The Gold Dagger is an award given annually by the

Crime Writers' Association The Crime Writers' Association (CWA) is a specialist authors’ organisation in the United Kingdom, most notable for its Dagger awards for the best crime writing of the year, and the Diamond Dagger awarded to an author for lifetime achievement. ...

of the United Kingdom since 1960 for the best

crime novel Crime fiction, detective story, murder mystery, mystery novel, and police novel are terms used to describe narratives that centre on criminal acts and especially on the investigation, either by an amateur or a professional detective, of a crime, ...

of the year. 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 Duncan Lawrie Limited, known simply as Duncan Lawrie, was a small private bank with its head office in Belgravia, London. Founded in 1971, the bank offered a bespoke service, with an emphasis on a personal relationship, to high-net-worth individu ...

, 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 After the sponsorship was withdrawn, this award was not reinstated. The Crime Writers' Association also awards the CWA Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction and several other "Dagger" awards.

Winners

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

2020s

2022 Gold Dagger:

Ray Celestin Ray may refer to: Fish * Ray (fish), any cartilaginous fish of the superorder Batoidea * Ray (fish fin anatomy), a bony or horny spine on a fin Science and mathematics * Ray (geometry), half of a line proceeding from an initial point * Ray (gra ...

, ''Sunset Swing'' * Jacqueline Bublitz, ''Before You Knew My Name'' *

S. A. Cosby Shawn Andre Cosby (born August 4, 1973, in Newport News, Virginia) is an American author of " Southern noir" crime fiction. He resides in Gloucester, Virginia, on the York River. Cosby has published four crime novels: ''My Darkest Prayer'', ''B ...

, ''Razorblade Tears'' * John Hart, ''The Unwilling'' * Abir Mukherjee, ''The Shadows of Men'' * William Shaw, ''The Trawlerman'' ;2021 Gold Dagger:

Chris Whitaker Chris Whitaker (born 19 October 1974) is an Australian professional rugby union coach and former international player. he is head coach of the Sydney Rays in Australia's National Rugby Championship, and the interim head coach of Super Rugby sid ...

, ''We Begin at the End'' *

, '' Blacktop Wasteland'' * Ben Creed, ''City of Ghosts'' * Nicci French, ''House of Correction'' * Robert Galbraith, '' Troubled Blood'' *

Elly Griffiths Elly Griffiths is the pen name of Domenica de Rosa (born 17 August 1963, in London), a British crime novelist. She has written three series as Griffiths, one featuring Ruth Galloway, one featuring Detective Inspector Edgar Stephens and Max Meph ...

, ''The Postscript Murders'' * Thomas Mullen, ''Midnight Atlanta'' ;2020 Gold Dagger: Michael Robotham, ''Good Girl Bad Girl'' *

Claire Askew Claire Askew (born 10 March 1986) is a Scottish novelist and poet. The first book in her crime fiction series, which follows the work of DI Helen Birch, ''All the Hidden Truths'', won the inaugural Bloody Scotland Scottish Crime Debut of the Year ...

, ''What You Pay For'' *

Lou Berney Lou Berney (born 1964) is an American crime fiction author who has published four books since 2010. For his works, Berney has won multiple awards including an Anthony, Barry and Edgar for ''The Long and Faraway Gone''. With ''November Road'', B ...

, ''November Road'' * John Fairfax, ''Forced Confessions'' * Mick Herron, ''Joe Country'' * Abir Mukherjee, ''Death in the East'' *

2010s

;2019 * Gold Dagger:

M. W. Craven Mike W. Craven (born 1968) is an English crime writer. He is the author of the Washington Poe series and the DI Avison Fluke series. In 2019 his novel ''The Puppet Show'' won the Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger award. Biography Craven ...

, ''The Puppet Show'' **Claire Askew, ''All the Hidden Truths'' **Christobel Kent, ''What We Did'' **

Donna Leon Donna Leon (; born in Montclair, New Jersey) is the American author of a series of crime novels set in Venice, Italy, featuring the fictional hero Commissario Guido Brunetti. In 2003, she received the Corine Literature Prize. Leon lived in Ven ...

, ''Unto Us a Son is Given'' ** Derek B. Miller, ''American by Day'' **Benjamin Wood, ''A Station on the Path to Somewhere Better'' ;2018 * Gold Dagger: Steve Cavanagh, ''The Liar'' ** Mick Herron, ''London Rules'' **

Dennis Lehane Dennis Lehane (born August 4, 1965) is an American author. He has published more than a dozen novels; the first several were a series of mysteries featuring recurring characters, including '' A Drink Before the War''. Of these, four were adapted ...

, ''Since We Fell'' ** Attica Locke, ''Bluebird, Bluebird'' ** Abir Mukherjee, ''A Necessary Evil'' ** Emma Viskic, ''Resurrection Bay'' ;2017 * Gold Dagger: Jane Harper, '' The Dry'' ** Belinda Bauer, ''The Beautiful Dead'' ** Ray Celestin, ''Dead Man's Blues'' ** Mick Herron, ''Spook Street'' ** Derek B. Miller, ''The Girl In Green'' ** Abir Mukherjee, ''A Rising Man'' ; 2016 * Gold Dagger:

Bill Beverly William Beverly (born 1965) is an American crime writer, author of the 2016 novel ''Dodgers'', winner of the Gold Dagger, an award given by the Crime Writers' Association for the best crime novel of the year. In 2017 ''Dodgers'' won the Los Angel ...

, ''Dodgers'' **

Chris Brookmyre Christopher Brookmyre (born 6 September 1968) is a Scottish novelist whose novels, generally in a crime or police procedural frame, mix comedy, politics, social comment and action with a strong narrative. He has been referred to as a Tartan No ...

