Gold Dagger Award (CWA Dagger for Crime Novel of the Year)
Crime Writers' Association (CWA)
One of the most prestigious British awards for crime fiction, presented annually by the Crime Writers' Association to honor the best crime novel of the year, historically known as the Gold Dagger before rebranding as the CWA Dagger.
Latest winner · 2026
- The Death of Us · Abigail Dean
Next · expected May 2027
Shortlist announced Full award calendar
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2026
- Won
- Shortlisted
- Not Quite Dead YetShortlisted
Holly Jackson
- The Art of a LieShortlisted
Laura Shepherd-Robinson
- The Frozen RiverShortlisted
Ariel Lawhon
- Shortlisted
2025
- Won
- A Divine FuryShortlisted
D V Bishop
- Shortlisted
- I Died at Fallow HallShortlisted
Bonnie Burke-Patel
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
2024
- Won
- Black RiverShortlisted
Nilanjana Roy
- Over My Dead BodyShortlisted
Maz Evans
- Shortlisted
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- Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for MurderersShortlisted
Jesse Sutanto
2023
- Won
- A Killing in NovemberShortlisted
Simon Mason
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- The Silent BrotherShortlisted
Simon Van der Velde
- The Winter GuestShortlisted
WC Ryan
2022
- Won
- Before You Knew My NameShortlisted
Jacqueline Bublitz
- Shortlisted
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- The TrawlermanShortlisted
William Shaw
- Shortlisted
2021
- Won
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- City of GhostsShortlisted
Ben Creed
- House of CorrectionShortlisted
Nicci French
- Shortlisted
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2020
- Won
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- Forced ConfessionsShortlisted
John Fairfax
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2019
- Won
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- What We DidShortlisted
Christobel Kent
2018
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- Resurrection BayShortlisted
Emma Viskic
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2017
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2016
- Won
- Black WidowShortlisted
Chris Brookmyre
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2015
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2014
- Won
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- Keep Your Friends CloseShortlisted
Paula Daly
- The First Rule of SurvivalShortlisted
Paul Mendelson
2013
- Won
- Rage Against the DyingShortlisted
Becky Masterman
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
2012
- Won
- BereftShortlisted
Chris Womersley
- The FlightShortlisted
M. R. Hall
- Vengeance in MindShortlisted
N. J. Cooper
2011
- Won
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2010
- Won
- Blood HarvestShortlisted
S. J. Bolton
- ShadowplayShortlisted
Karen Campbell
- Shortlisted
2009
- Won
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2008
- Won
- A Vengeful LongingShortlisted
R. N. Morris
- Shortlisted
- The Coroner's LunchShortlisted
Colin Cotterill
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2007
- Won
- Brother GrimmShortlisted
Craig Russell
- Shortlisted
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2006
- Won
- A Thousand LiesShortlisted
Laura Wilson
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
- The Chemistry of DeathShortlisted
Simon Beckett
- Wolves of MemoryShortlisted
Bill James
2005
- Won
- Calling Out for YouShortlisted
Karin Fossum
- Deadly WebShortlisted
Barbara Nadel
- In Matto's RealmShortlisted
Friedrich Glauser
- Skinny DipShortlisted
Carl Hiaasen
2004
- Won
- Shortlisted
- Midnight CabShortlisted
James W. Nichol
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2003
- Won
- Almost BlueShortlisted
Carlo Lucarelli
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- The Winter QueenShortlisted
Boris Akunin
2002
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2001
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- Dancing with the VirginsShortlisted
Stephen Booth
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2000
- Won
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- LostShortlisted
Lucy Wadham
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- The Skull MantraShortlisted
Eliot Pattison
1999
- Won
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- Vienna BloodShortlisted
Adrian Mathews
1998
- Won
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- Fire HawkShortlisted
Geoffrey Archer
- Manchester SlingbackShortlisted
Nicholas Blincoe
- Shortlisted
1997
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1996
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1995
- Won
- Death in the GardenShortlisted
Elizabeth Ironside
- Shortlisted
1992
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1991
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- Death of a PartnerShortlisted
Janet Neel
- Shortlisted
1990
- Won
- The Late CandidateShortlisted
Mike Phillips
1989
- Won
1986
- Won
1985
- Won
- Last Seen AliveShortlisted
Dorothy Simpson
- Our Father's LiesShortlisted
Andrew Taylor
1968
- Won
Skin Deep
- The Lady in the Car with Glasses and a GunShortlisted
Sébastien Japrisot
- The Private WoundShortlisted
Nicholas Blake
1967
- Won
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Lonely Heart 4122
1960
- Won
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1959
- Won
- A Way BackShortlisted
James Mitchell
- Strike for a KingdomShortlisted
Menna Gallie
1958
- Won
- Hide My EyesShortlisted
Margery Allingham
- Shortlisted
Or Be He Dead
James Byrom
- Shortlisted
Undiplomatic Exit
John Sherwood
1957
- Won
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- Shortlisted
The Long Echo
Douglas Rutherford
- Shortlisted
Your Money or Your Life
George Milner
1956
- Won
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Time Right Deadly
Sarah Gainham
1955
- Won
- Blind DateShortlisted
Lee Howard
- Shortlisted
- Shortlisted
Frequently asked questions
- Who won the Gold Dagger Award (CWA Dagger for Crime Novel of the Year) in 2026?
- “The Death of Us” by Abigail Dean won the Gold Dagger Award (CWA Dagger for Crime Novel of the Year) in 2026.
- Who are the most recent Gold Dagger Award (CWA Dagger for Crime Novel of the Year) winners?
- 2026: “The Death of Us” by Abigail Dean; 2025: “The Book of Secrets” by Anna Mazzola; 2024: “Tell Me What I Am” by Una Mannion; 2023: “The Kingdoms of Savannah” by George Dawes Green; 2022: “Sunset Swing” by Ray Celestin.
- Has anyone won the Gold Dagger Award (CWA Dagger for Crime Novel of the Year) more than once?
- Yes - 11 authors have: Lionel Davidson (1960, 1966, 1978); Eric Ambler (1959, 1972); Joan Fleming (1962, 1970); John le Carré (1963, 1977); H. R. F. Keating (1964, 1980); Peter Dickinson (1968, 1969); Ruth Rendell (1976, 1986); Barbara Vine (1987, 1991); Colin Dexter (1989, 1992); Minette Walters (1994, 2003); Michael Robotham (2015, 2020).