The Crime Writers’ Association

The CWA Announces a New Annual Dagger Award for Publishers

The world-famous Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Daggers, which honours the very best in crime writing, has created a new Dagger category for the first time in over a decade. The new prestigious Dagger will be awarded annually to the Best Crime an...


Crime Publishers & Writers at Event in Chorley, Lancashire

Publishers Sapere Books and Gritstone Publishing Co-operative as well as crime writers Simon Michael, D J Harrison and Ruth Sutton will be highlighting the different ways of getting published. Writers, whether beginners or more experienced, are wel...


Shortlist Announced for New CWA Dagger Best Crime & Mystery Publisher

The shortlist has been announced for the inaugural CWA Dagger for the Best Crime and Mystery Publisher of the Year. The award is the first new Dagger category created in over a decade. The Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Daggers are regarded by th...


Video submission guide

Video submission guide We are not currently running a video series. But following the success of our YouTube member videos in 2020-21, we’ll be inviting you to send in themed videos again soon. Keep an eye on Red Herrings and members' email upd...


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...


Dagger for the Best Crime & Mystery Publisher

Dagger for the Best Crime & Mystery Publisher This prestigious Dagger (often referred to as simply the “Publisher’s Dagger”) is awarded annually to the Best Crime and Mystery Publisher of the Year. Publishers and specific imprints are n...


Debut Dagger

Emerging Author Dagger (Debut Dagger) Announcements Congratulations to our 2024 Longlist Authors! See below for details. Shortlist: CrimeFest, Bristol on Friday 10 May, early evening Winner: Dagger Awards Dinner, evening of Thursday 4 Jul...


The McIlvanney Prize Longlist Announced

LONGLIST ANNOUNCED FOR THE McILVANNEY PRIZE SCOTTISH CRIME BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD 2016 ‘I went to Bloody Scotland and I was just knocked out…. I’ve been at literary events where a lot of people have knives sticking out their back that they ...


Historical Dagger

Historical Dagger This award is for the best historical crime novel, first published in the UK in English during the judging period, set in any period up to 50 years prior to the year in which the award will be made. For novels that involve passages...


Author talk from Cath Staincliffe

Cath Staincliffe is an award winning novelist, radio playwright and creator of ITV’s hit series Blue Murder, starring Caroline Quentin as DCI Janine Lewis. Cath has been shortlisted for the CWA Best First Novel award and for the Dagger in the Libra...


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