, ''Black Widow'' **

Denise Mina Denise Mina (born 21 August 1966) is a Scottish crime writer and playwright. She has written the ''Garnethill'' trilogy and another three novels featuring the character Patricia "Paddy" Meehan, a Glasgow journalist. Described as an author of ...

, ''Blood Salt Water'' ** Mick Herron, ''Real Tigers'' ; 2015 * Gold Dagger: Michael Robotham, '' Life or Death'' ** Belinda Bauer, ''The Shut Eye'' **

James Carlos Blake James Carlos Blake (born May 26, 1947) is an American writer of novels, novellas, short stories, and essays. His work has received extensive critical favor and several notable awards. He has been called “one of the greatest chroniclers of the my ...

, ''The Rules of Wolfe'' ** Robert Galbraith, '' The Silkworm'' ** Sam Hawken, ''Missing'' **

Stephen King Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is an American author of horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, crime, science-fiction, and fantasy novels. Described as the "King of Horror", a play on his surname and a reference to his high ...

, '' Mr. Mercedes'' ** Attica Locke, ''Pleasantville'' ; 2014 * Gold Dagger: Wiley Cash, ''This Dark Road to Mercy'' ** Paula Daly, ''Keep Your Friends Close'' ** Paul Mendelson, ''The First Rule of Survival'' **

Louise Penny Louise Penny is a Canadian author of mystery novels set in the Canadian province of Quebec centred on the work of francophone Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec. Penny's first career was as a radio broadcaster for the ...

, ''How the Light Gets In'' ; 2013 * Gold Dagger: Mick Herron, ''Dead Lions'' ** Belinda Bauer, ''Rubbernecker'' ** Lauren Beukes, ''The Shining Girls'' ** Becky Masterman, ''Rage Against the Dying'' ;2012 * Gold Dagger: Gene Kerrigan, ''The Rage'' ** N. J. Cooper, ''Vengeance in Mind'' ** M. R. Hall, ''The Flight'' ** Chris Womersley, '' Bereft'' ;2011 * Gold Dagger: Tom Franklin, ''Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter'' ** Steve Hamilton, '' The Lock Artist'' ** A. D. Miller, ''Snowdrops'' **

, ''The End of the Wasp Season'' ;2010 * Gold Dagger: Belinda Bauer, ''Blacklands'' ** S. J. Bolton, ''Blood Harvest'' **

George Pelecanos George P. Pelecanos (born February 18, 1957) is an American author. Many of his 20 books are in the genre of detective fiction and set primarily in his hometown of Washington, D.C. He is also a film and television producer and a television writ ...

, ''The Way Home '' ** Karen Campbell, ''Shadowplay''

2000s

; 2009 * Gold Dagger: William Brodrick, ''A Whispered Name'' ** Kate Atkinson, '' When Will There Be Good News?'' **

Mark Billingham Mark may refer to: Currency * Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark, the currency of Bosnia and Herzegovina * East German mark, the currency of the German Democratic Republic * Estonian mark, the currency of Estonia between 1918 and 1927 * F ...

, ''In the Dark'' **

Lawrence Block Lawrence Block (born June 24, 1938) is an American crime writer best known for two long-running New York-set series about the recovering alcoholic P.I. Matthew Scudder and the gentleman burglar Bernie Rhodenbarr. Block was named a Grand Mas ...

, ''

Hit and Run In traffic laws, a hit and run or a hit-and-run is the act of causing a traffic collision and not stopping afterwards. It is considered a supplemental crime in most jurisdictions. Additional obligation In many jurisdictions, there may be an ...

'' ** M. R. Hall, ''The Coroner'' ** Gene Kerrigan, ''Dark Times in the City'' ; 2008 * Duncan Lawrie Dagger: Frances Fyfield, ''Blood From Stone'' ** James Lee Burke, '' The Tin Roof Blowdown'' ** Colin Cotterill, ''

The Coroner's Lunch ''The Coroner's Lunch'' is a crime novel by British author Colin Cotterill first published in 2004. It is the first instalment in the Dr. Siri Paiboun series, set in the Lao People's Democratic Republic Laos (, ''Lāo'' )), officially the ...

'' ** Steve Hamilton, ''Night Work'' ** Laura Lippman, '' What the Dead Know'' ** R. N. Morris, ''A Vengeful Longing'' ; 2007 * Duncan Lawrie Dagger:

Peter Temple Peter Temple (10 March 1946 – 8 March 2018) was an Australian crime fiction writer, mainly known for his '' Jack Irish'' novel series. He won several awards for his writing, including the Gold Dagger in 2007, the first for an Australian. He ...

, '' The Broken Shore'' ** Giles Blunt, ''The Fields of Grief'' ** James Lee Burke, ''Pegasus Descending'' **

Gillian Flynn Gillian Schieber Flynn (; born February 24, 1971) is an American author, screenwriter, and producer. She is known for writing the thriller and mystery novels, ''Sharp Objects'' (2006), '' Dark Places'' (2009), and '' Gone Girl'' (2012), which are ...

, ''

Sharp Objects ''Sharp Objects'' is the 2006 debut novel by American author Gillian Flynn. The book was first published through Shaye Areheart Books on September 26, 2006, and has subsequently been re-printed through Broadway Books. The novel follows Camille P ...

'' ** Craig Russell, ''Brother Grimm'' **

C. J. Sansom Christopher John Sansom (born 1952) is a British writer of Historical mystery, historical crime novels, best known for his Shardlake series, Matthew Shardlake series. He was born in Edinburgh and attended George Watson's College in that city, b ...

