Councillor's Debut Thriller Gains Plaudits in the US
Salman Shaheen's Freebourne recognised in NYC Big Book Award
Cllr Salman Shaheen and the cover of his book
October 22, 2026
Freebourne, the debut novel by British journalist and Hounslow cabinet member Salman Shaheen, has been named a "Distinguished Favorite" in the 2026 NYC Big Book Award. The novel blends murder mystery with speculative sci-fi to examine the social impact of technological advancement.
The NYC Big Book Award is an international open-entry contest based in the United States. Operating on a fee-based submission model, the program considers self-published works, independent presses, and traditional releases. Submissions are evaluated by a panel of industry professionals—including editors, booksellers, librarians, and designers—who award "Winner" and "Distinguished Favorite" status across dozens of genre categories.
The 2026 cycle featured recognized titles from independent and mainstream publishers alike, including Penguin Random House, Routledge, and Edinburgh University Press. Freebourne’s placement as a Distinguished Favorite marks its second international accolades listing, following its selection as a Finalist in the Independent Press / International Book Awards earlier in the year.
Reflecting on the US recognition, Cllr Shaheen said, "It’s wonderful to see this very British murder mystery, set in a quaint little rural English town – albeit one with some dark secrets and an alarmingly high body count – recognised across the pond in the NYC Big Book Award. Freebourne is a novel that makes you question where technology is taking us, and how it is changing what it means to be human... I’m pleased to see American readers engaging with it."
Set in the near future, Freebourne follows Dr. Harry Coulson, a divorced and unemployed neuro-tech entrepreneur seeking a fresh start. Upon stepping off the train in the idyllic English town of Freebourne, Harry discovers the body of a young woman in the snow—the town's first murder in over a century. As an outsider arriving on the night of the crime, he quickly becomes a suspect and finds himself entangled in a dangerous conflict involving science, faith, and free will.
The book launched in October 2025 at Brentford’s ANIMA cocktail bar in partnership with local independent bookseller Hewson Books. Since its release, the novel has gathered high-profile endorsements from public figures and literary peers, including broadcasters Nick Ferrari and Daisy Donovan, film director Sarah Gavron, and MPs Ruth Cadbury and Seema Malhotra.
Salman Shaheen is a journalist and politician who serves as the Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Public Realm on Hounslow Council, representing the Isleworth ward. A former investigative journalist whose reporting on corporate tax avoidance made national headlines, Shaheen holds a Master’s degree in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia.
Freebourne is available in paperback and electronic formats via major retailers, including Amazon.
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