The Crime Writers’ Association

Anatomy of a Crime Thriller

Hard on the heels of its most successful Literary Festival ever, in June 2023 the tiny island of Alderney is hosting a unique one-day festival exploring the ‘Anatomy of a Crime Thriller’. Organised by The Alderney Literary Trust and sponsored ...


2023 Debut Dagger Competition Opens for Entries

The most hotly contended competition for would-be crime novelists is now open for entries. Aspiring crime novelists have until the end of February 2023 to enter the Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Debut Dagger, renowned for opening doors for as...


Crime Time at Clapham Book Festival

CWA Diamond Dagger winner Simon Brett, OBE and author, barrister and Crown Court Judge Nicola Williams open the eight-day Clapham Book Festival with Crime Time, a discussion of Williams's fiction and her new book, Until Proven Innocent. Thriller wr...


Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival

The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival is Europe’s largest event dedicated to the celebration of crime fiction. Taking place annually over four days each July (20-23, 2017), the Festival programmes over 90 best-selling UK and internation...


An Evening with Lynda La Plante

At London Book Fair/ London Book & Screen Week this March, join Lynda la Plante, the queen of crime drama, for a gin cocktail as she discusses her illustrious career across page, stage and screen and offers a preview of her forthcoming book Burie...


Crime Writers in Residence – at home with SM Hardy

The CRA: Please tell us a little about yourself and the books you write. I live in Torquay with my husband and spent twenty-eight years working for a major bank. After taking voluntary redundancy in 2001 I spent another fourteen or so years working ...


ILP John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger

ILP John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger This Dagger is for the best crime novel by a first-time author of any nationality with their first novel of any kind published in the UK in English during the judging period.  ‘Best crime novel by a first-ti...


CWA Daggers Awarded in Glittering Ceremony

All 10 winners of this year’s CWA Daggers were announced at a glittering black-tie occasion at the Grange City Hotel in Cooper’s Row, London on Tuesday October 11. The CWA Daggers, which are probably the awards crime writers and publishers alike ...


ILP John Creasey First Novel Dagger

ILP John Creasey First Novel Dagger The ILP John Creasey First Novel Dagger (formerly the ILP John Creasey New Blood Dagger) is for the best crime novel by a first-time author of any nationality with their first novel of any kind published in the UK...


The CWA Announces a New Annual Dagger Award for Publishers

The world-famous Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Daggers, which honours the very best in crime writing, has created a new Dagger category for the first time in over a decade. The new prestigious Dagger will be awarded annually to the Best Crime an...


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