, '' Sovereign'' ; 2006 (award renamed) * Duncan Lawrie Dagger: Ann Cleeves, '' Raven Black'' ** Simon Beckett, '' The Chemistry of Death'' ** Thomas H. Cook, ''Red Leaves'' ** Frances Fyfield, ''Safer Than Houses'' **

Bill James George William James (born October 5, 1949) is an American baseball writer, historian, and statistician whose work has been widely influential. Since 1977, James has written more than two dozen books devoted to baseball history and statistics ...

, ''Wolves of Memory'' ** Laura Wilson, ''

A Thousand Lies ''A Thousand Lies'' is a 2006 novel by British crime writer Laura Wilson. It was shortlisted for the Duncan Lawrie Dagger The Gold Dagger is an award given annually by the Crime Writers' Association of the United Kingdom since 1960 for the be ...

'' ; 2005 * Gold Dagger:

Arnaldur Indriðason Arnaldur Indriðason (pronounced ; born 28 January 1961) is an Icelandic writer of crime fiction; his most popular series features the protagonist Detective Erlendur. Biography Arnaldur was born in Reykjavík on 28 January 1961, the son ...

, '' Silence of the Grave'' * Silver Dagger: Barbara Nadel, '' Deadly Web'' **

Karin Fossum Karin Fossum (born 6 November 1954) is a Norwegian author of crime fiction, often referred to as the "Norwegian queen of crime". Early life Karin Mathisen was born on 6 November 1954 in Sandefjord, in Vestfold county, Norway. She currently li ...

, '' Calling Out for You'' **

Friedrich Glauser Friedrich Glauser (4 February 1896 in Vienna – 8 December 1938 in Nervi) was a German-language Swiss writer. He was a morphine and opium addict for most of his life. In his first novel ''Gourrama'', written between 1928 and 1930, he treated his ...

, ''In Matto's Realm'' **

Carl Hiaasen Carl Hiaasen (; born March 12, 1953) is an American journalist and novelist. He began his career as a newspaper reporter and by the late 1970s had begun writing novels in his spare time, both for adults and for young-adult readers. Two of his no ...

, '' Skinny Dip'' **

Fred Vargas Fred Vargas is the pseudonym of Frédérique Audoin-Rouzeau (born 7 June 1957), a French historian, archaeologist and novelist. As a historian and archeologist, she is known for her work on the Black Death. Her crime fiction ''policiers'' (pol ...

, ''

Seeking Whom He May Devour ''Seeking Whom He May Devour'' (french: L’Homme à l’envers, lit. "The Inside-out Man") is a crime novel by French writer Fred Vargas. As with many of Vargas' novels in English translation, the English title bears no relationship to the origi ...

'' ; 2004 * Gold Dagger: Sara Paretsky, ''

Blacklist Blacklisting is the action of a group or authority compiling a blacklist (or black list) of people, countries or other entities to be avoided or distrusted as being deemed unacceptable to those making the list. If someone is on a blacklist, ...

'' * Silver Dagger: John Harvey, ''Flesh and Blood'' **

Mo Hayder Beatrice Clare Dunkel (born Clare Damaris Bastin; pen names, Mo Hayder and Theo Clare; 2 January 1962 – 27 July 2021) was a British author. Earlier in her life she worked as an actress and model under the name Candy Davis. She went on to wr ...

, ''

Tokyo Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and List of cities in Japan, largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, ...

'' ** Val McDermid, ''

The Torment of Others ''The Torment of Others'' is a crime novel by Scottish author Val McDermid, and is the fourth entry in her popular Carol Jordan and Dr. Tony Hill series, which has been successfully adapted into the television series ''Wire in the Blood''. The no ...

'' **

James W. Nichol James W. Nichol (born 1940 in Toronto, Ontario) is a Canadian playwright and novelist. His first novel, ''Midnight Cab'', won the Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel, and was shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger. He was also short-listed for the ...

, ''Midnight Cab'' ** Laura Wilson, '' The Lover'' ; 2003 * Gold Dagger:

Minette Walters Minette Caroline Mary Walters DL (born 26 September 1949) is an English crime writer. Life and work Walters was born in Bishop's Stortford in 1949 to Samuel Jebb and Colleen Jebb. As her father was a serving army officer, the first 10 yea ...

, '' Fox Evil'' * Silver Dagger: Morag Joss, '' Half-Broken Things'' **

Boris Akunin Boris Akunin (russian: Борис Акунин) is the pen name of Grigori Chkhartishvili (russian: Григорий Шалвович Чхартишвили, Grigory Shalvovich Chkhartishvili; ka, გრიგორი ჩხარტიშვ� ...

, '' The Winter Queen'' ** Robert Littell, ''

The Company ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in ...

'' ** Carlo Lucarelli, ''Almost Blue'' ** Robert Wilson, ''

The Blind Man of Seville ''The Blind Man of Seville'' is a 2003 crime novel and thriller by British writer Robert Wilson. The novel is set in the Spanish city of Seville, and is the first book in a quartet featuring protagonist Javier Falcón. The novel was published t ...

'' ; 2002 * Gold Dagger: José Carlos Somoza, ''

The Athenian Murders ''The Athenian Murders'' is an historical mystery novel written by Spanish author José Carlos Somoza. Originally published in Spain under the title ''La caverna de las ideas'' (The Cave of Ideas) in 2000, it was translated into English in 2002 b ...

'' * Silver Dagger:

James Crumley James Arthur Crumley (October 12, 1939 – September 17, 2008)Local author James Crumley dies at 68 url=http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2008/09/18/news/local/news02.txt date=2008-09-17 accessdate=2008–09=18Fox, Margali''New York Times'' (S ...

