Search for a New Crime Writer 2010

Search for a New Crime Writer 2010

Earlier this year, Alibi teamed up with world-renowned publisher HarperCollins, TV Times and Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, Harrogate to unearth some of the country's hottest new crime-writing talent and we started by asking you to submit your very own crime fiction short story. The story had to begin with award-winning crime writer Stuart MacBride's first line: "In my experience, those who beg for mercy seldom deserve it."

We had a fantastic response with hundreds and hundreds of entries which we whittled down to three finalists - and we asked you to vote for your favourite.

We can now announce the winner! Congratulations to David Jack Smith whose story 'Fox' scooped first prize. David wins a Sony e-reader, a library of 100 crime books including a signed Stuart MacBride back catalogue and also gets his story turned into a special online, downloadable e-edition by HarperCollins.

You can read David Jack Smith's story below along with the stories of the other two shortlisted finalists.