The Crime Writers’ Association

Nominations for the 2025 Daggers are now open!

Nominations for the 2025 Daggers are now open! See this page for information about the entry process, the new Dagger categories, and more!

2024 Diamond Dagger Winners Announced!

The CWA is proud to announce the joint winners of the 2024 Diamond Dagger, Lynda La Plante and James Lee Burke. The Diamond Dagger is the CWA’s most prestigious award, recognising a lifetime of excellence in contribution to English-language crime writing. Read more about 2024’s winners and their impressive careers here.

CWA 2024 Conference – Online Booking is Here!

Members! Book your place for the 2024 CWA Conference, 19-21 April in beautiful, historic Brighton. Not a member? Join now for this and other benefits.

Time to Read a Dagger-Listed Book?

For full lists view a PDF here, or click on individual Dagger pages for all shortlists and longlists.

Find What You’re Looking For

Looking for a certain kind of crime novel, or one by a particular author?
See what a search brings up in Find An Author/Book.

Critiques & Editing

Want an expert critique or edit of your crime novel?
Check out the CWA’s Criminal Critiques & Editing.

The Crime Readers’ Association

Would you like monthly eNewsletters about the latest crime books? Visit the Crime Readers’ Association and subscribe – it’s free.

About the CWA

The CWA promotes, supports and celebrates crime writing, and writers of all crime fiction and non-fiction from across the globe. We’re proud to be a growing, thriving community with membership encompassing authors of all ages and at every stage of their careers.

Find out more about who can join the CWA and the benefits we provide:


We’re here to help

Crime readers

Get the inside track on the latest crime books and authors.

Libraries

We want to help you promote crime writing

Booksellers

Let us work with you to support crime writing.

The Daggers

The CWA Dagger awards celebrate the best in crime writing.

Love reading crime?


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