Costa Book of the Year winner is the unique 'Mermaid of Black Conch' novel

Costa Book of the Year was announced as The Mermaid of the Black Conch by Trinidadian-born British writer Monique Roffey.

The author’s sixth novel beat four other contenders to win the £30,000 prize.

The Mermaid of Black Conch is a dark love story about a fisherman and a mermaid torn from the sea, and judges declared it “utterly original… and feels like a classic in the making”.

The delighted author said her win was a ‘vote for Caribbean literature’: “A huge thank you to the judges for exposing my book to a wide readership. I’ll be pinching myself for weeks to come,” she said

The story is based on a Taino legend of a beautiful woman who is transformed into a mermaid, and is set in the Caribbean village of St Constance.

It follows a fisherman named David who attracts the attention of mermaid, Aycayia who is captured from the sea during an annual fishing competition. David does all he can to save her and drama ensues.

Professor Suzannah Lipscomb, chair of judges, said: “The Mermaid of Black Conch is an extraordinary, beautifully written, captivating, visceral book – full of mythic energy and unforgettable characters, including some tremendously transgressive women.”

Monique Roffey is a senior lecturer in creative writing at Manchester Metropolitan University, and secured her publishing deal through an independent publisher supporting Caribbean writers- Peepal Tree Press. She had to crowd-fund for financial support to pay for the publicity, with the support of fellow authors.

Roffey’s entry was also named Costa’s Novel of the Year earlier this month.

The Mermaid of Black Conch is the thirteenth novel to take the prize.