For the fifth year in a row, I’ve been involved in judging the McKitterick Prize, which is administered by the Society of Authors, the UK’s trade union for writers, and awarded to a first novel, published or unpublished, by a writer over 40. This was my second time judging the published submissions (rather than the unpublished manuscripts). Today the shortlists for all of the Society of Authors Awards have been announced, so I can share our finalists below.
- Camilla Barnes for The Usual Desire to Kill (Simon & Schuster, Scribner UK)
- Vijay Khurana for The Passenger Seat (Peninsula Press)
- Claire Lynch for A Family Matter (Vintage, Chatto & Windus)
- Sanam Mahloudji for The Persians (4th Estate, HarperCollins)
- Miranda Moore for A Beautiful, Terrible Thing (David Fickling Books)
- Patrick Ryan for Buckeye (Bloomsbury Publishing)
My three fellow judges and I were all asked for 50-word blurbs about the shortlist as a whole. I’m honoured that my overall blurb was chosen to accompany the McKitterick rundown in the press release:
“There’s a fine line between life and death, and the question of whether love can bridge the two is at the crux of these exceptional novels, which feature vibrant styles, powerful themes, and essential voices. No matter how dark things get, readers are in safe hands with such accomplished authors.”
The winner and runner-up will be announced in advance of the SoA Awards ceremony in London on 18 June. I haven’t decided whether to go in person again or watch the livestream. Last year’s afternoon tea for the judges and shortlistees was of a very high standard indeed, and it’s always tempting to pay homage to Southwark Cathedral’s resident cat, Hodge…
Bookish Beck = Rebecca Foster. American transplant to England. Freelance proofreader and book reviewer.
Bookish Beck 
Hit your link to Hodge….didn’t know the previous incumbent was called Doorkins Magnificat, that’s amazing
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Indeed, there was a children’s picture book about her! https://uk.jkp.com/products/doorkins-the-cathedral-cat
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So far, I’ve only read A Family Matter and The Persians. I enjoyed both, but the Lynch is staying with me as an eye-opener exposing a recent period of history which I lived through, and yet which utterly passed me by. Readable and engaging. I’d better try the rest though, before casting my vote. So glad you’re enjoying this Readathon with Responsibilities!
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I’ve had a real soft spot for the Lynch ever since I first read it last year. I was delighted that the other judges enjoyed it enough to put it through to the next round.
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P.S. With its rural France setting, I can see The Usual Desire to Kill appealing to you most.
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Congrats! I’m most interested in The Passenger Seat, because it’s based on a real thing that happened in Canada. Will you/have you reviewed them all?
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Huh, how is it that I did not know that?! (Though I had worked out through various vague clues that it was set in Canada.)
I’ve contributed quotes on a few of them for the official awards booklet and will share those when I reveal our winner and runner-up. The Lynch I reviewed last year: https://bookishbeck.com/2025/06/01/may-releases-part-ii-fiction-le-blevennec-lynch-puchner-stanley-ullmann-and-wald/
I don’t expect I’ll review the others in full.
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I’ve only read Buckeye which I loved but A Family Matter is making its way up my pile. Looking forward to seeing who bags the prize. You can’t possibly miss another chance to stroke Hodge!
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I do hope you enjoy the Lynch. It’s gotten some other prize attention, too (the Nero Gold Prize).
With travel to London costing over £40, I feel I have to pick and choose my opportunities. I’ll see if any of my fellow judges plan to go. It would also be good to know in advance if any of our nominees will be there.
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P.S. Last time Hodge was rather aloof, accepting worship from afar but not inviting any cuddles!
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I’d definitely want a cuddle at £40 a rail ticket!
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This looks like a very tasty stack of stories! And I think your summary of the prize is well done! I’m voting for in-person and more worshipping from afar, if that’s all Hodge is prepared to offer, but easy for me to say when I’m not paying for any train fares to the event myself. heheh Either way, I hope you enjoy the event!
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Thanks! It’s hard to say something meaningful about six very different books within 50 words…
The weather may also play a role in my decision. Last year it was a pretty scorching day for my journey into London, something I’d rather not repeat if possible.
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It’s not often Americans complain about the weather in England or the Netherlands being too hot. I think you just passed your citizenship test 😉 I was sure I’d heard of Claire Lynch before, and worked out that I bought Small: On Motherhoods (nonfiction) on the strength of your review combined with I think justified confusion with one of the other Claire/Clares, i.e. Claire Keegan and her much-praised Small Things Like These.
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(I didn’t have cause to complain about the heat here until a few years ago. Now climate change is giving us wetter winters, dryer springs, and hotter summers. Everything is awry. And of course the infrastructure here is not prepared for extreme heat, so the Tube is unbearable. At least a stone cathedral is a pretty cool environment by nature.)
I loved her memoir of queer motherhood! It’s a perfect companion to this novel.
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Well done, Rebecca! Have you ever wanted to write a novel yourself? Good writers are generally good readers first.
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I would love to be a published author, but I’ve not written fiction since childhood. I think I’d be more likely to write nonfiction (memoir).
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Well done on the blurb! I’ve only heard of Buckeye (it’s on my TBR list) but the other books look interesting!
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A Family Matter was a Read with Jenna pick, but otherwise it’s possible these books aren’t well known in the US.
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Exciting stuff! I’ve only read The Persians, due to its WP listing.
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I only read the first chapter when it was shortlisted for the WP, so it was good that I was forced to revisit it and give it a fair shot. It stood out for its voices and the characters’ banter.
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