, ''The Final Country'' **

, ''Scaredy Cat'' ** James Lee Burke, ''Jolie Blon's Bounce'' **

Michael Connelly Michael Joseph Connelly (born July 21, 1956) is an American author of detective novels and other crime fiction, notably those featuring LAPD Detective Hieronymus "Harry" Bosch and criminal defense attorney Mickey Haller. Connelly is the bests ...

, '' City of Bones'' **

, '' Acid Row'' ; 2001 * Gold Dagger:

Henning Mankell Henning Georg Mankell (; 3February 19485October 2015) was a Swedish crime writer, children's author, and dramatist, best known for a series of mystery novels starring his most noted creation, Inspector Kurt Wallander. He also wrote a numb ...

, '' Sidetracked'' * Silver Dagger: Giles Blunt, ''

Forty Words for Sorrow ''Forty Words for Sorrow'' is a 2000 crime novel from Canadian novelist Giles Blunt, and the first to feature his protagonists John Cardinal and Lise Delorme. Blunt had previous published one other novel, ''Cold Eye'', but this was his first crim ...

'' ** Stephen Booth, ''Dancing with the Virgins'' **

Denise Danks Denise Danks is an English novelist, journalist and screenwriter. She has twice been shortlisted for the Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger. She is also a past winner of the Chandler/Fulbright award, and is notable for being the first female ...

, ''Baby Love'' **

, '' Right as Rain'' ** Scott Phillips, '' The Ice Harvest'' ; 2000 * Gold Dagger:

Jonathan Lethem Jonathan Allen Lethem (; born February 19, 1964) is an American novelist, essayist, and short story writer. His first novel, '' Gun, with Occasional Music'', a genre work that mixed elements of science fiction and detective fiction, was publi ...

, '' Motherless Brooklyn'' * Silver Dagger:

, ''Friends In High Places'' ** James Lee Burke, ''Purple Cane Road'' **

Eliot Pattison Eliot Pattison (Joseph Eliot Pattison, b. 20 October 1951) is an American international lawyer, non-fiction author on the subject of international trade, and is best known as an award-winning mystery fiction novelist. His professional career con ...

, ''The Skull Mantra'' **

Lucy Wadham Lucy Wadham (born 1964) is a British novelist, poet, screenwriter and writer of crime novel, crime fiction. Her most widely reviewed work is her autobiographical account of her life in France, ''The Secret Life of France'' (2009). Wadham was born ...

, ''Lost'' **

Martin Cruz Smith Martin Cruz Smith (born November 3, 1942) is an American mystery novelist. He is best known for his nine-novel series (to date) on Russian investigator Arkady Renko, who was first introduced in 1981 with '' Gorky Park''. Early life and educ ...

, '' Havana Bay''

1990s

;1999 * Gold Dagger: Robert Wilson, '' A Small Death in Lisbon'' * Silver Dagger: Adrian Mathews, ''Vienna Blood'' ** Val McDermid, '' A Place of Execution'' **

Ian Rankin Sir Ian James Rankin (born 28 April 1960) is a Scottish crime writer, best known for his Inspector Rebus novels. Early life Rankin was born in Cardenden, Fife. His father, James, owned a grocery shop, and his mother, Isobel, worked in a scho ...

, ''

Dead Souls ''Dead Souls'' (russian: «Мёртвые души», ''Mjórtvyje dúshi'') is a novel by Nikolai Gogol, first published in 1842, and widely regarded as an exemplar of 19th-century Russian literature. The novel chronicles the travels and advent ...

'' **

, ''

Angels Flight Angels Flight is a landmark and historic narrow gauge funicular railway in the Bunker Hill district of Downtown Los Angeles, California. It has two funicular cars, named ''Olivet'' and ''Sinai'', that run in opposite directions on a shared c ...

'' **

, ''Phreak'' ** Frances Fyfield, ''Staring at the Light'' ;1998 * Gold Dagger: James Lee Burke, ''Sunset Limited'' * Silver Dagger: Nicholas Blincoe, ''Manchester Slingback'' **

Michael Dibdin Michael Dibdin (21 March 1947 – 30 March 2007) was a British crime writer, best known for inventing Aurelio Zen, the principal character in 11 crime novels set in Italy. Early life Dibdin was born in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire (now West ...

, ''

A Long Finish ''A Long Finish'' is a 1998 novel by Michael Dibdin, and is the sixth entry in the popular Aurelio Zen series. Synopsis After his adventures under sun-drenched Neapolitan skies in ''Cosi Fan Tutti'', Italian police detective Aurelio Zen fin ...

'' ** Geoffrey Archer, ''Fire Hawk'' ** Reginald Hill, ''On Beulah Height'' **

, ''King Suckerman'' ; 1997 * Gold Dagger:

, ''

Black and Blue ''Black and Blue'' is the 13th British and 15th American studio album by the English rock band the Rolling Stones, released on 23 April 1976 by Rolling Stones Records. This album was the first recorded after former guitarist Mick Taylor qui ...

'' * Silver Dagger:

Janet Evanovich Janet Evanovich (née Schneider; April 22, 1943) is an American writer. She began her career writing short contemporary romance novels under the pen name Steffie Hall, but gained fame authoring a series of contemporary mysteries featuring Steph ...

, ''

Three to Get Deadly ''Three to Get Deadly'' is the third novel by Janet Evanovich featuring the bounty hunter Stephanie Plum and was first published in 1997. It won the 1998 Dilys Award. Plot introduction Stephanie Plum is a streetwise Jersey Girl who ended up as a ...

