The Crime Writers' Association

Debut Dagger

For 15 years the CWA has been encouraging new writing with its Debut Dagger competition for unpublished writers. The submissions are judged by a panel of top crime editors and agents, and the short listed entries are sent to publishers and agents.

The Debut Dagger is open to anyone who has not yet had a novel published commercially. All shortlisted entrants will receive a professional assessment of their entries. Winning the Debut Dagger doesn’t guarantee you’ll get published. But it does mean your work will be seen leading agents and top editors, who have signed up over two dozen winners and shortlisted Debut Dagger competitors.

But entering the Debut Dagger is more than just entering a competition. You can also join our community, via the Facebook Group giving you the opportunity to ask questions, share your experiences and helping out your fellow writers.

You can also join our free mailing list The Debuts to receive news, tips and exclusive content.

The CWA Debut Dagger is kindly sponsored by Orion Books.

This Year's Shortlist

This Year's Longlist

The judges

Leigh Russell

Hailed as ‘a brilliant talent’ by Jeffery Deaver and ‘a deeply human voice’ by Peter James, Leigh Russell writes the internationally bestselling Geraldine Steel series of psychological crime thrillers.

As well as receiving rave reviews on numerous renowned sites like CrimeTime,Crimesquad and
Eurocrime, her books have attracted glowing reviews in journals as diverse as The Times, The New York Journal of Books and Star Magazine, to name just a few.

Frankie Gray

Frankie is Publishing Director for Commercial Fiction at Transworld. As Editorial Director, Frankie was responsible for last year’s much talked-about The Widow by Fiona Barton.

Katherine Armstrong

Katherine Armstrong is Editorial Director for crime & thrillers at Bonnier Zaffre. She has worked in publishing for twelve years, first at Faber and Faber and then at Sphere, before joining Bonnier Zaffre in summer 2016.
Her main interest is crime fiction.

Stephanie Glencross

Stephanie Glencross is a literary agent with Gregory & Company. Her main task is editing and her special interest crime fiction.

Francesca Pathak

After working for five years at Penguin Random House, Francesca Pathak is now Senior Commissioning Editor for crime and thrillers at Orion. She loves crime and thriller novels with an authentic voice, a new and interesting hook, and an unexpected twist.

Last year's winner

Wimmera
Mark Brandi

Fab is haunted by a terrible secret – but a chance discovery threatens to uncover his past, and expose the dark underbelly of Australian rural life.

Amazon

View past winners

Love Writing Crime?

Whilst there is no simple route to being published the CWA supports all new writers and our members are here to offer the benefit of their experience.

The Debuts