The Crime Writers’ Association

How Did I Get Ready for Entering the Debut Dagger? by Sherryl Clark

Well, first I had to get past my nerves! I’d written mostly children’s books, and to be honest, my first couple of drafts of my novel received the feedback, ‘sounds too much like a young adult novel’. Oops. I knew that really I needed to do a...


Edinburgh Delegates to Receive Rewards Passport

A new benefit for delegates to the CWA Annual Conference has been announced - they will automatically receive a special Edinburgh Rewards Passport. Launched by Convention Edinburgh, the Passport rewards conference delegates with special offers and v...


The Victorian Fear of Poison Murder

In the nineteenth century the prospect of being poisoned was a very real fear, and the poisoner has frequently been denounced as the worst kind of criminal. Poison is secret and treacherous, administered by someone close to the victim, hidden in food...


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...


Mick Herron and Sarah Hilary – London Rules and Come and Find Me

Wells Festival of Literature: Literary Festival in Somerset This gripping new event brings three brilliant thriller writers together for a nail-biting session. Mick Herron’s Jackson Lamb spy novel series has gained many accolades with the first Slo...


Dagger for Crime Fiction in Translation

Dagger for Crime Fiction in Translation Sponsored in honour of Dolores Jakubowski. This award is for crime novels (defined by the broadest definition to include thrillers, suspense novels and spy fiction) as long as the book was not originally wr...


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...


Slaughter in Southwold Crime Writers Festival Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th June

2017 marks the fifth annual ‘Slaughter in Southwold’ festival featuring talks by a number of top crime writers as well as other crime themed activities. This year’s packed programme features Elly Griffiths, M.J. Arlidge, Isabelle Grey, Harry B...


Bookshop of the Month – August 2021: No Alibis

What was the shop before he moved in? ‘It was a dry cleaners.’ Bit of a refit then? He laughs. ’Very much a refit. We built most of the bookcases ourselves. I sold a lot of my first editions at the time to raise money. Raymond Chandlersâ€...


Martin Edwards wins an Edgar

Martin Edwards, the CWA’s vice chair, has won the Best Biographical/Critical Edgar award for The Golden Age of Murder. The awards for mystery fiction, non-fiction and TV are made every spring by Mystery Writers of America. The term ‘Edgar...


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