The Crime Writers’ Association

Welcome to our new website

We hope you like it and find it easy to find info about the CWA and all we do to support authors, booksellers, libraries and the crime-writing world.

Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition

Submit your unpublished short story and maybe win £500 and 2 passes for CrimeFest 2023. Closing date 28 February 2022 6pm GMT

Enter the Debut Dagger

Submit your unpublished crime novel opening for entry to the Debut Dagger. Shortlisted writers have their work sent to agents and publishers. Closing date 28 February 2022 6pm GMT.

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:

Looking for a good read?

Search for an author, title or character, or discover books in different sub-genres.

We’re here to help

Crime readers

Get the inside track on the latest crime books and authors

Libraries

We want to help you promote crime writing

Booksellers

Let us work with you to support crime writing

The Daggers

The CWA Dagger awards celebrate the best in crime writing.

Love reading crime?

Advertise with us

A big thanks to