The Crime Writers’ Association

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Short Story Dagger

This award is for any crime short story first published in the UK in English in a publication that pays for contributions, or broadcast in the UK in return for payment, during the judging period.

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

Current holder

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

    Shortlist

    Longlist

     

    AUTHORTITLEPUBLISHER
    Robert Scragg‘A Dog Is for Life, Not Just for Christmas’ in Afraid of the Christmas Lights, edited by Miranda JewessCriminal Minds Group
    Elle Croft‘Deathbed’ in Afraid of the Light, edited by Robert Scragg & VariousCriminal Minds Group
    Dominic Nolan‘Daddy Dearest’ in Afraid of the Light, edited by Robert Scragg & VariousCriminal Minds Group
    Adam Southward‘Especially at Christmas’ in Afraid of the Christmas Lights, edited by Miranda JewessCriminal Minds Group
    Christopher Fowler‘Head Count’in First Edition: Celebrating 21 Years of Goldsboro BooksThe Dome Press
    Victoria Selman‘Hunted’ in Afraid of the Christmas Lights, edited by Miranda JewessCriminal Minds Group
    Clare Mackintosh‘Monsters’ in First Edition: Celebrating 21 Years of Goldsboro BooksThe Dome Press
    Stuart Turton‘Murder Most Vial’ in First Edition: Celebrating 21 Years of Goldsboro BooksThe Dome Press
    Livia Llewelyn‘One of These Nights’ in Cutting Edge: Noir Stories by Women, edited by Joyce Carol OatesPushkin Press, Pushkin Vertigo
    James Delargy‘Planting Nan’ in Afraid of the Light, edited by Robert Scragg & VariousCriminal Minds Group
    Simpson Grears‘The Foot of the Walk Murders’ in The Foot of the Walk Murders, edited by Simpson GrearsRymour 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.

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