CWA Dagger in the Library
The Dagger in the Library is a prize for a body of work by an established crime writer that has long been popular with borrowers from libraries. It also rewards authors who have supported libraries and their users.
Shortlist
The Judges 2021
Sue Wilkinson (Chair)
Sue Wilkinson has worked in public libraries for more than 40 years and is Events and Engagement Manager at the Library of Birmingham. Before taking up this post, she was a prison librarian for many years. Having spent a lot of time with the real thing, she finds crime fiction much more entertaining, and looks forward to discovering new writers and crime genres.
Jennifer Stewart
Jennifer Stewart is a Service Development Librarian with Fife Cultural Trust, and has worked in public libraries for over twenty years, passing on her passion for reading to anyone who is willing to listen! She is regularly to be found mixing with all sorts of criminal types via the pages of a book, and loves discovering new crime writers.
Marleen Kennedy
Marleen Kennedy can’t remember a life before words and reading. After growing up in a household where no holiday or festivity was complete without at least one new book, it’s hardly surprising she now owns more books than shelf space while her Kindle is about to explode.
Having left the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam for the peace and quiet of the Irish countryside she counts herself lucky to have worked as a branch librarian for the Cavan County Council Library Service for the past ten years. Helping others find the books that are just right for them will never grow old and leading the library reading group continues to feel more like a treat than work.
Marleen also writes romances under the name Helena Stone.
Kay Easson
Kay Easson has worked in libraries for 30 years. She has had experience of working in school, public and independent libraries, the latter for 17 years at the Lit & Phil in Newcastle upon Tyne. Crime fiction is an important part of its collection and over the years the library has welcomed many crime writers, from Dorothy L. Sayers to CWA Diamond Dagger winner Ann Cleeves. Kay is one of the co-organisers of Newcastle Noir @ the Lit & Phil, Newcastle’s annual crime-writing festival.
Ian Anstice
Ian Anstice is a Locality Librarian for Cheshire West and Chester Council and has worked for the same service of 26 years. However, he is more widely known outside of that service as being the editor of Public Libraries News. He is a keen walker of schnauzers but promises us he does fit in the time to read the occasional book as well.
Mirka Duxberry
Mirka Duxberry is one of the Library Development Managers and has worked for Shropshire Libraries for over 14 years. She believes in power of stories, reading and libraries and is passionate about languages. She continuously promotes the value and benefits of libraries to partners and the wider community and helps to develop new services.
Longlist 2021
| Lin Anderson |
| Nicci French |
| Lisa Jewell |
| Erin Kelly |
| Peter May |
| Denise Mina |
| Margaret Murphy |
| James Oswald |
| L J Ross |
| C L Taylor |
Winner 2020
Christopher Brookmyre
Chris Brookmyre was a journalist before becoming a full-time novelist with the publication of his award-winning debut Quite Ugly One Morning, which established him as one of Britain’s leading crime authors. His novels have sold more than two million copies in the UK alone, and Black Widow won both the McIlvanney Prize and the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year award.
