The Cob & Pen Award celebrates the finest crime novel of the year.
The shortlist is announced in January 2027, with the winner revealed at the gala dinner on the 8th of February, hosted by Gyles Brandreth.
The 2026 Cob & Pen Award was presented to Mark Ellis for Death of an Office. A former barrister turned crime novelist, Ellis is best known for his atmospheric DCI Frank Merlin series, set in the fog-soaked streets of wartime London. His novels weave meticulously researched history with page-turning mystery, and he has become a leading voice in British historical crime writing as well as a long-standing champion of the genre through his work with the Crime Writers’ Association.
“Winning this award was one of the best nights of my life. I’m overwhelmed.” — Mark Ellis
2026 Winner
Mark Ellis — Death of an Office