2021 Dagger Awards
Organized by the UK's Crime Writers Association, the Dagger Awards recognize excellence in crime writing. Entries are predominantly submitted by publishers and judged by industry professionals. To learn more, visit the CWA website.
See the 2021 winners below!
Gold Dagger
The best crime novel by an author of any nationality, originally written in English, first published in the UK during the Judging Period. The broadest definition of the crime novel defines eligible books as including thrillers, police procedurals, mysteries, pyschological and other suspense novels and spy fiction.
Winner:
We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker
Shortlisted:
Ian Fleming Steel Dagger
Ian Fleming said there was one essential criterion for a good thriller, ‘one simply has to turn the pages’. Eligible books in this category are thrillers set in any period and include, but are not limited to, spy fiction, psychological thrillers and action/adventure stories.
Winner:
When She Was Good by Michael Robotham
Shortlisted:
John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger
This award is for the best crime novel by a first-time author of any nationality first published in the UK in English during the Judging Period.
Winner:
The Creak of the Stairs by Eva Björg Ægisdóttir
Shortlisted:
Crime Fiction in Translation Dagger
This award is for crime novels (defined by the broadest definition including thrillers, suspense novels and spy fiction) as long as the book was not originally written in English and has been translated into English for UK publication during the Judging Period.
Winner:
The Disaster Tourist by Yun Ko-eun, translated by Lizzie Buehler
Shortlisted:
ALCS Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction
This award is for any non-fiction work on a crime related theme by an author of any nationality as long as the book was first published in the UK in English during the Judging Period.
Winner:
Written in Bone by Sue Black
Shortlisted: