We are delighted to announce that the £10,000 Encore Award 2018 for best second novel of the year is jointly awarded to Andrew Michael Hurley for Devil’s Day (John Murray) and Lisa McInerney for The Blood Miracles (John Murray).

Chair of the judges, Alex Clark comments: ‘Prize juries are reluctant to split awards – probably because it looks either as though they can’t make up their minds, or that there was deadlock. Happily, neither occurred in this case: we simply couldn’t put a cigarette paper between these two splendid novels and wanted to acknowledge and reward them both. But we’d also like to make absolutely clear that our decision doesn’t diminish the rest of what was a brilliant shortlist – each author more than earned their place and we’d like to congratulate all of them heartily. Third novels all round, please.’

Please read the press release for more information.