CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger explained

The CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger is an annual award given by the British Crime Writers' Association for best thriller of the year. The award is sponsored by the estate of Ian Fleming.

It is given to a title that fits the broadest definition of the thriller novel; these can be set in any period and include, but are not limited to, spy fiction and/or action/ adventure stories. Ian Fleming said there was one essential criterion for a good thriller – that “one simply has to turn the pages”; this is one of the main characteristics that the judges will be looking for.

Winners

2000s

Year! scope="col" width="30%"

Author	Title	Result
2002			Winner
			Finalist
		Without Fail	Finalist
		Hostage	Finalist
		Lime's Photograph	Finalist
			Finalist
		Tango One	Finalist
2003			Winner	^[1]
		Persuader	Finalist
		Candlemoth	Finalist
			Finalist
			Finalist
		Empire State	Finalist
		Traitor's Kiss	Finalist
2004		Garden of Beasts	Winner	^[2]
			Finalist
		Paranoia	Finalist
		Tokyo	Finalist
		Hard Landing	Finalist
		Dead I Well May Be	Finalist
			Finalist
2005		Brandenburg	Winner
			Finalist
			Finalist
			Finalist
		Labyrinth	Finalist
		Double Cross Blind	Finalist
			Finalist
2006		Mr Clarinet	Winner
			Finalist
		Sweet Gum	Finalist
		Pig Island	Finalist
			Finalist
			Finalist
		Contact Zero	Finalist
2007		Sharp Objects	Winner
			Finalist
			Finalist
		City of Lies	Finalist
			Finalist
			Finalist
		Triptych	Finalist
2008		Child 44	Winner	^[3]
		Ritual	Finalist
		I See You	Finalist
		Shatter	Finalist
			Finalist
2009			Winner	^[4] ^[5]
			Finalist
		Dark Places	Finalist
		Calumet City	Finalist
		Moscow Rules	Finalist
			Finalist
			Finalist

2010s

Author! scope="col" width="45%"

Title	Result
2010			Winner
		61 Hours	Finalist	^[6]
		Gone	Finalist
		Slow Horses	Finalist
			Finalist	^[7]
		Innocent	Finalist
			Finalist
2011			Winner	^[8] ^[9]
			Finalist	^[10]
		Cold Rain	Finalist
		Before I Go to Sleep	Finalist
2012			Winner	^[11] ^[12]
		Dare Me	Finalist
			Finalist
		Reamde	Finalist
2013		Ghostman	Winner	^[13]
		Ratlines	Finalist	^[14] ^[15]
			Finalist
		Capital Punishment	Finalist
2014			Winner	^[16] ^[17]
		Apple Tree Yard	Finalist	^[18]
		I Am Pilgrim	Finalist
		Natchez Burning	Finalist
2015		Cop Town	Winner	^[19] ^[20]
		Missing	Finalist	^[21]
			Finalist
		Nobody Walks	Finalist
			Finalist
			Finalist
			Finalist
2016			Winner	^[22]
		Make Me	Finalist	^[23]
		Real Tigers	Finalist
		Rain Dogs	Finalist
			Finalist
2017		Spook Street	Winner
		You Will Know Me	Finalist
			Finalist
		We Go Around in the Night and Are Consumed by Fire	Finalist
		Redemption Road	Finalist
			Finalist
2018		Bluebird, Bluebird	Winner
		London Rules	Finalist	^[24]
		If I Die Before I Wake	Finalist
			Finalist
			Finalist
			Finalist	^[25]
2019		To The Lions	Winner
		Give Me Your Hand	Finalist	^[26]
		Safe Houses	Finalist
		Killing Eve, No Tomorrow	Finalist
		Lives Laid Away	Finalist
		Memo From Turner	Finalist

2020s

Year! scope="col" width="30%"

Author	Title	Result
2020		November Road	Winner	^[27] ^[28]
		This is Gomorrah	Finalist	^[29] ^[30] ^[31]
		One Way Out	Finalist
		Between Two Evils	Finalist
		Cold Storage	Finalist
			Finalist	^[32]
2021		When She Was Good	Winner	^[33] ^[34] ^[35]
		Troubled Blood	Finalist	^[36] ^[37]
			Finalist
			Finalist
		One by One	Finalist
		We Begin at the End	Finalist
2022		Dead Ground	Winner	^[38]
		Find You First	Finalist	^[39] ^[40]
			Finalist
			Finalist
		Razorblade Tears	Finalist
		Dream Girl	Finalist
2023		Agent Seventeen	Winner	^[41]
		Take Your Breath Away	Finalist	^[42]
		The Botanist	Finalist
		The Ink Black Heart	Finalist
		The Chase	Finalist
		May God Forgive	Finalist

