Diamond Dagger

The most prestigious Dagger of all, awarded for a lifetime contribution to English-language crime writing.

Gold Dagger

This Dagger is given to the overall best crime novel of the year, from thrillers to mysteries, procedurals to psychological suspense.

Whodunnit Dagger

The Whodunnit Dagger celebrates books where the sex, swearing, and bloodletting take place offstage–books that focus on the intellectual challenge at the heart of a good mystery, and which revolve around often quirky characters. Books in this category include cosy crime, traditional crime, and Golden Age-inspired mysteries.

Twisted Dagger

The Twisted Dagger celebrates psychological thrillers, dark and twisty tales that often feature unreliable narrators, disturbed emotions, a healthy dose of moral ambiguity, and a sting in the tail. Books in this category include psychological thrillers (set in any period), suspense thrillers, and domestic noir.

Ian Fleming Steel Dagger

Sponsored by Ian Fleming Publications, the Steel Dagger is for the best espionage, psychological, or adventure thriller novel.

John Creasey First Novel Dagger

Awarded to the best crime novel by a first-time author of any nationality, first traditionally published in the UK in English.

Historical Dagger

Awarded to the best historical crime novel set in any period up to 50 years prior to the year in which the award will be made. The Historical Dagger is sponsored by Morgan Witzel in memory of Dr. Marilyn Livingstone.

ALCS Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction

Non-fiction is important to the genre, from true crime and biography to critical studies and literature. This Dagger is for the best such book.

Dagger for Crime Fiction in Translation

This dagger is awarded to a crime novel not originally written in English, and translated into English for UK publication during the judging period.

Sponsored in honour of Dolores Jakubowski.

Short Story Dagger

Awarded to the best crime-focused short story of the year published or broadcast in the UK.

Dagger for the Best Crime & Mystery Publisher

Also called the “Publisher’s Dagger”, this is given to the best publisher or imprint for their contribution to the genre throughout the year.

Emerging Author Dagger

This international competition, open to anyone in the world writing in English, is for the opening of a crime novel (max. 3,000 words) and synopsis (max. 1,500 words). The crime novel – of any subgenre; including but not limited to thriller, noir, cosy mystery, suspense, police procedural; spy story and crossover of any kind – should be suitable for adults or young adults. The Emerging Author Dagger is sponsored by Fiction Feedback.

Dagger in the Library

This Dagger is for a writer whose body of work is popular with library users, and who in turn supports libraries and borrowers.