(HarperCollins, 2008)

2008

• British Book Awards Crime Thriller of the Year (shortlist) - The Grave Tattoo
• Alice B Award for sustained achievement

2007

• Stonewall Writer of the Year - Beneath the Bleeding

2006

• Portico Prize for Fiction - The Grave Tattoo
  On Wednesday (8 Nov. 06) evening, Val was awarded the Portico Prize for Fiction for The Grave Tattoo. This is a particularly notable victory, since the Portico Prize embraces fiction in its entirety. Announcing the result, author Melyvn Burgess praised The Grave Tattoo both for the quality of its storytelling and its prose style. The prize is awarded by the Portico Library in Manchester (http://www.theportico.org.uk) and is awarded to a book about the North West of England or set primarily in that region. Like the Whitbread, it is split into categories - fiction and non-fiction. The winner of the non-fiction prize and the overall winner was Andrew Biswell with The Real Life of Anthony Burgess.
  Val said, 'I'm particularly proud to have won this prize because of its association with the Portico, which is one of the hidden gems of Manchester. It's also very gratifying that the judges were willing to consider a genre novel for a prestigious literary prize. Let's hope this is the start of a new trend!'
• Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year - The Torment of Others
  We are delighted to announce that the Val has won the 2006 Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year prize with The Torment of Others, the fourth Tony Hill and Carol Jordan novel. The announcement was made on the opening night of the Harrogate Crime Writing Festival, where Val was chair of the Programming Committee for the first three years.
  Val said, 'I was genuinely gobsmacked. It was a great shortlist and I really didn't expect to win. It's a particular delight for me because this award is voted for by readers and also because it is awarded at this festival. It feels very special to be honoured here because of the closeness of my involvement with what has become the best crime writing festival in the world.'

2005

• Crime Writers' Association Dagger of Daggers Award (shortlist)
• Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year (shortlist) - The Distant Echo

2004

• Barry Award for Best British Crime Novel - The Distant Echo
  Val was awarded the Barry for Best British Crime Novel for The Distant Echo at the Bouchercon (World Mystery Convention) in Toronto. The Barry is awarded by the readers of Deadly Pleasures magazine. Val previously won the Barry for A Place of Execution.
  Val said, 'I'm thrilled to have won the Barry. But I was genuinely surprised - so surprised I hadn't actually prepared an acceptance speech. It's always an honour to win an award, but to win it in the teeth of such strong competition makes me feel even more pleased!'
• Crime Writers' Association Macallan Gold Dagger for Fiction (shortlist) - The Torment of Others
• GLBTQ Saints and Sinners Hall of Fame
• Mystery and Thriller Book Club People's Choice Award (shortlist) - The Torment of Others
• Scotland Magazine Icon of Scotland
• Sherlock Award for Best Crime Novel - The Distant Echo
  These awards, recognising the best in detective fiction, are presented by SHERLOCK magazine. They are unique because they are given to the detective rather than the author - the creation rather than the creator. Of course, the author is invited to the prize-giving ceremony and gets to keep the Sherlock, a stylish bust representing the Great Detective.
  The awards are given to books published in the previous year.
• Spoken Word Publishing Association Awards (Best Crime Novel) - The Distant Echo
  More good news! The abridged audio version of The Distant Echo has won Gold in the Crime/Thriller category at the Spoken Word Publishing Association Awards. Unfortunately, I couldn't be there myself, but Peter Capaldi, who did a first-class job of narrating the book, collected on my behalf.

2001

• Anthony Award for Best Novel - A Place of Execution
  'The high point for me at this year's Bouchercon was winning the Anthony Award for best novel for A Place of Execution. The Anthony Awards, and the convention itself, are named in tribute to Anthony Boucher, who was the most notable mystery critic of his generation. The awards are voted on by those who attend the convention, and it's a huge honour for me to have been chosen this year. The people who attend Bouchercon are voracious readers who are hugely knowledgeable about the genre, so winning their votes is a real compliment for an author.'
• Dilys Award - A Place of Execution
• Edgar Award for Best Novel (shortlist) - A Place of Execution
• Lambda Literary Award for Fiction (shortlist) - Booked for Murder
• Los Angeles Times Book Prize (Mystery/Thriller) - A Place of Execution
• Mystery Readers of America Macavity Award - A Place of Execution
  'Bouchercon kicked off formally with an opening ceremony and awards celebration, at which I was awarded the Macavity for Best Crime Novel of 2000 for A Place of Execution. The accolade is voted on by the members of Mystery Readers International, and it was a particular thrill for me to win it because the very first event I ever did with US readers was at an MRI event at the home of Janet Rudolph, who runs MRI and edits its prestigious Mystery Readers Journal. It was Janet and her fellow enthusiasts who persuaded me to attend my first Bouchercon in 1994, and that was the convention that marked the real start of my building a US readership. I came away from that Bouchercon with a contract for paperback publication of the Kate Brannigan novels and a deal with Spinsters Ink for the Lindsay Gordons. So it felt almost like coming full circle to win the Macavity.'
• Svenska Deckarakademiens Prize best translated crime novel (shortlist) - A Place of Execution
• WH Smith Thumping Good Read Award (shortlist) - Killing The Shadows

2000

• Barry Award for Best British Mystery - A Place of Execution
• Edgar Award for Best Critical Work (shortlist) - A Suitable Job for a Woman: Inside the World of Women Private Eyes
• New York Times Notable Book of the Year - A Place of Execution

1999

• Crime Writers' Association Macallan Gold Dagger for Fiction (shortlist) - A Place of Execution

• WH Smith Thumping Good Read Award (shortlist) - The Wire in the Blood
• Grand Prix des Romans d'Adventure (France) - Star Struck

1995

• Crime Writers' Association Macallan Gold Dagger for Fiction - The Mermaids Singing
• Anthony Award for Best Novel (shortlist) - Crack Down

• Crime Writers' Association Macallan Gold Dagger for Fiction (shortlist) - Crack Down
• Crime Writers' Association Macallan Short Story Dagger (shortlist) - The Writing on the Wall