Acclaimed author and former lawyer Abigail Dean has been awarded the prestigious 2026 Gold Dagger for her gripping thriller, The Death of Us. The novel, which delves into the enduring impact of a violent crime on a marriage over decades, secured the top honour at the Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Dagger Awards gala dinner on Thursday evening.
Dean, also known for her previous works Girl A and Day One, triumphed over a strong shortlist that included Holly Jackson, SA Cosby, Vaseem Khan, Ariel Lawhon, and Laura Shepherd-Robinson.
SA Cosby, who uniquely received three Dagger nominations, took home the coveted Ian Fleming Steel Dagger for King of Ashes, recognising it as the year’s best thriller. His Southern Gothic epic, partly inspired by The Godfather, masterfully weaves together family drama, organised crime, revenge, and long-buried secrets. Before his literary breakthrough with Blacktop Wasteland, Cosby’s career spanned construction, retail, and security.
Nadine Matheson, chair of the CWA, extended her congratulations to all winners, remarking: "The range and quality on display are a reminder of just how much vitality there is in crime fiction and how it continues to push at its own boundaries, and this year’s winners are leading that charge."
Further accolades were distributed across various categories. Nina Allan received the Historical Dagger for A Granite Silence, a mystery set against the backdrop of a young girl’s disappearance in 1930s Aberdeen. Sarah Pinborough’s Gothic novel, We Live Here Now, earned her the Twisted Dagger for psychological suspense. Pinborough is widely recognised for Behind Her Eyes, which was adapted into a popular Netflix series in 2021.
Mel Pennant was honoured with the Whodunnit Dagger for A Murder for Miss Hortense, while the Crime Fiction in Translation Dagger went to Antti Tuomainen for The Winter Job. Tuomainen, often dubbed the "King of Helsinki Noir," is one of Finland’s most internationally acclaimed crime writers, with his translator David Hackston also receiving recognition.
The Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction was awarded to Susannah Stapleton for That Dark Spring. A former archaeologist and museum professional, Stapleton’s debut, The Adventures of Maud West, Lady Detective, was previously shortlisted for the same award. The Short Story Dagger was claimed by Ambrose Parry for The Apple Falls Not Far, a pseudonym for Scottish crime novelist Chris Brookmyre and his wife, Marisa Haetzman.
Tim Sullivan was presented with The Dagger in the Library, an award voted for by librarians to celebrate authors whose body of work resonates deeply with readers. Sullivan is also a screenwriter and director, known for the 2010 film Letters to Juliet.
Laura McCluskey secured the Creasey First Novel Dagger for The Wolf Tree, and Michael Nikitin received the Emerging Author Dagger for Blind Side of the Sun.
Earlier this year, Mark Billingham was announced as the recipient of the CWA Diamond Dagger, a lifetime achievement award. He expressed his delight, stating: "I could not be more thrilled or honoured. To be added to a list that features most of my literary heroes is fantastic."
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