The Crime Writers' Association

CWA Crime Fiction in Translation Dagger

Winner 2020

The Godmother
Hannelore Cayre
Translated by: Stephanie Smee
Old Street Publishing

Both hilarious and scabrous depiction of the racial diversity that crime encompasses in France, with a female lead of dubious morality and high originality. Just filmed with Isabelle Huppert in the lead.

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This award is for crime novels (defined by the broadest definition including thrillers, suspense novels and spy fiction) as long as the book was not originally written in English and has been translated into English for UK publication during the Judging Period. Until 2019 this award was known as the CWA International Dagger.

Shortlist

The Godmother
Hannelore Cayre
Translated by: Stephanie Smee
Old Street Publishing

November
Jorge Galán
Translated by: Jason Wilson
Constable

Little Siberia
Antti Tuomainen
Translated by: David Hackston
Orenda Books

The Judges 2021

Maxim Jakubowski (Chair)

Maxim worked for many years in book publishing as an editor and launched the Murder One Bookshop, which he owned and ran for over 20 years. He now writes, edits and translates full-time in London. The series The Mammoth Book of Best British Crime, which he edits and now at Volume 13, has printed many winners of the CWA Short Story Dagger. His website is maximjakubowski.co.uk.

Ngaire Mason-Wenn Wallace

Ngaire is an internationally published author with a background in recruitment consulting and human resources. She holds a BA in English and history from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, and has also studied psychology and linguistics. Her keen interest in the human mind has informed her career in the corporate world, her writing, and her love of crime fiction.

Anne Cater

Anne has been an avid reader for a long as she can remember, loves to discuss books, and shout about the ones that she loves. Eight years ago she started her blog Random Things Through My Letterbox. She reviews commercial women’s fiction for The Daily Express Books on Friday monthly feature.

Rhys Hughes

Rhys has lived in many countries. He currently shares his time between Britain and Kenya. His first book, Worming the Harpy was published in 1995, and since that time he’s had published more than forty other books, nine hundred short stories, and many articles. His work has been translated into ten languages.

John CluteJohn Clute

John Clute has been publishing reviews and criticism from the 1960s; they are assembled in several volumes including The Darkening Garden (2006), an anatomy of terror, and Pardon This Intrusion: Fantastika in the World Storm (2011). The eighth of these collections is Sticking to the End (2021). He has published two novels: Appleseed (2001) was a New York Times Notable Book. He has won several Hugos and other awards.

2020 Shortlist

Title Author Translated by Publisher
SUMMER OF RECKONING Marion Brunet Katherine Gregor Bitter Lemon Press
THE GODMOTHER Hannelore Cayre Stephanie Smee Old Street Publishing
LIKE FLIES FROM AFAR K. Ferrari Adrian Nathan West Canongate Books
NOVEMBER Jorge Galán Jason Wilson Constable
THE FRAGILITY OF BODIES Sergio Olguín Miranda France Bitter Lemon Press
LITTLE SIBERIA Antti Tuomainen David Hackston Orenda Books

2020 Longlist

Title Author Translated by Publisher
THE CATHOLIC SCHOOL Edoardo Albinati Anthony Shugaar Picador
SUMMER OF RECKONING Marion Brunet Katherine Gregor Bitter Lemon Press
THE GODMOTHER Hannelore Cayre Stephanie Smee Old Street Publishing
LIKE FLIES FROM AFAR K. Ferrari Adrian Nathan West Canongate Books
NOVEMBER Jorge Galán Jason Wilson Constable
BLOOD SONG Johana Gustawsson David Warriner Orenda Books
THE CABIN Jørn Lier Horst Anne Bruce Michael Joseph
THE FRAGILITY OF BODIES Sergio Olguín Miranda France Bitter Lemon Press
GRAB A SNAKE BY THE TAIL Leonardo Padura Peter Bush Bitter Lemon Press
LITTLE SIBERIA Antti Tuomainen David Hackston Orenda Books