Alibi's Search for a New Crime Writer 2011

Earlier this year, Alibi teamed up with HarperCollins and Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, Harrogate to unearth some of the country's hottest new crime-writing talent of 2011 and we asked you to submit your very own crime fiction short story.

We whittled hundreds and hundreds of entries down to seven finalists and asked you to vote for your favourite alongside our expert judging panel.

We can now announce the winner! Congratulations to Geraint Jones from Wales whose story 'A Well Kept Secret' scooped first prize. Geraint wins a fantastic holiday to Gothenburg, Sweden courtesy of Visit Sweden and SAS, a Kindle and a library of 100 Harper Collins crime books including a signed Camilla Lackberg back catalogue.

You can read Geraint Jones' winning story below along with the other six stories that made the shortlist.

WINNER: A WELL KEPT SECRET By Geraint Jones.
Wildcard finalist from Wales.
Runner-up: BLOOD WILL FLOW By Ian Schofield.
Finalist from North England.
Runner-up: THE KILL By Andrew Chappell.
Finalist from South England.
THIS STORY CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE.
Runner-up: UNFORGIVABLE By Joyce Handley.
Wildcard finalist from the Midlands.

Runner-up: RUNNING INTO TROUBLE By Steve Orme.
Finalist from the Midlands.
Runner-up: TOLERANCE By Dave Stevens.
Finalist from Scotland..
THIS STORY CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE.
Runner-up: INTO OBLIVION By Kevin Myers.
Finalist from Wales.
THIS STORY CONTAINS A STRONG GORY SCENE.