The Crime Writers’ Association

Awards & competitions

Awards & competitions The CWA hosts a number of awards and competitions. Many of these are for books nominated by publishers and selected by independent judging panels, others are awards made by the CWA or other bodies, such as libraries. Yet ot...


Libraries

Supporting libraries The places where many of us first discovered a love of books, and the places that for many form the centre of their reading experience, libraries are a national treasure. The CWA does not assume a political role – we leave tha...


Essex Book Festival’s Golden Age of Crime

CWA members Helen Barrell, Simon Brett and Isabelle Grey are hosting various events within the Essex Book Festival's homage to Golden Age crime writing - and crime writing today! Join Essex Book Festival for a weekend of sleuthing in Southend-on-...


Diamond Dagger winner 2015 to be announced

  “I value that brooch more than anything else I own apart from for my wedding ring.” – Sarah Paretsky, Diamond Dagger winner 2002   The Diamond Dagger is our award for lifetime achievement. It has been awarded every year...


CWA Debut Dagger Longlist Announced

We are delighted to announce the long list for the CWA Debut Dagger 2015.                     The longlisted authors are: Kate Evans The Art of the Imperfect Nige...


Robert Goddard to receive CWA Diamond Dagger 2019

The Crime Writers’ Association is delighted to announce that Robert Goddard is to receive the 2019 CWA Diamond Dagger, the highest honour in British crime writing. The Dagger award recognises authors whose crime writing careers have been marked by ...


The CWA Daggers

The Daggers Longlists have been announced! The longlists for the 2024 Daggers have been announced to much fanfare at the CWA annual conference in Brighton. Members celebrated their peers’ success and toasted the listed authors and publishers. The ...



CWA Margery Allingham Short Story Competition – Short List Announced

We are delighted to announce the shortlist for the CWA Margery Allingham Short Story Competition: Lesley Mace for Game Over Ruth Moore for River Endings Clare Littleford for A Short Walk on a Long Pier Mike Ripley for Ealing Comedy Christopher Fowler...


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...


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