The Crime Writers' Association

Debut Dagger

A competition for the opening of a crime novel by an uncontracted writer.

Entries from shortlisted writers are sent to UK literary agents and publishers. Every year, authors find representation this way.

Shortlist

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.

2020 Shortlist

  • The Spae-Wife – Anna Caig
  • Whipstick – Leanne Fry
  • Pesticide – Kim Hays
  • Emergency Drill – Nicholas Morrish
  • Revolution Never Lies – Josephine Moulds
  • Bitter Lake – Michael Munro

2020 Longlist

  • Lowlands – Barbara Austin
  • The Spae-Wife – Anna Caig
  • Undercut – Loraine Fowlow
  • Whipstick – Leanne Fry
  • Pesticide – Kim Hays
  • Blogger’s End – Jack Kapica
  • Emergency Drill – Nicholas Morrish
  • Revolution Never Lies – Josephine Moulds
  • Bitter Lake – Michael Munro
  • Grim Fairy Tale – Karen Taylor
  • Dark Pastimes – Jane Wing
  • A Generation of Vipers – Sarah Yarwood-Lovett

Last Year's Winner

Shelley Burr
Wake

About Wake

Mina McCreery has grown up in the shadow of her twin sister Evelyn’s disappearance twenty years ago. The impossible case of a girl who vanished from her bed on a remote property in New South Wales has long obsessed the press, amateur sleuths and conspiracy theorists. A popular theory is that Mina herself killed Evelyn. When private investigator Lane Holland reopens the case, the answer seems closer than ever before. But Lane has a dangerous agenda of his own.

 

About Shelley Burr

Shelley Burr is a writer and public servant from Canberra, Australia. Wake is her first novel.

Amazon

View past winners