It’s been a couple of rollercoaster months in the crime-writing world. First we had the Sykehouse Festival, quickly followed by the launch of Crime Reading Month in York. My contribution to the latter was to join a panel at Murder in the Rhubarb Triangle in Wakefield. Next it was off north for Shetland Noir. This week the spotlight was on the CWA Dagger Awards ceremony in London.
With another heatwave brewing up it was a hot and sticky night, with many of the men eschewing dinner jackets for lighter attire. In one case, DJ and shorts! Fabulous frocks were also on show at the Connaught Rooms as authors, agents and publishers mixed and mingled.
Denise Mina gave an entertaining after-dinner talk about a true crime in the days of Samuel Peyps. The awards then followed in slick succession. Lorna Matthew was on our table, shortlisted for the Emerging Author Dagger, which is a great achievement for a new writer, even if she didn’t win. Joe Eurell who won last year also sat with us as did my great friend Fiona Veitch Smith who was awarded the Red Herring for services to the CWA. My mission was to keep Fiona from reading the programme and spoiling the surprise.
This year’s Diamond Dagger for lifetime achievement went to Mark Billingham. The Dagger was presented by Mick Herron and both were on entertaining form. As at any such even the personal highlight is the opportunity to meet old friends and make new ones. Some were congratulated on great speeches, and the shortlisted offered commiserations at coming so close to the one of the coveted Daggers. Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Festival in Harrogate is next.
A full list of Dagger winners and short lists can be found on the CWA website.
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