'' ** Frank Lean, ''The Reluctant Investigator'' ; 1996 * Gold Dagger:

Ben Elton Benjamin Charles Elton (born 3 May 1959) is an English comedian, actor, author, playwright, lyricist and director. He was a part of London's alternative comedy movement of the 1980s and became a writer on the sitcoms '' The Young Ones'' and ''Bl ...

, ''

Popcorn Popcorn (also called popped corn, popcorns or pop-corn) is a variety of corn kernel which expands and puffs up when heated; the same names also refer to the foodstuff produced by the expansion. A popcorn kernel's strong hull contains the se ...

'' * Silver Dagger:

Peter Lovesey Peter (Harmer) Lovesey (born 1936), also known by his pen name Peter Lear, is a British writer of historical and contemporary detective novels and short stories. His best-known series characters are Sergeant Cribb, a Victorian-era police detect ...

, ''Bloodhounds'' ** Jessica Mann, ''A Private Enquiry'' ; 1995 * Gold Dagger: Val McDermid, ''

The Mermaids Singing ''The Mermaids Singing'' (1995) is a crime novel by Scottish author Val McDermid. The first featuring her recurring protagonist, Dr. Tony Hill, it was adapted into the pilot episode of ITV1's television series based on McDermid's work, ''Wire ...

'' * Silver Dagger:

, ''The Summons'' ** Elizabeth Ironside, "Death in the Garden" **

, '' The Dark Room'' ; 1994 * Gold Dagger:

, '' The Scold's Bridle'' * Silver Dagger:

Peter Høeg Peter Høeg (born 17 May 1957) is a Danish writer of fiction. He is best known for his novel ''Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow'' (1992). Early life Høeg was born in Copenhagen, Denmark. Before becoming a writer, he worked variously as a sailor, ...

, ''

Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow ''Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow'' (published in America as ''Smilla's Sense of Snow'') ( Danish: ''Frøken Smillas fornemmelse for sne'') is a 1992 novel by Danish author Peter Høeg tracing the investigation into the suspicious death of a Gree ...

'' ** Val McDermid, ''Crack Down'' ** Sara Paretsky, ''

Tunnel Vision Tunnel vision is the loss of peripheral vision with retention of central vision, resulting in a constricted circular tunnel-like field of vision. Causes Tunnel vision can be caused by: Eyeglass users Eyeglass users experience tunnel visio ...

'' ; 1993 * Gold Dagger:

Patricia Cornwell Patricia Cornwell (born Patricia Carroll Daniels; June 9, 1956) is an American crime writer. She is known for her best-selling novels featuring medical examiner Kay Scarpetta, of which the first was inspired by a series of sensational murders in ...

, '' Cruel and Unusual'' * Silver Dagger:

Sarah Dunant Sarah Dunant (born 8 August 1950) is a British novelist, journalist, broadcaster, and critic. She is married with two daughters, and lives in London and Florence. Early life Dunant was born in 1950 and raised in London. She is the daughter of Da ...

, ''Fatlands'' ** Robert Richardson, ''The Hand of Strange Children'' ** Janet Neel, ''Death Among the Dons'' ; 1992 * Gold Dagger:

Colin Dexter Norman Colin Dexter (29 September 1930 – 21 March 2017) was an English crime writer known for his '' Inspector Morse'' series of novels, which were written between 1975 and 1999 and adapted as an ITV television series, '' Inspector Morse'', ...

, ''

The Way Through the Woods ''The Way Through the Woods'' is a crime novel by Colin Dexter, the tenth novel in the Inspector Morse series. It received the Gold Dagger Award in 1992. The novel was adapted for television in 1995, as an episode of the ''Inspector Morse'' se ...

'' * Silver Dagger:

Liza Cody Liza Cody (born 11 April 1944, in London) is an English crime fiction writer. She is the author of 13 novels and many short stories. Her Anna Lee series introduced the professional female private detective to British mystery fiction. The entir ...

, ''Bucket Nut'' ; 1991 * Gold Dagger: Barbara Vine, '' King Solomon's Carpet'' * Silver Dagger: Frances Fyfield, ''Deep Sleep'' ** Janet Neel, ''Death of a Partner'' **

, ''Dirty Tricks'' ; 1990 * Gold Dagger: Reginald Hill, '' Bones and Silence'' * Silver Dagger: Mike Phillips, ''The Late Candidate'' ** John Harvey, ''Rough Treatment''

1980s

;1989 * Gold Dagger:

, '' The Wench is Dead'' * Silver Dagger: Desmond Lowden, ''The Shadow Run'' ; 1988 * Gold Dagger:

, ''

Ratking A rat king is a collection of rats whose tails are intertwined and bound together in some way. This may be a result of an entangling material like hair, a sticky substance such as sap or gum, or the tails being tied together. Historically, this ...

'' * Silver Dagger: Sara Paretsky, '' Toxic Shock'' ; 1987 * Gold Dagger: Barbara Vine, ''

A Fatal Inversion ''A Fatal Inversion'' is a 1987 novel by Ruth Rendell, written under the pseudonym Barbara Vine. The novel won the Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger in that year and, in 1987, was also shortlisted for the Dagger of Daggers, a special award ...

'' * Silver Dagger:

Scott Turow Scott Frederick Turow (born April 12, 1949) is an American author and lawyer. Turow has written 13 fiction and three nonfiction books, which have been translated into more than 40 languages and sold more than 30 million copies. Turow’s novels ...

, '' Presumed Innocent'' **

, ''Under Contract'' ; 1986 * Gold Dagger:

Ruth Rendell Ruth Barbara Rendell, Baroness Rendell of Babergh, (; 17 February 1930 – 2 May 2015) was an English author of thrillers and psychological murder mysteries. Rendell is best known for creating Chief Inspector Wexford.The Oxford Companion ...

