Gold Dagger

(Redirected from Gold Dagger Award)

The CWA Gold Dagger is an award given annually by the Crime Writers' Association of the United Kingdom since 1960 for the best crime novel of the year.

Gold Dagger
Awarded forBest crime novel of the year
CountryUnited Kingdom
Presented byCrime Writers' Association (CWA)
First awarded1955
Most recent winnerGeorge Dawes Green
The Kingdoms of Savannah (2023)
Most awardsRuth Rendell (4)
Most nominationsRuth Rendell, James Lee Burke, and Mick Herron (5)
Websitethecwa.co.uk

From 1955 to 1959, the organization named their top honor as the Crossed Red Herring Award. From 1995 to 2002 the award acquired sponsorship from Macallan and was known as the Macallan Gold Dagger.

In 2006, because of new sponsorship from the Duncan Lawrie Bank, the award was officially renamed as the Duncan Lawrie Dagger, and gained a prize fund of £20,000. It was the biggest crime-fiction award in the world in monetary terms. In 2008, Duncan Lawrie Bank withdrew its sponsorship of the awards. As a result, the top prize is again called the Gold Dagger without a monetary award.

From 1969 to 2005, a Silver Dagger was awarded to the runner-up. When Duncan Lawrie acquired sponsorship, this award was dropped. After the sponsorship was withdrawn, this award was not reinstated.

Since its inception, the award has been given to 57 writers. Ruth Rendell has won the award a record four times, including two awards for the novels A Fatal Inversion and King Solomon's Carpet, published under the pseudonym Barbara Vine; this makes her the only writer who has won the award under different names. Rendell, James Lee Burke, and Mick Herron were nominated a record five times. Abir Mukherjee is the most nominated author in this category without a single win (4 nominations).

The Crime Writers' Association also awards the CWA Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction and several other "Dagger" awards.

Winners edit

Winners and, where known, shortlisted titles for each year:

1950s edit

YearAuthorWork
Crossed Red Herring Award
1955Winston GrahamThe Little Walls
Lee HowardBlind Date
Ngaio MarshScales of Justice
Margot BennettThe Man Who Didn't Fly
1956Edward GriersonThe Second Man
Sarah GainhamTime Right Deadly
Arthur UpfieldMan of Two Tribes
J. J. MarricGideon's Week
1957Julian SymonsThe Colour of Murder
Ngaio MarshOff with His Head
George MilnerYour Money or Your Life
Douglas RutherfordThe Long Echo
1958Margot BennettSomeone from the Past
Margery AllinghamHide My Eyes
James ByromOr Be He Dead
John SherwoodUndiplomatic Exit
1959Eric AmblerPassage of Arms
James MitchellA Way Back
Menna GallieStrike for a Kingdom

1960s edit

YearAuthorWork
Gold Dagger
1960Lionel DavidsonThe Night of Wenceslas
Mary StewartMy Brother Michael
Julian SymonsThe Progress of a Crime
1961Mary KellyThe Spoilt Kill
John le CarréCall for the Dead
Allan PriorOne Way
1962Joan FlemingWhen I Grow Rich
Eric AmblerThe Light of Day
Colin WatsonHopjoy Was Here
1963John le CarréThe Spy Who Came in from the Cold
Nicolas FreelingGun Before Butter
William HaggardThe High Wire
1964H. R. F. KeatingThe Perfect Murder
Gavin LyallThe Most Dangerous Game
Ross MacdonaldThe Chill
Patricia Highsmith[1]The Two Faces of January
1965Ross MacdonaldThe Far Side of the Dollar
Dick FrancisFor Kicks
Emma LathenAccounting for Murder
Gavin Lyall[2]Midnight Plus One
1966Lionel DavidsonA Long Way to Shiloh
John BinghamThe Double Agent
John Ball[3]In the Heat of the Night
1967Emma LathenMurder Against the Grain
Colin WatsonLonely Heart 4122
Eric Ambler[4]Dirty Story
1968Peter DickinsonSkin Deep
Nicholas BlakeThe Private Wound
Sébastien Japrisot[5]The Lady in the Car with Glasses and a Gun
1969Peter DickinsonA Pride of Heroes
Francis Clifford[6]Another Way of Dying
Rex Stout[7]The Father Hunt

