The Crime Writers’ Association

A Detective’s Take on Crime Fiction

Join former copper, former detective, and present-day librarian Iain Souter for a fun and informative cop's eye view of crime fiction! Iain Souter is a second-generation police officer from a crop of three, who followed their father into the servi...


Emerging Author Dagger Rules

Rules and Submission Guidelines Emerging Author Dagger The Emerging Author Dagger (formerly the Debut Dagger), an international competition for the opening of an adult/YA crime novel and synopsis, is aimed at debut writers. The CWA defines a de...


An Evening with Sir Alec Jeffreys

An Evening with Sir Alec Jeffreys Join the Royal Society of Biology for an evening with Sir Alec Jeffreys on Monday 16th May 2016 at the Science Museum’s IMAX Theatre, London. The inventor of forensic DNA fingerprinting tells his story at this s...


“Proof Behind the Plot” – a forensic workshop for crime writers

In celebration of National Crime Reading Month, Think Forensic are hosting an interactive workshop led by their forensic and crime investigation experts, in Huddersfield. The workshop has been designed specifically to give all writers, whether new...


Antony Johnston and David Beckler at Leigh Library

As part of National Crime Reading Month, local author CJ Harter will interview best-selling crime writers Antony Johnston, creator of Atomic Blonde and The Exphoria Code, and David Beckler, author of Brotherhood.   After the interview, there w...


Capital Crime

Capital Crime, London’s first crime and thriller festival, is coming this September to Covent Garden. With over 30 CWA members appearing, such as Peter James, Antonia Hodgson, Ian Rankin, Dreda Say Mitchell, Mark Edwards, Will Dean and MW Craven, t...


CWA Announce Longlists for Prestigious Crime Writing Daggers

The Crime Writers’ Association announced the much anticipated longlists for the annual CWA Dagger awards for the best of the year’s crime writing at a reception during international convention CrimeFest in Bristol on the evening of Friday 10 May....


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...


Crime Writers in Residence – at home with Maggie Hamand

The CRA: Please tell us a little about yourself and the books you write. I am a former journalist, a novelist and creative writing lecturer at the University of Hull. I studied biochemistry as a first degree and have a Masters in theology so science...


Martina Cole Receives 2021 CWA Diamond Dagger

Martina Cole is the recipient of the highest honour in British crime writing, the Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Diamond Dagger. The long-reigning Queen of Crime Drama is a publishing powerhouse. Martina has written 25 novels, all published by He...


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