Scotland on Friday.

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, will present the award at a ceremony in Stirling.

The winner will receive £1,000 and all four finalists will be presented with a full set of McIlvanney novels, including the acclaimed Laidlaw trilogy.

From The Herald Scotland wed 31 August