1970s edit

YearAuthorWork
1970Joan FlemingYoung Man I Think You're Dying
Anthony PriceThe Labyrinth Makers
1971James H. McClureThe Steam Pig
P. D. JamesShroud for a Nightingale
1972Eric AmblerThe Levanter
Victor CanningThe Rainbird Pattern
1973Robert LittellThe Defection of A.J. Lewinter
Gwendoline ButlerA Coffin for Pandora
1974Anthony PriceOther Paths to Glory
Francis CliffordThe Grosvenor Square Goodbye
1975Nicholas MeyerThe Seven-Per-Cent Solution
P. D. JamesThe Black Tower
1976Ruth RendellA Demon in My View
James H. McClureRogue Eagle
1977John le CarréThe Honourable Schoolboy
William McIlvanneyLaidlaw
1978Lionel DavidsonThe Chelsea Murders
Peter LoveseyWaxwork
1979Dick FrancisWhip Hand
Colin DexterService of All the Dead

1980s edit

YearAuthorWork
1980H. R. F. KeatingThe Murder of the Maharaja
Ellis PetersMonk's Hood
1981Martin Cruz SmithGorky Park
Colin DexterThe Dead of Jericho
1982Peter LoveseyThe False Inspector Dew
S. T. HaymonRitual Murder
1983John HuttonAccidental Crimes
William McIlvanneyThe Papers of Tony Vietch
1984B. M. GillThe Twelfth Juror
Ruth RendellThe Tree of Hands
1985Paula GoslingMonkey Puzzle
Dorothy SimpsonLast Seen Alive
Andrew TaylorOur Father's Lies
Jill Paton WalshA Piece of Justice
1986Ruth RendellLive Flesh
P. D. JamesA Taste for Death
1987Barbara VineA Fatal Inversion
Scott TurowPresumed Innocent
Liza CodyUnder Contract
1988Michael DibdinRatking
Sara ParetskyToxic Shock
1989Colin DexterThe Wench is Dead
Desmond LowdenThe Shadow Run

1990s edit

YearAuthorWork
1990Reginald HillBones and Silence
Mike PhillipsThe Late Candidate
John HarveyRough Treatment
1991Barbara VineKing Solomon's Carpet
Frances FyfieldDeep Sleep
Janet NeelDeath of a Partner
Michael DibdinDirty Tricks
1992Colin DexterThe Way Through the Woods
Liza CodyBucket Nut
1993Patricia CornwellCruel and Unusual
Sarah DunantDeep Sleep
Robert RichardsonThe Hand of Strange Children
Janet NeelDeath Among the Dons
1994Minette WaltersThe Scold's Bridle
Peter HøegMiss Smilla's Feeling for Snow
Val McDermidCrack Down
Sara ParetskyTunnel Vision
1995Val McDermidThe Mermaids Singing
Peter LoveseyThe Summons
Elizabeth IronsideDeath in the Garden
Minette WaltersThe Dark Room
1996Ben EltonPopcorn
Peter LoveseyBloodhounds
Jessica MannA Private Enquiry
1997Ian RankinBlack and Blue
Janet EvanovichThree to Get Deadly
Frank LeanThe Reluctant Investigator
1998James Lee BurkeSunset Limited
Nicholas BlincoeManchester Slingback
Michael DibdinA Long Finish
Geoffrey ArcherFire Hawk
Reginald HillOn Beulah Height
George PelecanosKing Suckerman
1999Robert WilsonA Small Death in Lisbon
Adrian MathewsVienna Blood
Val McDermidA Place of Execution
Ian RankinDead Souls
Michael ConnellyAngels Flight
Denise DanksPhreak
Frances FyfieldStaring at the Light

