Dagger in the Library – we need you, librarians!
Category: News
Dear library professionals,
You might be aware that here at the Crime Writers’ Association we run the annual Dagger in the Library award. This is to recognise a crime writer who is popular with library users and also gives back to libraries in terms of being willing to participate in events and offer support.
Every year we invite UK library staff to nominate from our list of eligible authors on our website.
This year, for the 2023 Dagger in the Library, we’d like your input before we get to this stage. I’m attaching the current list of eligible authors and wonder if you could kindly send us other names who you might wish to see nominated?
We have adjusted the eligibility criteria this year, without losing the emphasis on longevity of career. We have revised down the number of crime books (fiction or non-fiction) that a writer must have published in total to 6, and the minimum span of years from first book to present time to 8 years, i.e. their first crime book must have been published in 2015 or earlier.
We’re also interested in ensuring authors whose ebooks or audio books are popular are well represented so please do take these into account when you’re suggesting names.
However, authors who have won the Diamond Dagger or the Dagger in the Library in the past (or been shortlisted for this in 2022 and 2021) are not eligible, and neither are authors who don’t have a home address in the UK. (To see who has won these daggers in the past, visit the CWA website and see Past Winners. You can search for each award individually.)
Please send your names (in addition to those on the attached list) to libraries@thecwa.co.uk by Monday 3 October 2022.
Voting for the full list of authors will open from the CWA website on 1 November and run to 28 February 2023. Please ensure you vote and pass the word to fellow library staff! We accept up to three votes from staff at every UK library.
Best wishes
Dea
CWA Secretary
Dagger in the Library Candidates 2022
Diamond Dagger and Dagger in the Library winners permanently removed
Those shortlisted in 2021 and 2022 removed until 2023/2024
Those shortlisted in 2020 added
Ben Aaronovitch
Simon Beckett
Benjamin Black
Tony Black
Hilary Bonner
Frances Brody
Alison Bruce
Ken Bruen
Jane Casey
Paul Charles
Ben Cheetham
John Connolly
P.C. Doherty
Ashley Dyer (aka Margaret Murphy and A.D. Garrett)
Mark Edwards
Joy Ellis
R.J. Ellory
Paul Finch
Felix Francis
Nicci French
Frances Fyfield
A.D. Garrett (aka Margaret Murphy and Ashley Dyer)
Alex Gray
Susannah Gregory
Sophie Hannah
Cora Harrison
Mick Herron
David Hewson
Arlene Hunt
Graham Hurley
Quentin Jardine
Maxim Jakubowski
Erin Kelly
Simon Kernick
Stephen Leather
Catriona Macpherson
Scott Mariani
Angela Marsons
Faith Martin
Priscilla Masters
Graham Masterton
Brian McGilloway
Adrian McKinty
Catriona McPherson
Sam Millar
T.F. Muir
Margaret Murphy (aka A.D. Garrett and Ashley Dyer)
Stuart Neville
Adele Parks
Louise Penny
Anne Perry
Sarah Pinborough
Henry Porter
Sheila Quigley
Caro Ramsay
Kate Rhodes
Phil Rickman
Michael Ridpath
Pauline Rowson
Leigh Russell
Gerald Seymour
Sara Sheridan
Mel Sherratt
Linda Stratmann
Marsali Taylor
Aline Templeton
Rebecca Tope
Peter Tremayne
Tim Weaver
Lee Weeks
Laura Wilson
Jacqueline Winspear
Anne Zouroudi