The Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) once again celebrated the best in crime fiction and non-fiction with the announcement of the 2025 Dagger Awards winners. Showcasing exceptional storytelling across multiple categories, this year’s awards recognized outstanding work from both established authors and exciting newcomers, highlighting the genre’s ongoing vitality and diversity.
For those less familiar with the Daggers, here’s a brief overview: The Diamond Dagger honors an author’s lifetime contribution to crime writing. The Ian Fleming Steel Dagger is given to the best spy, psychological, or adventure thriller. The Whodunnit Dagger celebrates clean, traditional, or cozy mysteries known for clever puzzles, while the Twisted Dagger focuses on psychological thrillers full of tension and complex characters.
The winners were announced on July 3rd in London, where the crime writing community gathered to celebrate the genre’s finest.
The Diamond Dagger was awarded to Mick Herron, acknowledging his remarkable lifetime achievements and significant impact on the world of crime fiction. Anna Mazzola’s The Book of Secrets won the Gold Dagger, marking it as the best crime novel of the year, praised for its intricate plotting and vivid storytelling. Lou Berney’s Dark Ride took home the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger, recognized for its taut and gripping thriller narrative.
Katy Massey’s All Us Sinners earned the John Creasey First Novel Dagger, celebrating an outstanding debut that promises a bright future in crime fiction. The Historical Dagger was awarded to A.J. West for The Betrayal of Thomas True, a novel noted for its rich historical atmosphere and compelling story.
In the international arena, Akira Otani’s The Night of Baba Yaga won the Crime Fiction in Translation Dagger, highlighting the global reach and diverse voices enriching the genre. Kate Summerscale’s The Peepshow: The Murders at 10 Rillington Place earned the Non-Fiction Dagger for its meticulously researched and compelling true crime narrative.
The Short Story Dagger went to J.C. Bernthal for A Date on Yarmouth Pier, showcasing exceptional storytelling in a concise format. The Case of the Singer and the Showgirl by Lisa Hall was awarded the Whodunnit Dagger for delivering a clever and charming traditional mystery. Finally, Tracy Sierra won the Twisted Dagger for Nightwatching, a psychological thriller that kept readers on the edge of their seats.
Here is a list of all of the winners:
Diamond Dagger: Mick Herron
Gold Dagger: The Book of Secrets by Anna Mazzola
Ian Fleming Steel Dagger: Dark Ride by Lou Berney
John Creasey First Novel Dagger: All Us Sinners by Katy Massey
Historical Dagger: The Betrayal of Thomas True by A.J. West
Crime Fiction in Translation Dagger: The Night of Baba Yaga by Akira Otani
Non-Fiction Dagger: The Peepshow: The Murders at 10 Rillington Place by Kate Summerscale
Short Story Dagger: A Date on Yarmouth Pier by J.C. Bernthal
Whodunnit Dagger: The Case of the Singer and the Showgirl by Lisa Hall
Twisted Dagger: Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra
Congratulations to all of those who took home Dagger Awards!
If you would like to look at the complete list of nominees, please see our announcement of the 2025 CWA Daggers nominations. For more information on the awards and their history, please visit the CWA’s official website.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Based near Toronto, Brandon is a news writer and Book Specialist for Book Notification who covers the world of books, maintains author pages, writes a variety of content, and is an avid reader of non-fiction and biographies.