John Dean – Crime Writer

Voting is under way for this year’s Dagger in the Library crime writing award and people working in libraries are being encouraged to take part.

Run by the Crime Writers’ Association (CWA), the award’s success is down to the work of library staff and volunteers in the UK and Ireland.

They initially nominate authors, often following discussions with borrowers, working to a criteria which seeks to identify crime writers of fiction or non-fiction who have brought most pleasure to UK and Irish library users over a significant time, and who have actively supported libraries.

Each library then has the chance to vote to narrow down the nominations to create the longlist, a process that is now under way with a deadline of February 26. Each library in Britain or the Republic of Ireland may submit up to three votes and any person working there can vote – staff or volunteers. The longlist will be announced on April 16.

Crime writer John Dean, who lives in Dumfries and Galloway and is the CWA’s Libraries Champion in Scotland, said: ‘The expertise and enthusiasm of the people who work in, and use, our libraries make this Dagger award the success that it has become, and we very much appreciate their support.’”

Previous winners cannot be considered for the award again. The 2025 prize went to Richard Osman.

Any library wishing to vote can do so via the form within the Dagger in the Library section of the CWA website at www.thecwa.co.uk