Patrick Neate was the surprise winner of the Whitbread novel award, beating favourite Ian McEwan with his blues-based novel Twelve Bars Blue.

Sid Smith was the recipient of the Whitbread first novel award for his book set in revolutionary China, Something Like A House.

BBC News Online's Orla Ryan wrote that Neate's "complicated tale of blues musicians, prostitutes and witchdoctors whips its way lightly to an engrossing end".

Charles Bodsworth reviewed Something Like A House and said: "While for the most part the novel succeeds in imagining an alien world, occasionally Smith's meticulous historical research takes over, overwhelming his normally subtle description and slowing his narrative drive."

But what do you think?

Are these worthy winners of Whitbread prizes and which one should take the overall book of year title?