CWA Dagger in the Library
Winner 2021
Peter May
Scottish multiple award-winning author, with book series set in the Outer Hebrides, France and China, Peter has a legion of ardent fans for his atmospheric thrillers and sales to match.
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.
Donna Duff
Donna was aged 4 when she decided she was going to be a librarian and has been working in Libraries for 35 years. She has worked in public and specialist libraries, and for the past 13 years she has been working for East Lothian Council Library Services as Senior Librarian for Digital and Adult Services.
East Lothian has had the pleasure of holding many events which welcomed crime writers from across the UK and beyond. Not just within the Libraries but also as part of the Fringe by the Sea Festival.
Donna’s family are now seriously considering staging an intervention due her continued book buying which she can’t seem to resist despite her extensive borrowing from the library service.
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 |