The CWA Short Story Award 2008
Winner: Martin Edwards

Prize: £1,500

Martin Edwards has won the 2008 CWA Short Story Award for THE BOOKBINDER’S APPRENTICE, first published in The Mammoth Book of Best British Mysteries edited by Maxim Jakubowski, and published by Constable Robinson Publishing.

Martin was presented with his award and a cheque for £1500 by Lesley Horton, Chair of the Crime Writers' Association, at the Awards Dinner held at the Four Seasons Hotel in London's Park Lane on Thursday 10th July. The judges described his story as ‘A subtle, insidious, and disturbingly creepy tale of how an Englishman in Venice finds himself offered the job of apprentice to a bookbinder with unusual methods.’

Danuta Reah was Highly Commended for GLAZED, from Getting Even: Revenge Stories edited by Mitzi Szereto, Serpent's Tail. The judges said this was ‘A well-executed tale of comeuppance and revenge in unusual circumstances.’

The other stories on the shortlist were:

Robert Barnard - PROVENANCE
From The Mammoth Book of Best British Mysteries edited by Maxim Jakubowkski, Constable Robinson Publishing
Judges’ comments: ‘A stylish and intelligent tale of murder in the art world.’

Michael Connelly - ONE DOLLAR JACKPOT
From Dead Man's Hand edited by Otto Penzler, Quercus
Judges’ comments: ‘Harry Bosch plays his own high-stakes game of poker in order to catch a brutal killer - exciting and pacy.’

Laura Lippman - ONE TRUE LOVE
From Best American Mystery Stories 2007 edited by Otto Penzler and Carl Hiaasen, Quercus
Judges’ comments: ‘A subtle attempt at blackmail in suburbia gets turned on its head in this clever story.’

JUDGING PANEL

Further details may be obtained from the CWA Dagger Liaison Officer, Margaret Murphy, by emailing . Any queries should also be addressed to her.