Andrew Taylor has been presented with the 2009 Cartier Diamond Dagger, at a ceremony held at the Gore Hotel in Kensington, London on April 28th 2009.. The Diamond Dagger, awarded for sustained excellence in crime writing, was presented by Arnaud Bamberger, the Managing Director of Cartier UK.

In acceptinmg the award, Andrew Taylor said: “I am hugely honored to receive this award. It’s the sort of award that validates an entire career. What makes it particularly special is that I have been chosen by my fellow crime writers.” He concluded by thanking his wife, Caroline, for her support — and the fact that she had made it possible for him to write full time. His speech was greeted with a round of warm-hearted applause.

Earlier Lesley Horton, then chair of the CWA, explained: “The Cartier award acknowledges the work of an author who has made an outstanding contribution to the genre, and Andrew Taylor has consistently shown his ability to do just that. He is a worthy recipient. The recipient of the Cartier Diamond Dagger Award is chosen by the members and committee of the CWA and is very much an honour awarded by the author’s peers and thus makes it special.”