In 2023, for the first time, the shortlist featured three writers named Paul (Paul Lynch, Paul Murray and Paul Harding). The prize was won by Irish writer Paul Lynch for his novel Prophet Song. In the media, reaction was mixed. In The Guardian, Justine Jordan wrote that "This is a novel written to jolt the reader awake to truths we mostly cannot bear to admit", while in The Telegraph, Cal Revely-Calder wrote that Prophet Song is "political fiction at its laziest" and "the weak link in a strong shortlist".
In 2023 for the first time the shortlist featured three writers named Paul (Paul Lynch Paul Murray and Paul Harding) The prize was won by Irish writer Paul Lynch for his novel Prophet Song In the media reaction was mixed In The Guardian Justine Jordan wrote that "This is a novel written to jolt the reader awake to truths we mostly cannot bear to admit" while in The Telegraph Cal Revely-Calder wrote that Prophet Song is "political fiction at its laziest" and "the weak link in a strong shortlist"