2000s edit

YearAuthorWork
2000Jonathan LethemMotherless Brooklyn
Donna LeonFriends In High Places
James Lee BurkePurple Cane Road
Eliot PattisonThe Skull Mantra
Lucy WadhamLost
Martin Cruz SmithHavana Bay
2001Henning MankellSidetracked
Giles BluntForty Words for Sorrow
Stephen BoothDancing with the Virgins
Denise DanksBaby Love
George PelecanosRight as Rain
Scott PhillipsThe Ice Harvest
2002José Carlos SomozaThe Athenian Murders
James CrumleyThe Final Country
Mark BillinghamScaredy Cat
James Lee BurkeJolie Blon's Bounce
Michael ConnellyCity of Bones
Minette WaltersAcid Row
2003Minette WaltersFox Evil
Morag JossHalf-Broken Things
Boris AkuninThe Winter Queen
Robert LittellThe Company
Carlo LucarelliAlmost Blue
Robert WilsonThe Blind Man of Seville
2004Sara ParetskyBlacklist
John HarveyFlesh and Blood
Mo HayderTokyo
Val McDermidThe Torment of Others
James W. NicholMidnight Cab
Laura WilsonThe Lover
2005Arnaldur IndriðasonSilence of the Grave
Barbara NadelDeadly Web
Karin FossumCalling Out for You
Friedrich GlauserIn Matto's Realm
Carl HiaasenSkinny Dip
Fred VargasSeeking Whom He May Devour
Duncan Lawrie Dagger
2006Ann CleevesRaven Black
Simon BeckettThe Chemistry of Death
Thomas H. CookRed Leaves
Frances FyfieldSafer Than Houses
Bill JamesWolves of Memory
Laura WilsonA Thousand Lies
2007Peter TempleThe Broken Shore
Giles BluntThe Fields of Grief
James Lee BurkePegasus Descending
Gillian FlynnSharp Objects
Craig RussellBrother Grimm
C. J. SansomSovereign
2008Frances FyfieldBlood From Stone
James Lee BurkeThe Tin Roof Blowdown
Colin CotterillThe Coroner's Lunch
Steve HamiltonNight Work
Laura LippmanWhat the Dead Know
R. N. MorrisA Vengeful Longing
Gold Dagger
2009William BrodrickA Whispered Name
Kate AtkinsonWhen Will There Be Good News?
Mark BillinghamIn the Dark
Lawrence BlockHit and Run
M. R. HallThe Coroner
Gene KerriganDark Times in the City

2010s edit

YearAuthorWork
2010Belinda BauerBlacklands
S. J. BoltonBlood Harvest
George PelecanosThe Way Home
Karen CampbellShadowplay
2011Tom FranklinCrooked Letter, Crooked Letter
Steve HamiltonThe Lock Artist
A. D. MillerSnowdrops
Denise MinaThe End of the Wasp Season
2012Gene KerriganThe Rage
N. J. CooperVengeance in Mind
M. R. HallThe Flight
Chris WomersleyBereft
2013Mick HerronDead Lions
Belinda BauerRubbernecker
Lauren BeukesThe Shining Girls
Becky MastermanRage Against the Dying
2014Wiley CashThis Dark Road to Mercy
Paula DalyKeep Your Friends Close
Paul MendelsonThe First Rule of Survival
Louise PennyHow the Light Gets In
2015Michael RobothamLife or Death
Belinda BauerThe Shut Eye
James Carlos BlakeThe Rules of Wolfe
Robert GalbraithThe Silkworm
Sam HawkenMissing
Stephen KingMr. Mercedes
Attica LockePleasantville
2016Bill BeverlyDodgers
Chris BrookmyreBlack Widow
Denise MinaBlood Salt Water
Mick HerronReal Tigers
2017Jane HarperThe Dry
Belinda BauerThe Beautiful Dead
Ray CelestinDead Man's Blues
Mick HerronSpook Street
Derek B. MillerThe Girl In Green
Abir MukherjeeA Rising Man
2018Steve Cavanagh ‡The Liar
Mick HerronLondon Rules
Dennis LehaneSince We Fell
Attica LockeBluebird, Bluebird
Abir MukherjeeA Necessary Evil
Emma ViskicResurrection Bay
2019M. W. CravenThe Puppet Show
Claire AskewAll the Hidden Truths
Christobel KentWhat We Did
Donna LeonUnto Us a Son is Given
Derek B. MillerAmerican by Day
Benjamin WoodA Station on the Path to Somewhere Better

