The CWA Ellis Peters Historical Dagger 2003

Andrew Taylor wins with The American Boy

This year's CWA Ellis Peters Dagger for the best historical crime novel has been won by Andrew Taylor for his book The American Boy, published by Flamingo (an imprint of HarperCollins).

It is the second time Andrew has won the award. The announcement was made on 22 October by the chair of the judges' panel, Susanna Yager, at a reception at the Savoy in London.

The award of £3000 is sponsored by the estate of the late Ellis Peters, and her publishers Headline and Time Warner. The Dagger was presented at the CWA 50th Jubilee Dagger Awards Lunch in London on Thursday 13 November.

The other shortlisted titles were:

Tom Bradby - The White Russian - Bantam Press
Marcello Fois - The Advocate - Harvill Press
Lee Jackson - London Dust - Arrow
Gillian Linscott - Blood on the Wood - Virago
C.J. Sansom - Dissolution - Macmillan
Olen Steinhauer- The Bridge of Sighs - Heinemann