The Crime Writers’ Association

2018 winning story

The Value of Vermin Control - Russell Day I took my hat off and cleared my throat. The young man behind the armour glass and the steel bars didn’t look up, even though I was his only customer. I wasn’t especially surprised. In my experience, p...


2017 winning story

Box Clever - Sam Hepburn I’ve always been a dreamer – the nerdy kid hunched over his Playstation dreaming of being popular, the geeky teenager in sweaty boxers dreaming of hitting the big time with his latest bit of software, the broke student...


2016 winning story

A Box-Shaped Mystery - Peter Guttridge ‘The Mystery remains box-shaped, at once a prison and a refuge. Its four walls are, roughly, a Crime, a Mystery, an Enquiry and a Conclusion with an Element of Satisfaction in it.’ Margery Allingham P...


2016 shortlisted story

The Blockage - Ian Cowmeadow Fine drops of rain bloomed on the van’s windscreen. The engine clicked as the heat drifted from it and Shelly Wrench was beginning to feel the cold. Across the street, a strip light flickered behind a frosted window ...


2015 winning story

Game Over - Lesley Mace The feel of the skateboard rumbles up through the bones of his feet. He is enclosed within the sound of wheels. He concentrates on contracting muscles, on making his body into the correct shape to fly over the top of the co...


Opening Windows, by John Kennedy

A certain writer, arguably lauded for the wrong things but at the same time often underrated, once said something about writing behind closed doors and rewriting with the window open. Well, for me, the Debut Dagger competition opened that window. Get...


Debut Dagger

Emerging Author Dagger (Debut Dagger) Announcements Congratulations to our 2024 Longlist Authors! See below for details. Shortlist: CrimeFest, Bristol on Friday 10 May, early evening Winner: Dagger Awards Dinner, evening of Thursday 4 Jul...


CWA Presents: Walking Through a Crime Scene Part 3

Part 3 – 'Pathology Opened Up' with Dr Marie Cassidy   Learn with the Crime Experts 24 June 7.30pm Tickets: http://bit.ly/pathologyopenedup The minds behind February's Blending Fact and Fiction have put together a thrilling three-part series...


Skulduggery in Stowmarket – crime writing festival

Join us for live author interviews at Stowmarket Library with best-selling crime novelists including CWA Diamond Dagger winner Simon Brett, Tim Weaver, Laura Purcell, Rory Clements, and more. Stowmarket Library is a vibrant part of the community that...


Shetland Noir 2023

Shetland Arts is delighted to announce the return of Shetland Noir from 15-18th June 2023. The festival will run from the evening of Thursday to Sunday evening, at Shetland’s arts venue in Lerwick, Mareel, and will include a variety of fun ...


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