2020s edit

YearAuthorWork
2020Michael RobothamGood Girl Bad Girl
Claire AskewWhat You Pay For
Lou BerneyNovember Road
John FairfaxForced Confessions
Mick HerronJoe Country
Abir MukherjeeDeath in the East
2021 Chris WhitakerWe Begin at the End
S. A. CosbyBlacktop Wasteland
Ben CreedCity of Ghosts
Nicci FrenchHouse of Correction
Robert GalbraithTroubled Blood
Elly GriffithsThe Postscript Murders
Thomas MullenMidnight Atlanta
2022Ray Celestin ‡Sunset Swing
Jacqueline BublitzBefore You Knew My Name
S. A. CosbyRazorblade Tears
John HartThe Unwilling
Abir MukherjeeThe Shadows of Men
William ShawThe Trawlerman
2023[8]George Dawes GreenThe Kingdoms of Savannah
Vaseem KhanThe Lost Man of Bombay
Simon MasonA Killing in November
Anna MazzolaThe Clockwork Girl
WC RyanThe Winter Guest
Simon Van der VeldeThe Silent Brother
2024[9][10]Maz EvansOver My Dead Body
Mick HerronThe Secret Hours
Dennis LehaneSmall Mercies
Una MannionTell Me What I Am
Nilanjana RoyBlack River
Jesse SutantoVera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers

Multiple awards and nominations edit

Gold Dagger edit

Silver Dagger edit

Gold and Silver Daggers wins edit

The following individuals received both Gold and Silver Dagger awards:

Records edit

  • Ngaio Marsh was the first writer to receive more than one nomination.
  • Ross Macdonald was the first writer to receive two consecutive nominations
  • Peter Dickinson is the first writer to receive two Gold Daggers. He and Ruth Rendell are the only ones to win in this category two years in a row.
  • Joan Fleming is the first female to win two awards.
  • Anthony Price is the first writer to win both the Gold and Silver Daggers.
  • P.D. James and Peter Lovesey win a record three Silver Daggers. James also won the most Silver Daggers as the author who never won a Gold Dagger.
  • Colin Dexter is the only writer to win both two Silver and two Gold Daggers.
  • Ruth Rendell has won the Gold Dagger a record four times. She is also the only one to win the award under different names.
  • Ruth Rendell, James Lee Burke and Mick Herron have the most nominations (5).
  • Mick Herron has the most consecutive nominations (3).
  • Abir Mukherjee has the most nominations without a win (4).

References edit

  1. ^ Best Foreign
  2. ^ Best British
  3. ^ Best Foreign
  4. ^ Best British
  5. ^ Best Foreign
  6. ^ Silver Dagger
  7. ^ Best Foreign
  8. ^ "2023 Dagger Award Winners Announced". The Crime Writers’ Association. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  9. ^ "2024 Dagger Awards Shortlists". Locus Online. 14 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  10. ^ "Gold Dagger". The Crime Writers’ Association. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  11. ^ including two awards for Barbara Vine novels
  12. ^ including two nominations for Barbara Vine novels

External links edit