Colin Barrett Wins Nero Book Award for Debut Fiction

Colin Barrett has won the Nero Book Awards for debut fiction with his novel 'Wild Houses,' which portrays a small-town drugs feud in County Mayo. Adam S. Leslie's folk horror novel 'Lost in the Garden' received the fiction prize, while Sophie Elmhirst's 'Maurice and Maralyn' was recognized as the best non-fiction book, and Liz Hyder's 'The Twelve' won in the children's fiction category. Each winner will receive £5,000 and compete for the Nero Gold Prize, which offers an additional £30,000. The awards, now in their second year, aim to highlight outstanding writing from the UK and Ireland, with a judging panel comprising authors, booksellers, and journalists. Gerry Ford, founder of Caffè Nero, praised the high standard of entries and expressed excitement for the upcoming Gold Prize announcement. The judges commended the winning books for their captivating storytelling and literary quality.