Blood & Sugar by Laura Shepherd-Robinson longlisted for crime novel of the Year 2020

A chilling tale set on Deptford Dock has been longlisted for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2020.

Blood & Sugar, by Laura Shepherd-Robinson, takes readers back to the late 18th century where an unidentified body hangs upon a hook at Deptford Dock, horribly tortured and branded with a slaver’s mark.

The book follows a terrible secret about the British slaving industry, a budding political career marred by conspiracies and dangers in Deptford – Blood & Sugar is an atmospheric debut novel and was picked as Guardian and Telegraph novel of the year and Waterstones Thriller of the Month.

Created in 2005, the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award recognises the very best crime writing of the year and is a hugely sought-after accolade.

Laura Shepherd-Robinson was born in Bristol in 1976.

She has a BSc in politics from the University of Bristol and an MSc in political theory from the London School of Economics. Laura worked in politics for nearly 20 years before re-entering normal life to complete an MA in Creative Writing at City University.

Executive director of T&R Theakston, Simon Theakston, said: “Year on year, I’m astounded and delighted by how this exceptional genre continues to excel – we were deluged with record submissions and these 18 impressive titles demonstrate the quality and power of contemporary crime fiction.

“From the familiar faces to the new voices, we are immensely proud of this year’s long list and raise a virtual glass of Old Peculier to all the authors, and what will be another fierce contest for this much-wanted award.”