The Crime Writers’ Association

Red Herring

The Red Herring Award From its earliest years, right up to the present day, the CWA has benefited enormously from the hard and selfless work of a wide range of people. It’s always been a fundamental part of the CWA’s ethos that contributions of ...


A Detective’s Take on Crime Fiction

CWA Scotland — A Detective's Take on Crime Writing 27 June 2024 at 7 pm with Iain Souter. Iain is a second-generation copper from a crop of three who followed their father into the service in Northern Constabulary… pre-Police Scotland. He...


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...


Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin Named New SOA Chair

Congratulations to Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin, who has been elected new Chair of the Society of Authors. The novelist and founder of writing.ie takes over from Joanne Harris to begin two-year term as Chair of the SoA’s board of directors Vanessa Fo...


Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition – Rules

Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition - The Rules Please read all terms carefully before submitting your entry. Please pay attention to the Margery Allingham’s definition of a mystery and the chronology it outlines. Submission of an entry...


The Awards Dinner

The Awards Dinner The 2024 CWA Daggers Awards Dinner was held on 4 July, 2024 at the Leonardo Royal Hotel London City on Cooper's Row....


Simon Scarrow in conversation with David Young

On Thursday 8 April, 7pm, the CWA is hosting multi-million bestselling author Simon Scarrow, talking about his new novel, Blackout, with David Young, winner of the CWA Historical Dagger with Stasi Child. Blackout, Simon’s first crime thriller, in...


An Evening of Cyber-Espionage with Antony Johnston – was 28 February, now 15 March

PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO BAD WEATHER THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL THURSDAY 15 MARCH An Evening of Cyber-Espionage with Antony Johnston Presented by Imagined Things & Destination Venus Antony will read from his acclaimed new spy thriller...


Crafting Compelling Coppers – celebrate National Crime Reading Month with the CWA

Join the Crime Writers' Association as we celebrate National Crime Reading Month on Tuesday 15 June at 7.30pm. Authors Jane Bettany (creator of DI Isabel Blood), Liz Mistry (writer of the DI Gus McGuire and Nikki Parekh series), Roz Watkins (DI Meg ...


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...


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