, '' Live Flesh'' * Silver Dagger: P. D. James, '' A Taste for Death'' ; 1985 * Gold Dagger: Paula Gosling, ''Monkey Puzzle'' * Silver Dagger:

Dorothy Simpson Dorothy Preece Simpson, born 20 June 1933, Blaenavon, Monmouthshire (now in Wales) is an English-language writer of mystery novels, and a winner of a Silver Dagger Award from the Crime Writers' Association of Great Britain.page 233–235, ''G ...

, ''Last Seen Alive'' ** Andrew Taylor, ''Our Father's Lies'' **

Jill Paton Walsh Gillian Honorine Mary Herbert, Baroness Hemingford, (née Bliss; 29 April 1937 – 18 October 2020), known professionally as Jill Paton Walsh, was an English novelist and children's writer. She may be known best for her Booker Prize-nominated n ...

, ''A Piece of Justice'' ; 1984 * Gold Dagger: B. M. Gill, ''The Twelfth Juror'' * Silver Dagger:

, '' The Tree of Hands'' ; 1983 * Gold Dagger: John Hutton, ''Accidental Crimes'' * Silver Dagger:

William McIlvanney William McIlvanney (25 November 1936 – 5 December 2015) was a Scottish novelist, short story writer, and poet. He was known as Gus by friends and acquaintances. McIlvanney was a champion of gritty yet poetic literature; his works '' Laidlaw'', ...

, ''The Papers of Tony Vietch'' ; 1982 * Gold Dagger:

, '' The False Inspector Dew'' * Silver Dagger: S. T. Haymon, ''Ritual Murder'' ; 1981 * Gold Dagger:

, '' Gorky Park'' * Silver Dagger:

, ''

The Dead of Jericho ''The Dead of Jericho'', published in 1981, is a work of English detective fiction by Colin Dexter. It is the fifth novel in the Inspector Morse series. In 1987 it was adapted as the first episode of the highly successful television series insp ...

'' ; 1980 * Gold Dagger:

H. R. F. Keating Henry Reymond Fitzwalter Keating (31 October 1926 – 27 March 2011) was an English crime fiction writer most notable for his series of novels featuring Inspector Ghote of the Bombay CID. Life Keating, known as "Harry" to friends and family, ...

, ''The Murder of the Maharaja'' * Silver Dagger:

Ellis Peters Edith Mary Pargeter (28 September 1913 – 14 October 1995), also known by her ''nom de plume'' Ellis Peters, was an English author of works in many categories, especially history and historical fiction, and was also honoured for her translat ...

, ''

Monk's Hood ''Monk's Hood'' is a medieval mystery novel by Ellis Peters, set in December 1138. It is the third novel in The Cadfael Chronicles. It was first published in 1980 (1980 in literature). It was adapted for television in 1994 by Central for ITV. ...

1970s

;1979 *Gold Dagger:

Dick Francis Richard Stanley Francis (31 October 1920 – 14 February 2010) was a British steeplechase jockey and crime writer whose novels centre on horse racing in England. After wartime service in the RAF, Francis became a full-time jump-jockey, w ...

, ''

Whip Hand ''Whip Hand'' is a crime novel by Dick Francis, the second novel in the Sid Halley series. The novel received the Gold Dagger Award for Best Novel of 1979, as well as the Edgar Award The Edgar Allan Poe Awards, popularly called the Edgars, ...

'' *Silver Dagger:

, '' Service of All the Dead'' ;1978 *Gold Dagger: Lionel Davidson, ''

The Chelsea Murders ''The Chelsea Murders'' (known in the USA as ''Murder Games'') is a thriller by Lionel Davidson published in 1978. The book won the Crime Writers' Association's Gold Dagger Award. Plot summary Someone is killing residents of the hip bohemian ...

'' *Silver Dagger:

, ''Waxwork'' ;1977 *Gold Dagger:

John le Carré David John Moore Cornwell (19 October 193112 December 2020), better known by his pen name John le Carré ( ), was a British and Irish author, best known for his espionage novels, many of which were successfully adapted for film or television. ...

, '' The Honourable Schoolboy'' *Silver Dagger:

, '' Laidlaw'' ;1976 *Gold Dagger:

, '' A Demon in My View'' *Silver Dagger: James H. McClure, ''Rogue Eagle'' ; 1975 * Gold Dagger:

Nicholas Meyer Nicholas Meyer (born December 24, 1945) is an American writer and director, known for his best-selling novel ''The Seven-Per-Cent Solution'', and for directing the films '' Time After Time'', two of the ''Star Trek'' feature films, the 1983 tele ...

, '' The Seven-Per-Cent Solution'' * Silver Dagger: P. D. James, '' The Black Tower'' ; 1974 * Gold Dagger: Anthony Price, ''Other Paths to Glory'' * Silver Dagger: Francis Clifford, ''The Grosvenor Square Goodbye'' ; 1973 * Gold Dagger: Robert Littell, ''The Defection of A.J. Lewinter'' * Silver Dagger: Gwendoline Butler, ''A Coffin for Pandora'' ; 1972 * Gold Dagger:

Eric Ambler Eric Clifford Ambler OBE (28 June 1909 – 22 October 1998) was an English author of thrillers, in particular spy novels, who introduced a new realism to the genre. Also working as a screenwriter, Ambler used the pseudonym Eliot Reed for books ...

, '' The Levanter'' * Silver Dagger:

Victor Canning Victor Canning (16 June 1911 – 21 February 1986) was a prolific British writer of novels and thrillers who flourished in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. He was personally reticent, writing no memoirs and giving relatively few newspaper interviews. ...

