Novelist Hilary Mantel wins top 2012 Costa award for ‘Bring Up The Bodies’

LONDON – Two-time Booker Prize winner Hilary Mantel has snagged the top honour at the Costa Book Awards for her novel “Bring Up the Bodies.”

The British writer’s blood-soaked Tudor saga, which won the Booker last year, defeated four other titles shortlisted for the 25,000 pound ($39,400) prize for 2012’s book of the year.

Other shortlisted works included “The Overhaul,” from Scottish poet Kathleen Jamie, and “The Innocents,” a first novel from Francesca Segal.

“Dotter of Her Father’s Eyes,” written by Mary Talbot and drawn by her husband, Bryan, was also in the running, along with “Maggot Moon,” a children’s book from severely dyslexic writer and illustrator Sally Gardner.

The awards, known until 2006 as the Whitbread Book Awards, were established in 1971 and recognize writers based in the U.K. and Ireland.