2024 WINNER

Kala by Colin Walsh

A thrilling page-turner set against the backdrop of a town suffocating on its own secrets, Kala is a story that builds from a smoulder to a stunning climax. Walsh's novel brilliantly examines the sometimes brutal costs of belonging, as well as the battle in the human heart between vengeance and forgiveness, despair and redemption.

Kala follows a group of former friends, estranged for fifteen years, who reckon with the disappearance of their reckless childhood friend, Kala, following the discovery of human remains in the woods. Against the backdrop of a town suffocating on its own secrets, the friends are forced to confront their own complicity in the events that led to Kala's disappearance to try to stop their town’s violent patterns repeating themselves once again.

Congratulations to Colin, all at Atlantic, and all the wonderful readers who have fiercely championed this wonderful book!

  • “Kala is a chameleon of a novel. A shapeshifting gem that takes you on a journey that will leave you a little out of breath and enthralled by its conclusion. With beautiful prose that imbues the characters with a richness that lingers, and a plot that hauls the reader along in the best way, Colin Walsh has written a novel that unanimously stunned the judges and will stay with us for a long time.”

    ONYI NWABINELI, AUTHOR & CHAIR OF JUDGES

  • “The definition of a thrilling page-turner but written so beautifully and carefully with such complex and nuanced characters that you really got to know over the course of the novel. I can’t stop thinking about it. This is a book that I’ll be recommending to friends for years and years to come.”

    SHAHED EZAYDI, JOURNALIST & 2024 JUDGE

  • “The best books are the ones where you don’t have to interrogate exactly what you love about it: you just know you’re reading something special. Kala is a very special book, a remarkable achievement, and a worthy winner.”

    BOBBY PALMER, AUTHOR & 2024 JUDGE

  • “As someone who doesn't often read crime/thriller books, I was surprised by how quickly I got invested in Kala. It's a stellar example of addictive storytelling. Even though I don't have anything in common with the characters, I found myself relating to them and caring about them so easily.”

    ZEYNEP KAZMAZ, WRITER AND 2024 JUDGE

  • “Kala is a special novel that defies genre and expectation. Our love for it was unanimous. I hope readers connect with Kala's unforgettable characters and find hope in its pages.”

    AMY TWIGG, AUTHOR & 2024 JUDGE

2024 Shortlist

The Nota Bene prize is all about championing rising talent and powerful stories that readers love, and this year’s shortlist is a wonderful example of just that. The seven shortlisted titles, selected in coordination with a panel of notable readers, are thought-provoking and relatable reads that have received organic, word-of-mouth recognition, and are deserving of a wider readership.

2024 Judges

Our 2024 judges feature a selection of Notable Readers that represent and connect with the beating heart of readership. From authors and booksellers to editors and content creators, our judges have a significant reach and are hugely influential when it comes to inspiring readers.

“Debuting just two short years ago and understanding the challenges associated with getting eyes on your work, it's such an honour and a pleasure to be chairing the Nota Bene Prize and shining the spotlight on such deserving authors and their outstanding and captivating stories. The joy is the reading, the pain is the deciding! As judges, we're thrilled to be part of this process.”

ONYI NWABINELI, 2024 CHAIR OF JUDGES

  • Onyi Nwabineli

    Onyi Nwabineli is a Nigerian-British writer who founded Black Pens, the UK’s first writing retreat for Black womxn, and co-founded of Surviving Out Loud. Her debut novel, Someday, Maybe was a Good Morning America book club pick. Her latest novel, Allow Me to Introduce Myself is out now.

  • Shahed Ezaydi

    Shahed Ezaydi is a writer at Stylist Magazine, specialising in features and news in politics and entertainment. She previously worked as a freelance editor at Bustle UK as well as publications such as Dazed, Metro and gal-dem. She’s also the author of the upcoming book, The Othered Woman: How White Feminism Harms Muslim Women.

  • Bobby Palmer - The Nota Bene Prize

    Bobby Palmer

    Podcaster, author and journalist who has written extensively for household titles, such as Time Out, GQ, Esquire, and Cosmopolitan. He also hosts the well-loved podcast Book Chat alongside fellow author and journalist, Pandora Sykes.

  • Amy Twigg

    Amy Twigg is a writer, born and raised in Kent. Her debut novel Spoilt Creatures won the BPA Pitch Prize and was longlisted for the Mslexia Novel Competition. In 2024 she was chosen as one of the Observer's Best New Novelists.

  • Zeynep Kazmaz

    Zeynep grew up in Istanbul and currently lives in London. She runs a printing company and a bookstagram account, successfully avoiding having to think about anything other than books. In 2024, she was named the Women’s Prize Discoveries Scholar.

  • Molly Masters

    Molly Masters is a writer, podcaster, director and CEO of Aphra, and partner of Bookshop Limited. She was listed in Forbes 30 Under 30, and featured on BBC's Dragons' Den. Her book, Bibliotherapy: Books to Guide You Through Every Chapter of Life is described as a beautiful, thoughtful guide to finding your perfect next read.

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