CrimeBits 2: 100 Opening Gambits for Great Thrillers & Linked Mystery Puzzles: Selected & with an Introduction by Val McDermid

CrimeBits is back for a second round! After the popularity of our first competition we are excited to announce a sequel our CrimeBits series.

The first was judged by best-selling Jack Reacher author Lee Child and the second will be judged by another best-selling author... the one and only Val McDermid!

The beloved best-selling Scottish "Tartan Noir" crime author and CWA Diamond Dagger winner - will read and judge the best final 100 entries, and leading crime writer Luca Veste will be the sifting judge for the first stage of the competition.

Val says, 

I started my writing career in journalism, first in local papers then in national newspapers. One of the earliest lessons I learned from my first news editor was the importance of grabbing readers from the first paragraph. "There's always competition for your readers' attention," he'd say. "It's your priority to make them read on, so you need to give them a reason to do that." It's the same with novels. That opening has to do one of three things -- intrigue them, shock them or make them question their world view. If you think you've got what it takes, send your opening paragraph to Black Spring's contest and I'll pass judgement. Then its fingers crossed for that novel!

Read our article in The Times below. "Small press signs up Lee Child and Val McDermid to help it survive."