9 October 2007: The winner of this year’s CWA Short Story Awards was announced at a reception as part of the prestigious Ilkley Literature Festival.
Last year’s winner, Robert Barnard, presented the £1500 prize to Peter Lovesey for his story, Needle Match in the Best British Mysteries IV anthology edited by Maxim Jakubowski and published by Allison & Busby. The judges commented: “Set during the Wimbledon fortnight in 1981, with the Cold War raging, and a Russian tennis player's mysterious death leading to potentially global consequences. Excellent writing, evocative setting.”
Philip Gooden, Chair of the CWA, said: “The CWA is delighted that such a distinguished and long-standing member of the Association has won the short story award for 2007. We're grateful to Ilkley Literature Festival for hosting the event and to the judges for their work, and congratulate Peter Lovesey on this fresh achievement.”
Peter Lovesey read English at Reading University and became a lecturer in English at Thurrock Technical College, Essex, then later head of the General Education Department at Hammersmith College. He wrote his first book, a non-fiction work on Victorian runners, in 1968, then two years later began his mystery writing career with the first of his books to feature the Victorian detective, Sergeant Cribb, which were televised in the early 1980s. In 1991, Mr Lovesey introduced a modern-day detective character, Peter Diamond, in a series set in Bath.
Mr Lovesey has written more than twenty novels - including three under the name Peter Lear - and five short story collections, as well as editing a short story anthology and producing or co-producing four works of non-fiction on the subject of athletics. He has previously won both the CWA Gold Dagger (twice), the Silver Dagger, and in 2000 was awarded the prestigious CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger for sustained excellence in the genre.
His website is www.peterlovesey.com
There were four stories on the short list, drawn from two publications: Thriller, edited by James Patterson, and published by Mira UK; and Best British Mysteries IV edited by Maxim Jakubowski, and published by Allison & Busby. The judges debated this list with great enthusiasm, finding all four stories worthy of high commendation. The other three shortlisted stories were:
Judges’ comments:
‘A terminally ill hit man takes revenge in a brutal act of violence. A story with a dash of the macabre, as well as humour. Good characterisation, and good fun.’
From Thriller
Judges’ comments:
Judges’ comments: ‘A clever story featuring an ex-police officer, a seductive woman and a murder. Brilliantly unpredictable and original.’
From Thriller
Judges’ comments:
‘A wartime photographer takes the last photograph of his career in Palestine, and uses it to save his own life. Raises issues of media responsibility in times of war. A thoughtful, character-driven story.’
From Best British Mysteries IV
Chair: Ayo Onatade - reviewer
Ali Karim - reviewer
Jerry Sykes - novelist and short story writer