The John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger

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. ‘Best crime novel by a first time author’ means that the author must not have had a novel of any sort published before under any name whatsoever. In the case of novels with more than one author, all the authors must meet this requirement.

Shortlist

Little White Lies
Philippa East
HQ/Harper Collins

The Man on the Street
Trevor Wood
Quercus

My Lovely Wife
Samantha Downing
Michael Joseph

The Wreckage
Robin Morgan-Bentley
Orion/Trapeze

Your House Will Pay
Steph Cha
Faber

The judges

Edwin Buckhalter (Chair)

Edwin Buckhalter is the son of a London bookseller, growing up in the book trade, and founding Severn House Publishers in 1974. Having sold the company in 2017 and ostensibly retired, he still reads widely and avidly, especially his first love of crime fiction, whilst devoting much time as a Trustee of an orchestra and not enough time to watching cricket.

Susan Moody

Susan Moody was born and brought up in Oxford. Her first crime novel, Penny Black, was published in 1984. She has written a number of suspense thrillers. Susan spent two years as Creative Writing Tutor at Bedford Prison and is a former Chairman of the Crime Writer’s Association.

Paul Magrs

In a twenty-five year writing career Paul Magrs has published novels in every genre from Literary to Gothic Mystery to Science Fiction for adults and young adults. He has taught Creative Writing at both the University of East Anglia and Manchester Metropolitan University, and now writes full time.

Karen Robinson

Karen Robinson is the Supplements Editor of the Sunday Times. She also writes, on property, education, books, travel and food.

2020 Shortlist

Title	Author	Publisher
Little White Lies	Philippa East	HQ
The Man on the Street	Trevor Wood	Quercus Fiction
My Lovely Wife	Samantha Downing	Michael Joseph
The Wreckage	Robin Morgan-Bentley	Trapeze
Your House Will Pay	Steph Cha	Faber & Faber

2020 Longlist

Title	Author	Publisher
A Death in the Medina	James Von Leyden	Constable
Black Sun	Owen Matthews	Bantam Press
Hold Your Tongue	Deborah Masson	Corgi
Little White Lies	Philippa East	HQ
The Man on the Street	Trevor Wood	Quercus Fiction
My Lovely Wife	Samantha Downing	Michael Joseph
The Wreckage	Robin Morgan-Bentley	Trapeze
This Dark Little Place	A.S. Hatch	Serpent’s Tail
Trust Me, I’m Dead	Sherryl Clark	Verve Books
The Van Apfel Girls Are Gone	Felicity McLean	Point Blank
Whirligig	Andrew James Greig	Fledgling Press
Your House Will Pay	Steph Cha	Faber & Faber