Notes and References

1. Web site: Dan Fesperman . 2022-12-31 . Penguin Random House Canada . English . 2022-12-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221231171611/https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/authors/8601/dan-fesperman . live .
2. Web site: Merritt . Stephanie . 2011-05-28 . Carte Blanche by Jeffery Deaver – review . 2022-12-31 . . en.
3. Web site: June 3, 2014 . Tom Rob Smith: Who to Trust? . 2022-12-31 . . 2024-05-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240515000404/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/readers-issue.html?issue=304 . live .
4. Web site: Somerville Mystery Book Club . 2022-12-31 . Somerville Mystery Book Club . 2022-12-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221231171616/http://web.mit.edu/psunde/www/smbc/daggerscwa.html . live .
5. Web site: Flood . Alison . 2009-10-22 . British readers vote Harlan Coben their favourite crime writer . 2022-12-31 . . en . 2024-05-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240515000213/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2009/oct/22/british-harlan-coben-crime . live .
6. Web site: Flood . Alison . 2010-08-10 . Accent on youth as Gold Dagger nominees are revealed . 2022-12-31 . the Guardian . en . 2024-05-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240515000211/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2010/aug/10/gold-dagger-nominees-child-investigators . live .
7. Web site: August 11, 2010 . Awards: CWA Specsavers Crime Thriller Awards Finalists . 2022-12-31 . Shelf Awareness.
8. Web site: October 11, 2011 . Awards: Nobel Peace Prize; CWA Daggers . 2022-12-31 . Shelf Awareness.
9. Web site: Flood . Alison . 2011-10-07 . Dagger crime fiction awards unsheathed . 2022-12-31 . . en . 2024-05-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240515000214/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/oct/07/dagger-crime-fiction-awards . live .
10. Web site: Flood . Alison . 2011-08-19 . Males in the frame as Gold Dagger shortlist revealed . 2022-12-31 . . en . 2024-05-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240515000336/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/aug/19/gold-dagger-shortlist-revealed . live .
11. Web site: October 19, 2012 . Awards: CWA Daggers; Dylan Thomas; DSC for South Asian Literature . 2022-12-31 . . 2022-12-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221231164120/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=1852 . live .
12. Web site: Flood . Alison . 2012-10-18 . Irish author Gene Kerrigan wins Gold Dagger for crime novel of the year . 2022-12-31 . . en . 2024-05-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240515000257/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/oct/18/gene-kerrigan-gold-dagger-crime-novel . live .
13. Web site: October 29, 2013 . Awards: CWA Daggers . 2022-12-31 . . 2022-12-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221231164112/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=2116 . live .
14. Web site: September 3, 2013 . Awards: Hugo, Campbell Winners; CWA Finalists . 2022-12-31 . . 2022-12-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221231164115/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=2076 . live .
15. Web site: 2013-09-27 . Nominees and Winners of the 2013 CWA Dagger Awards! . 2022-12-31 . Criminal Element . en-US . 2022-12-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221231171611/https://www.criminalelement.com/nominees-and-winners-2013-cwa-dagger-awards-uk-crime-hq/ . live .
16. Web site: October 28, 2014 . Awards: CWA Daggers; Red House Children's Book . 2022-12-31 . . 2022-12-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221231164124/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=2373 . live .
17. Web site: Flood . Alison . 2014-10-27 . Robert Harris’s novel about Dreyfus affair named thriller of the year . 2022-12-31 . . en . 2024-05-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240515010534/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/oct/27/robert-harris-an-officer-and-a-spy-dreyfus-affair-crime-writers-association-thriller . live .
18. Web site: September 3, 2014 . Awards: Rona Jaffe; Samuel Johnson Nonfiction; CWA Daggers . 2022-12-31 . . 2022-12-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221231164124/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=2333 . live .
19. Web site: February 22, 2022 . Rediscover: Pieces of Her . 2022-12-31 . Shelf Awareness.
20. Web site: October 1, 2015 . Awards: Dayton Literary Peace; Goldsmiths; CWA Daggers . 2022-12-31 . . 2022-12-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221231164134/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=2604 . live .
21. Web site: Barnett . David . 2015-07-01 . Daggers crime writing awards presented to 'the best of the best' . 2022-12-31 . . en . 2024-05-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240515000806/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/jul/01/daggers-crime-writing-awards-crime-writers-association . live .
22. Web site: Flood . Alison . 2016-10-12 . US debut writer wins gold dagger at UK's top crime writing awards . 2022-12-31 . . en . 2024-05-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240515000915/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/oct/12/bill-beverly-gold-dagger-uk-crime-writers-association-award . live .
