The Eternal Life of Ezra Ben Simeon
Bill Crotty
Debut Dagger
This year's winner
The Eternal Life of Ezra Ben Simeon
Bill Crotty
Georgia Malone is a brilliant young American expert in ancient documents. Lecturing in Rome she is confronted with the devastating news of her father’s suicide. As she tries to make sense of his legacy she is drawn into a centuries-old intrigue which puts her in grave danger even as it forces her to re-evaluate her life and beliefs.
Highly Commended
Riverine Blood by Joseph James
For 20 years the CWA has been encouraging new writing with its Debut Dagger competition for unpublished writers. The submissions are judged by a panel of top crime editors and agents, and the short listed entries are sent to publishers and agents.
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Shortlist
The Last Googling of Beth Bailly
Luke Melia
Riverine Blood
Joseph James
Original Sins
Linda Duncan McLaughlin
Trust Me, I’m Dead
Sherryl Clark
The judges
Leigh Russell
Leigh Russell has sold over a million books in her Geraldine Steel crime series which has been translated into several languages, including Chinese. Leigh has been shortlisted for two CWA Dagger Awards, and has twice been a finalist for The People’s Book Prize. She serves on the board of the Crime Writers’ Association, co-ordinates their Criminal Critiques service, and chairs the Debut Dagger judges. She is a Royal Literary Fellow.
Stephanie Glencross
Stephanie is an Editor at Gregory and Company Authors’ Agents, which is now part of David Higham Associates. Stephanie works with clients on their manuscripts before they are submitted to publishers and also looks for new talent. Clients include Val McDermid and Belinda Bauer.
Katherine Armstrong
Katherine Armstrong is Editorial Director for crime & thrillers at Bonnier Zaffre, part of Bonnier Books UK. She has worked in publishing since 2005, first at Faber and Faber and then at Sphere (Little, Brown), before joining Bonnier Zaffre in 2016. She is also one of the co-founders of the First Monday crime nights in London.
Oli Munson
Oli Munson is a director at literary agency A.M. Heath & Co. His list includes award-winning writers of crime, thrillers and suspense.
Debut Dagger 2018 Longlist
| Title | Author |
| The Eternal Life of Ezra Ben Simeon | Bill Crotty |
| The Infant of Prague | Nicole Wells |
| Sharps and Flats | Chris Dixon |
| Orange612 | Martin Ungless |
| Grabbed | Peter Lewenstein |
| The Last Googling of Beth Bailly | Luke Melia |
| Riverine Blood | Joseph James |
| Death Be Drammed | Coleen Steele |
| Original Sins | Linda McLaughlin |
| Trust Me, I’m Dead | Sherryl Clark |