The Crime Writers’ Association

Shortlist announced for the Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition 2025

Longlists announced for the CWA Daggers 2025

View the longlists – Gold Dagger, Whodunnit Dagger, Twisted Dagger, Ian Fleming Steel Dagger, ILP John Creasey First Novel Dagger, Historical Dagger, ALCS Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction, Dagger for Crime Fiction in Translation, Dagger for the Best Crime & Mystery Publisher, Short Story Dagger, Emerging Author Dagger, Dagger in the Library

Nominations for the 2026 Daggers are now open!

About the CWA

The CWA promotes, supports and celebrates crime writing, and writers of all crime fiction and non-fiction from across the globe. We’re proud to be a growing, thriving community with membership encompassing authors of all ages and at every stage of their careers.

Find out more about who can join the CWA and the benefits we provide:

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Are you an Emerging Author?

Are you an unpublished writer who is serious about crime writing? You may qualify for Emerging Author membership with the CWA. Find out more about how to apply and the benefits of memebrship.

Critiques

Criminal Critiques is the CWA’s critique service for aspiring crime fiction writers.

Editing

Need more in-depth help? Closer guidance? A full structural editing report perhaps, or maybe your MS is ready for copy-editing? We are now working with professional editing partners Fiction Feedback.

The Daggers

The CWA Dagger awards celebrate the best in crime writing.

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