23. Web site: 2016-07-28 . Steel Dagger Shortlist 2016 . 2022-12-31 . Ian Fleming . en-GB . 2022-12-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221231164113/https://www.ianfleming.com/steel-dagger-shortlist-2016/ . live .
24. Web site: 2018-10-10 . Ian Fleming Steel Shortlisted Authors at CWA Dagger Awards on Oct 25 . 2022-12-31 . Crime Time . en-GB . 2024-05-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240515000826/https://www.crimetime.co.uk/ian-fleming-steel-shortlisted-authors-at-cwa-dagger-awards-on-oct-25/ . live .
25. Web site: 2018-09-24 . CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger 2018 Shortlist . 2022-12-31 . Ian Fleming . en-GB . 2022-12-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221231171612/https://www.ianfleming.com/dagger-2018-shortlist-don-winslow/ . live .
26. Web site: 2019-09-12 . CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Shortlist 2019 - Interview with Megan Abbott . 2022-12-31 . Ian Fleming . en-GB . 2022-12-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221231171615/https://www.ianfleming.com/megan-abbott/ . live .
27. Web site: 2020-10-23 . Michael Robotham wins the 2020 Gold Dagger . 2020-10-23 . The Booktopian . en-AU . 2023-11-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231119165133/https://www.booktopia.com.au/blog/2020/10/23/michael-robotham-wins-the-2020-gold-dagger/ . live .
28. Web site: Green . Alex . October 22, 2020 . Winner of Crime Writers’ Association gold dagger award revealed . 2022-12-31 . PA Media . en-CA . 2022-12-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221231171611/https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/winner-crime-writers-association-gold-210000213.html . live .
29. Web site: The Ian Fleming Steel Dagger . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20140706141021/http://thecwa.co.uk:80/the-daggers/categories/ian-fleming-steel/ . 2014-07-06 . 2020-08-16 . The Crime Writers' Association .
30. Web site: 2020-08-06 . 2020 Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Shortlist . 2022-12-31 . Ian Fleming . en-GB . 2022-12-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221231171612/https://www.ianfleming.com/2020-ian-fleming-steel-dagger-shortlist/ . live .
31. Web site: This is Gomorrah: Shortlisted for the CWA 2020 Ian Fleming Steel Dagger award by Tom Chatfield - Books . 2022-12-31 . Hachette . 2021-03-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210305051701/https://www.hachette.com.au/tom-chatfield/this-is-gomorrah-shortlisted-for-the-cwa-2020-ian-fleming-steel-dagger-award . live .
32. Web site: 2020-08-06 . 2020 Dagger Awards Shortlists . 2022-12-31 . . en-US . 2022-12-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221231171620/https://locusmag.com/2020/08/2020-dagger-awards-shortlists/ . live .
33. Web site: 2020-07-02 . Robotham wins CWA Steel Dagger . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210702004311/https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2021/07/02/189106/robotham-wins-cwa-steel-dagger/ . 2021-07-02 . 2021-07-09 . Books+Publishing . en-AU .
34. Web site: Michael Robotham wins the Ian Fleming Silver Dagger News . 2022-12-31 . The Soho Agency . 2022-12-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221231171611/https://thesohoagency.co.uk/news/michael-robotham-wins-the-ian-fleming-silver-dagger . live .
35. Web site: 2021-07-03 . CWA’s Dagger Awards . 2022-12-31 . . en-US . 2022-12-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221231171616/https://poisonedpen.com/2021/07/03/cwas-dagger-awards/ . live .
36. Web site: 2021-05-20 . Dagger shortlists announced . 2021-06-26 . . 2021-06-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210626134843/https://thecwa.co.uk/news/dagger-shortlists-announced . live .
37. Web site: 2021-05-20 . The 2021 CWA Dagger Awards Short List Announced . 2022-12-31 . Ian Fleming . en-GB . 2022-12-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221231171610/https://www.ianfleming.com/the-cwa-dagger-awards-short-list-announced/ . live .
38. Web site: Craven's Dead Ground Wins Ian Fleming Steel Dagger . 2022-12-31 . D H H literary agency . en .
39. Web site: CWA Dagger Award Winners 2022 . 2022-12-31 . Deadly Pleasures . en-US . 2022-12-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221231173123/http://new.deadlypleasures.com/2022/06/30/cwa-dagger-award-winners-2022/ . live .
40. Web site: The Dagger Awards . 2022-12-31 . Derbyshire County Council . 2022-12-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221231171616/https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/leisure/libraries/blogs/blog-posts/the-dagger-awards.aspx . live .
41. Web site: 2023 Dagger Award Winners Announced . 2023-07-10 . The Crime Writers’ Association . en . 2023-08-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230828144542/https://thecwa.co.uk/news/2023-dagger-award-winners-announced . live .
42. Web site: 2023-05-17 . The 2023 CWA Daggers Shortlists Have Been Announced . 2023-07-10 . Ian Fleming . en-GB . 2023-07-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230710211623/https://www.ianfleming.com/the-2023-cwa-daggers-shortlists-have-been-announced/ . live .