, '' The Rainbird Pattern'' ; 1971 * Gold Dagger: James H. McClure, ''The Steam Pig'' * Silver Dagger: P. D. James, ''

Shroud for a Nightingale ''Shroud for a Nightingale'' is a 1971 detective novel written by PD James in her Adam Dalgliesh series. Chief Superintendent Adam Dalgliesh of Scotland Yard is called in to investigate the death of two student nurses at the hospital nursing sc ...

'' ; 1970 * Gold Dagger:

Joan Fleming Joan Margaret Fleming (27 March 1908 – 15 November 1980) was a British writer of crime and thriller novels. Her novel ''The Deeds of Dr Deadcert'' was made into the film ''Rx Murder'' (1958), and she won the Gold Dagger award twice, for ''W ...

, ''Young Man I Think You're Dying'' * Silver Dagger: Anthony Price, ''The Labyrinth Makers''

1960s

; 1969 * Gold Dagger: Peter Dickinson, ''A Pride of Heroes'' * Silver Dagger: Francis Clifford, ''Another Way of Dying'' ** Best Foreign:

Rex Stout Rex Todhunter Stout (; December 1, 1886 – October 27, 1975) was an American writer noted for his detective fiction. His best-known characters are the detective Nero Wolfe and his assistant Archie Goodwin, who were featured in 33 novels and ...

, ''

The Father Hunt ''The Father Hunt'' is a Nero Wolfe detective novel by Rex Stout, published by the Viking Press in 1968. "This is the first Nero Wolfe novel in nearly two years," the front flap of the dust jacket reads, "an unusual interval for the productive Re ...

'' ; 1968 * Gold Dagger: Peter Dickinson, ''Skin Deep'' ** Nicholas Blake, ''

The Private Wound ''The Private Wound'' is a 1968 mystery thriller novel by Cecil Day-Lewis, written under the pen name of Nicholas Blake. It was one of four stand-alone novels he wrote alongside the Nigel Strangeways detective novels. The title is taken from a li ...

'' ** Best Foreign:

Sébastien Japrisot Sébastien Japrisot (4 July 1931 – 4 March 2003) was a French author, screenwriter and film director. His pseudonym was an anagram of Jean-Baptiste Rossi, his real name. Renowned for subverting the rules of the crime genre, Japrisot broke down ...

, '' The Lady in the Car with Glasses and a Gun'' ; 1967 * Gold Dagger: Emma Lathen, ''Murder Against the Grain'' ** Colin Watson, ''Lonely Heart 4122'' ** Best British:

, '' Dirty Story'' ; 1966 * Gold Dagger: Lionel Davidson, ''

A Long Way to Shiloh ''A Long Way to Shiloh'' is a thriller by Lionel Davidson, published in 1966 by Victor Gollancz Ltd and in the US (under the title ''The Menorah Men'') by Harper & Row . It was a Book Society Choice and won both the Crime Writers' Association's ...

'' **

John Bingham John Armor Bingham (January 21, 1815 – March 19, 1900) was an American politician who served as a Republican representative from Ohio and as the United States ambassador to Japan. In his time as a congressman, Bingham served as both ass ...

, ''

The Double Agent ''The Double Agent'' is a 1966 spy thriller novel by the British writer John Bingham John Armor Bingham (January 21, 1815 – March 19, 1900) was an American politician who served as a Republican representative from Ohio and as the Unite ...

'' ** Best Foreign: John Ball, ''In the Heat of the Night'' ; 1965 * Gold Dagger:

Ross Macdonald Ross Macdonald was the main pseudonym used by the American-Canadian writer of crime fiction Kenneth Millar (; December 13, 1915 – July 11, 1983). He is best known for his series of hardboiled novels set in Southern California and featur ...

, ''The Far Side of the Dollar'' **

, ''For Kicks'' ** Emma Lathen, ''Accounting for Murder'' ** Best British: Gavin Lyall, ''

Midnight Plus One ''Midnight Plus One'' is a first-person narrative novel by English author Gavin Lyall, first published in 1965. Plot introduction Lewis Cane is an ex-SOE operative who worked with the French Resistance against Nazi Germany. He stayed in Pa ...

'' ; 1964 * Gold Dagger:

, '' The Perfect Murder'' ** Gavin Lyall, '' The Most Dangerous Game'' **

, ''The Chill'' ** Best Foreign:

Patricia Highsmith Patricia Highsmith (January 19, 1921 – February 4, 1995) was an American novelist and short story writer widely known for her psychological thrillers, including her series of five novels featuring the character Tom Ripley. She wrote 22 nov ...

, ''The Two Faces of January'' ; 1963 * Gold Dagger:

, '' The Spy Who Came in from the Cold'' **

Nicolas Freeling Nicolas Freeling (born Nicolas Davidson; 3 March 1927 – 20 July 2003), was a British crime novelist, best known as the author of the "Van der Valk" series of detective novels. A television series based on the character was produced for the Brit ...

, ''Gun Before Butter'' **

William Haggard William Haggard (born Croydon 11 August 1907, died Frinton-on-Sea 27 October 1993) was the pseudonym of Richard Henry Michael Clayton, the son of the Rev. Henry James Clayton and Mabel Sarah Clayton. He was an English writer of fictional spy th ...

, ''The High Wire'' ; 1962 * Gold Dagger:

, ''When I Grow Rich'' **

, '' The Light of Day'' ** Colin Watson, ''Hopjoy Was Here'' ; 1961 * Gold Dagger: Mary Kelly, ''The Spoilt Kill'' **

, ''

Call for the Dead ''Call for the Dead'' is John le Carré's first novel, published in 1961. It introduces George Smiley, the most famous of le Carré's recurring characters, in a story about East German spies inside Great Britain. It also introduces a fiction ...

