The Crime Writers’ Association

Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition

The Margery Allingham Short Mystery CompetitionThe competition is open to all - both published and unpublished authors from all over the world. The competition is for short stories of up to 3,500 words, written in English. All that we ask is that the...


The CWA Remembers David Stuart Davies

The CWA has lost one of its most loyal members in David Stuart Davies, a novelist, editor, and playwright who achieved an international reputation as an expert on Sherlock Holmes. David was born in Huddersfield, the town where he lived for much of...


Debut Dagger Tips: Joanne Spain

Joanne Spain’s life was changed by her decision to enter the CWA Debut Dagger competition in 2013. She credits her experience with the CWA contest with helping to shape her now-flourishing writing career. Now, having secured a two-book deal with Qu...


Debut Dagger Tips: Greg Keen

  Words of advice from award-winning authors…   His day job involves training and coaching businesses to deliver barnstorming presentations and wow their clients, so it’s no wonder that Greg Keen was a natural storyteller. In 2015, he w...


The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival

This popular festival returns to the Old Swan Hotel, Harrogate on the 20th-23rd July 2017, to mark the 15th annual celebration of the genre. 2017’s Programming Chair Elly Griffiths, the current holder of the CWA Dagger in the Library, has put toge...


Tell us about an event

Tell us about your event Do you have an event – whether in-person, or online – coming up soon? Tell us about it here, and we’ll list it in our public Events section. Please tell us as much as you can about the event. The more you can tell u...


Liverpool Noir with Kate Ellis and Barry Forshaw

Join us for an evening discussing Liverpool-Noir in the company of some of Liverpool's finest crime writers. Hosting the evening is author, broadcaster and journalist Barry Forshaw who we are thrilled to welcome back to his home city. Barry will be j...


Reporter sleuths & crime fiction

Reporter Sleuths in Crime Fiction: Join crime author Fiona Veitch Smith in conversation with Warwickshire Libraries, Newcastle Libraries and the British Library. Warwickshire Libraries, in partnership with Newcastle Libraries and the British Libra...


The secrets of successful crime writing at Hythe Library

The secrets of successful crime writing at Hythe Library, Hampshire Monday 10th February 2020 2.00pm If you enjoy reading gripping fast-paced crime novels full of twists and turns, compelling, multi-layered with great characters then Pauline Rowson'...


Bloody Scotland 2023

This annual festival of crime writing in historic Stirling features events aimed at readers and writers alike. Learn about the latest developments in your favorite crime genres, including thrillers, cosies, and Scandinavian noir. Hear about what’s ...


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