The Crime Writers’ Association was established in 1953 by crime writer John Creasey. The Dagger in the Library is a much respected and original award, dating back to 1995. The Dagger in the Library is an award for a body of work by a crime writer that users of libraries particularly admire.
The shortlist for this year’s Dagger in the Library award was officially announced today.
How was the shortlist selected?
The CWA, in discussion with its 2017 partners, The Reading Agency, revised the 2017 Dagger in the Library format so that, uniquely among crime writing awards, only library staff were able to nominate authors for the longlist.
Feedback received from reading groups on this website, and engagement from individual readers on our social media accounts, was a major factor in the judges’ decision as to who should proceed to this shortlist.
The 2017 Dagger in the Library shortlist
Andrew Taylor
C J Sansom
James Oswald
Kate Ellis
Mari Hannah
Tana French
Get involved
We have more information about the authors and their books, as well as discussion questions on our resources page.
Have you read any of the shortlisted authors books, if so what did you think? What has the best crime book you have read? Comment below or share your thoughts with us on Twitter using #CWA2017 or on the CWA’s Facebook.
Download the discussion guides to accompany the shortlisted books and write your reading group’s thoughts on our Book Reviews page.
Sign up to our fantastic monthly Reading Groups for Everyone newsletter, bringing you all of the latest book news, including who will be the Dagger in the Library winner.
