THE CWA's 2004 Short Story Dagger Award

Jeffery Deaver wins with 'The Weekender' from Twisted

Jeffery Deaver has won the 2004 Mystery Thriller Book Club Short Story Dagger award, sponsored by www.MysteryThriller.co.uk, for 'The Weekender' from Twisted, published by - Hodder & Stoughton. He was presented with his £1500 prize money and the Dagger by Peter White, disability correspondent of the BBC.

'A gripping narrative that involves the reader in a moral debate and yet manages a series of surprises and a satisfying conclusion.'

Jeffery Deaver is the author of fourteen suspense novels. His books have been translated into a dozen languages. Deaver was born in Chicago, attended the University of Missouri, and received his law degree from Fordham University in New York. In 1990 he quit practicing law to write full time. He lives in California and Virginia.

Jeffery Deaver was also the winner of this year's CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger.

Twisted

Jeffery Deaver loves writing short stories. 'All bets are off,' he says. 'Short stories are like a sniper's bullet. Fast and shocking. I can make good bad and bad badder, and most fun of all, really bad seem good.' And that is exactly what he does in these seventeen superb short stories. This is collection of short stories that is instantly gripping and impossible to put down, taking your breath away time and time again. Nothing is as it seems in the twisted world of Jeffery Deaver.

The Short Story Dagger carries with it a prize of £1500. This prize is sponsored by www.MysteryThriller.co.uk. Prefacing their remarks, the judges said:
"There seems to be a belief that there is no market for short stories. We had a wonderful time reading 107, from 76 authors. The crime short story lives, and lives well."

The other shortlisted titles are listed below in alphabetical order of the author's name:

Mark Billingham - DANCING TOWARDS THE BLADE - from Men From Boys, Heinemann
A rites of passage story of young men and racism that examines attitudes to violence in a memorable, wholly credible way.'

Mat Coward - PERSONS REPORTED - from Green for Danger, the Do-Not Press
'He succeeds in combining brilliant humour with a snapshot of rural poverty in a highly original character-led story.'

Val McDermid - THE CONSOLATION BLONDE - from Mysterious Pleasures, Little, Brown
'A sardonic tale about a writer, seriously subversive and superbly shocking.'

Don Winslow - Douggie Doughnuts - from Men From Boys, Heinemann
'Atmospheric and told in a strong, individual voice, this richly layered story sets innocence against moral corruption.'

Judging Panel

Peter Lovesey (Chair) - author and Diamond Dagger recipient.
Stella Duffy - author and previous winner of the short story dagger.
Ayo Onatade - of the Mystery Women website.
Kate Saunders - author and journalist
George Thaw - literary editor and journalist.