Short Story Dagger

This award is for any crime short story first published in the UK in English during the Judging Period, whether on its own or within an anthology or collection. Upon publication it must have been for sale to the public, either in print or e-book, through established channels or platforms.

The term short story refers to a work of fiction no shorter than 1,000 and no longer than 15,000 words.

You are able to nominate a full anthology where we consider every story, or an individual story.

Publishers or authors can nominate.

Submit your nomination

2022 shortlist

Blindsided

Caroline England
From: Criminal Pursuits: Crime Through Time
Short Story Dagger
2022 | Shortlisted
Telos Publishing

With the Others

TM Logan
From: Afraid of the Shadows
Short Story Dagger
2022 | Shortlisted
Criminal Minds

Flesh of a Fancy Woman

Paul Magrs
From: Criminal Pursuits: Crime Through Time
Short Story Dagger
2022 | Shortlisted
Telos Publishing

London

Jo Nesbø
From: The Jealousy Man and other stories
Short Story Dagger
2022 | Shortlisted
Penguin Random House

Changeling

Bryony Pearce
From: Criminal Pursuits: Crime Through Time
Short Story Dagger
2022 | Shortlisted
Telos Publishing

When I Grow Up

Robert Scragg
From: Afraid of the Shadows
Short Story Dagger
2022 | Shortlisted
Criminal Minds

2022 longlist

TITLE	ANTHOLOGY	AUTHOR	EDITOR	PUBLISHER	IMPRINT
Blindsided	Criminal Pursuits: Crime Through Time	Caroline England	Samantha Lee Howe	Telos Publishing
The Victim	Criminal Pursuits: Crime Through Time	Awais Khan	Samantha Lee Howe	Telos Publishing
New Tricks	Afraid of the Shadows	Matt Wesolowski	Miranda Jewess	Criminal Minds
London	The Jealousy Man and other stories	Jo Nesbⱷ	Robert Ferguson	Penguin Random House	Harvill Secker
With the Others	Afraid of the Shadows	TM Logan	Miranda Jewess	Criminal Minds
The Clifton Vampire	Afraid of the Shadows	TE Kinsey	Miranda Jewess	Criminal Minds
Flesh of a Fancy Woman	Criminal Pursuits: Crime Through Time	Paul Magrs	Samantha Lee Howe	Telos Publishing
Changeling	Criminal Pursuits: Crime Through Time	Bryony Pearce	Samantha Lee Howe	Telos Publishing
The Way Of All Flesh	Criminal Pursuits: Crime Through Time	Raven Dane	Samantha Lee Howe	Telos Publishing
When I Grow Up	Afraid of the Shadows	Robert Scragg	Miranda Jewess	Criminal Minds

Short Story Dagger 2021 Winner

Clare Mackintosh

Monsters

The Dome Press

A powerful twist turns this vivid, brilliantly written and carefully plotted story about a child’s fear of the forbidden cellar into something much scarier.

Celebrating 21 Years of Goldsboro Books

The Judges

Sophie Goodfellow (Chair)
Sophie has been a publicist for almost 10 years, joining FMcM Associates in 2017, where she promotes books of all genres, as well as festivals, prizes and cultural initiatives. An avid reader, she can be found tweeting about her latest reads on @sophieglorita.

Mike Linane
Mike Linane is a publisher at Williams & Whiting Publishing and also an event organiser currently organising Bodies From The Library (a one-day conference about the Golden Age of Crime Writing) held annually at the British Library and has previously organised events such as Deal Noir and Morecambe & Vice.

Chris Simmons
Chris Simmons is the online editor of his brainchild, Crimesquad.com – a crime review website, running since March 2005. Chris is a past judge for the John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger, which has highlighted the debuts of authors such as Louise Penny (John Creasey Dagger winner), S J Watson, Sarah Hilary, James Oswald and two-time Dagger winner, Wiley.