For those of you not aware, since 2007 the Desmond Elliott prize has been awarded annually to the best first novel written in English and published in the UK.  As with some of the more prestigious literary awards, a longlist is first announced which is then whittled down to three finalists.  This years longlist is as follows:

• The A to Z of You and Me by James Hannah (Doubleday)

• The Bees by Laline Paull (Fourth Estate)

• Chop Chop by Simon Wroe (Viking)

• Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey (Viking)

• Glass by Alex Christofi (Serpent’s Tail)

• The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton (Picador)

• Our Endless Numbered Days by Claire Fuller (Fig Tree)

• Randall by Jonathan Gibbs (Galley Beggar Press)

• A Song for Issy Bradley by Carys Bray (Hutchinson)

• The Wake by Paul Kingsnorth (Unbound)

Having read four of the novels (I’ve linked to my reviews) I can say with some confidence that this is a strong shortlist.  Because I’m a lazy good for nothing (and am head deep in reading the finalists of other awards) I won’t be reading the longlist.  But fear not because the nice people at Utter Biblio and their mates have formed a Shadow Panel to read, review and rank the ten nominees.  So follow along with the Utter Biblio blog for all your Desmond Elliott related shenanigans.

I’ll be back to hopefully read and review the shortlist.