Gravesend
William Boyle
No Exit Press
The John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger
This year's winner
Lola
Melissa Scrivner Love
Point Blank
California gang wars in which the power behind the bloody throne is, for once, a woman, whose control of the macho cliques is a subtle blend of aggression and emotional intelligence. Intense, on a knife-edge and constantly defying expectations. A powerful and surprising debut.
This award is for the best crime novel by a first-time author of any nationality first published in the UK in English during the Judging Period.
Shortlist
I.Q.
Joe Ide
Weidenfeld & Nicolson
Girl in Snow
Danya Kukafka
Picador
Lola
Melissa Scrivner Love
Point Blank
East of Hounslow
Khurrum Rahman
HQ
Resurrection Bay
Emma Viskic
Pushkin Vertigo
The judges
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 Volume, which he edits and now at volume 13, has printed many winners of the CWA Short Story Dagger. His website is maximjakubowski.co.uk.
Lilas Seewald
Previously Editor in Chief for Crime & Thrillers at Fayard (Hachette Group), Lilas spent ten years working with diverse and prominent international authors. In recognition of her success , she was invited to take the helm at Bragelonne, France’s leading independent publishing house. Pursuing her passion for all things noir, Lilas works with a dedicated team to bring exciting new voices to print. With a roster that includes James Oswald, Johana Gustawsson, Joseph Finder, Steve Cavanagh and François Baranger, the Bragelonne noir imprint has quickly established itself as one of France’s leading imprints.
Dave Hutchinson
Dave is an acclaimed London-based author whose two last novels EUROPE IN AUTUMN and EUROPE AT MIDNIGHT have been shortlisted for various prestigious awards. An ex-journalist, his just-about-futuristic thrillers deal with the hidden side of political reality. He has also edited various SF anthologies and published collections of his short stories.
Karen Robinson
Karen Robinson is the Supplements Editor of the Sunday Times. She also writes, on property, education, books, travel and food.
The John Creasey Debut Dagger 2018 Longlist
| Author | Title | Publisher |
| William Boyle | Gravesend | No Exit Press |
| Joe Ide | I.Q. | Weidenfeld & Nicolson |
| Greg Keen | Soho Dead | Thomas & Mercer |
| Danya Kukafka | Girl In Snow | Picador |
| Melissa Scrivner Love | Lola | Point Blank |
| Khurrum Rahman | East Of Hounslow | HQ |
| John Steele | Ravenhill | Silvertail |
| Gabriel Tallent | My Absolute Darling | Fourth Estate |
| Stuart Turton | The Seven Deaths Of Evelyn Hardcastle | Raven Books |
| Emma Viskic | Resurrection Bay | Pushkin Vertigo |