Award-winning UK national journalist and debut crime author Ali Steed, who lives in Felanitx, Mallorca, has won two international awards for her first novel, All It Takes.
The book took Silver in the Global Book Awards’ Mystery – Police Procedural category for 2025 and previously won the Thriller/Suspense category in the 2024 Best Indie Book Awards (BIBA), competing in both against entries from across the world.
Steed said, “Winning one award was thrilling, but receiving a second for my very first novel feels incredible. All It Takes is a story that I’ve had in my head for years, and I couldn’t have wished for a better start to the DCI Caroline Cramer series.”
Set in Canterbury, Kent
Set in and around Canterbury, Kent, All It Takes follows newly promoted DCI Caroline Cramer and her team, including a forensic psychologist, as they hunt for a serial killer who leaves a Bible quote related to the occult and an item that doesn’t belong to the victim. The pressure to catch him rises with the body count, and the killer becomes increasingly daring. When events force Cramer’s private and professional lives to collide, the team has just five days to stop the killer before he strikes again.
The Global Book Awards recognise outstanding fiction from both independent and traditionally published authors, with judging based on reader appeal, writing quality, and overall presentation. The Best Indie Book Awards also attract entries from around the world, and organisers described last year’s thriller/suspense category as one of their largest and most competitive to date.
Steed has been a crime and thriller fan all her life and particularly enjoys the work of Gillian Flynn, Patricia Cornwell, Harlan Coben, and Angela Marsons. Reviewers on Amazon have mentioned Karin Slaughter, P. D. James, Martina Cole, and Kathy Reichs when discussing All It Takes.
Published independently
Instead of taking a traditional publishing route, Steed chose to publish independently through her company, Moneta Media.
She said, “As a journalist, I value creative control and transparency. Going independent meant I have the last say on everything from the cover design to having my own name on the book. I’ve heard of some publishers asking you to change your author name and even the author’s gender if they think a book will sell better. Independent publishing means I can keep my own voice and my vision, right down to the cover art and how the book is presented to readers.”
Steed added, “You need a good cover designer and a great editor, no matter who you are.”
She is currently finishing Book Two in the DCI Cramer series and also supports other authors who want to publish professionally and build sustainable careers.
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