'' ** Allan Prior, ''One Way'' ; 1960 (award renamed) * Gold Dagger: Lionel Davidson, ''

The Night of Wenceslas ''The Night of Wenceslas'' is the debut novel of British thriller and crime writer Lionel Davidson. This Bildungsroman describes the reluctant adventures of Nicolas Whistler, a dissolute young man of mixed English and Czech parentage who finds ...

'' ** Mary Stewart, ''My Brother Michael'' **

Julian Symons Julian Gustave Symons (originally Gustave Julian Symons) (pronounced ''SIMM-ons''; 30 May 1912 – 19 November 1994) was a British crime writer and poet. He also wrote social and military history, biography and studies of literature. He was bo ...

, ''

The Progress of a Crime ''The Progress of a Crime'' is a 1960 mystery crime novel by the British writer Julian Symons.White p.360 It was awarded the 1961 Edgar Award. Synopsis Hugh Bennett, a local reporter, sees what looks like a horrible crime taking place on a villa ...

1950s

; 1959 * Crossed Red Herring Award:

, ''

Passage of Arms ''Passage of Arms'' is a 1959 novel by Eric Ambler. Plot Girija Krishnan, a bookkeeper at a rubber plantation in Malaya, has one ambition in life: to found and establish a local bus company and transport system. But he has no money to financ ...

'' ** James Mitchell, ''A Way Back'' ** Menna Gallie, ''Strike for a Kingdom'' ; 1958 * Crossed Red Herring Award: Margot Bennett, ''

Someone from the Past ''Someone from the Past'' is a 1958 detective novel by the Scottish author Margot Bennett. Premise The novel's narrator, Nancy, meets up with an old friend, Sarah, in a restaurant one night. The next morning, Nancy learns that Sarah has been ...

'' **

Margery Allingham Margery Louise Allingham (20 May 1904 – 30 June 1966) was an English novelist from the "Golden Age of Detective Fiction", and considered one of its four "Queens of Crime", alongside Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers and Ngaio Marsh. All ...

, ''

Hide My Eyes ''Hide My Eyes'' is a crime novel by Margery Allingham, first published in 1958, in the United Kingdom by Chatto & Windus Chatto & Windus is an imprint of Penguin Random House that was formerly an independent book publishing company found ...

'' ** James Byrom, ''Or Be He Dead'' ** John Sherwood, ''Undiplomatic Exit'' ; 1957 * Crossed Red Herring Award:

, ''

The Colour of Murder ''The Colour of Murder'' is a 1957 crime novel by the British writer Julian Symons. It was awarded the Gold Dagger of the Crime Writers' Association for that year.Winks, Robin W. & Corrigan, Maureen. ''Mystery and Suspense Writers: The Literatu ...

'' **

Ngaio Marsh Dame Edith Ngaio Marsh (; 23 April 1895 – 18 February 1982) was a New Zealand mystery writer and theatre director. She was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1966. As a crime writer during the "Golden Age of Det ...

, '' Off with His Head'' ** George Milner, ''Your Money or Your Life'' **

Douglas Rutherford James Douglas Rutherford McConnell (14 October 1915 – 29 April 1988) who used the pen-name Douglas Rutherford was a language teacher and an author. Biography Born in Kilkenny, Ireland . He went to school in Yorkshire, studied at Clare Colle ...

, ''The Long Echo'' ; 1956 * Crossed Red Herring Award:

Edward Grierson Edward Grierson (9 March 1914 - 24 May 1975) was a Northumberland barrister and a writer of crime novels. His debut crime novel is the outstanding '' Reputation for a Song'', a classic inverted detective story. Grierson also wrote five novels, ...

, '' The Second Man'' ** Sarah Gainham, ''

Time Right Deadly ''Time Right Deadly'' is a 1956 thriller novel by the British writer Sarah Gainham. Her debut novel, it was shortlisted for the Gold Dagger Award, losing out to Edward Grierson's ''The Second Man''. Like many of her novels it takes place in post ...

'' **

Arthur Upfield Arthur William Upfield (1 September 1890 – 12 February 1964) was an English-Australian writer, best known for his works of detective fiction featuring Detective Inspector Napoleon "Bony" Bonaparte of the Queensland Police Force, a mixed-race ...

, ''Man of Two Tribes'' ** J. J. Marric, ''Gideon's Week'' ; 1955 * Crossed Red Herring Award:

Winston Graham Winston Mawdsley Graham OBE, born Winston Grime (30 June 1908 – 10 July 2003), was an English novelist best known for the Poldark series of historical novels set in Cornwall, though he also wrote numerous other works, including contemporary ...

, ''

The Little Walls ''The Little Walls'' is a crime novel by Winston Graham. It won the very first Gold Dagger, then called ''Crossed Red Herring Award'', awarded by the Crime Writers' Association The Crime Writers' Association (CWA) is a specialist authors’ or ...

'' ** Leigh Howard, ''Blind Date'' **

, '' Scales of Justice'' ** Margot Bennett, ''

The Man Who Didn't Fly ''The Man Who Didn't Fly'' is a detective novel by the Scottish author Margot Bennett. It was published originally in 1955. It was shortlisted for the Gold Dagger award for crime-writing that year. Premise A private plane crashes, killing bot ...

References

External links

The Gold Dagger at Crime Writers' Association official webpage
{{Gold Dagger Award Crime Writers' Association awards 1955 establishments in the United Kingdom Awards established in 1955 Mystery and detective fiction awards