Christchurch City Libraries lists literary prize winners and links to catalogue searches, but we may not hold copies of all titles mentioned.
The Crime Writers’ Association Gold Dagger award is for the year’s best crime novel written in English.
The Gold Dagger was first awarded in 1955 with the name "Crossed Red Herrings Award". Since 1960 it has been known as the Gold Dagger, with variations in its name depending on sponsorship. Up to and including 2005, books in translation were eligible for this prize. In 2006 a separate Dagger, the International Dagger, was introduced for books in translation.
See other CWA category winners and all the other literary prize winners we list.
2026
The Death of us Abigail Dean
2025
The Book of Secrets Anna Mazzola
2024
Tell Me What I Am Una Mannion
2023
The Kingdoms of Savannah George Dawes Green
2022
Sunset swing Ray Celestin
2021
We begin at the end Chris Whitaker
2020
Good Girl, Bad Girl Michael Robotham
2019
The puppet show Mike Craven
2018
The liar Steve Cavanagh
2017
The dry Jane Harper
2016
Dodgers Bill Beverly
2015
Life or death Michael Robotham
2014
This dark road to Mercy Wiley Cash
2013
Dead lions Mick Herron
2012
The rage Gene Kerrigan
2011
Crooked letter, crooked letter Tom Franklin
2010
Blacklands Belinda Bauer
2009
A whispered name William Brodrick
2008
Blood from stone Frances Fyfield
2007
The broken shore Peter Temple
2006
Raven black Ann Cleeves
2005
Silence of the grave Arnaldur Indridason (Translator: Bernard Scudder)
2004
Blacklist Sara Paretsky
2003
Fox evil Minette Walters
2002
The Athenian murders Jose Carlos Somoza
2001
Sidetracked Henning Mankel
2000
Motherless Brooklyn Jonathan Lethem
1999
A small death in Lisbon Robert Wilson
1998
Sunset Limited James Lee Burke
1997
Black & blue Ian Rankin
1996
Popcorn Ben Elton
1995
The mermaids singing Val McDermid
1994
The scold’s bridle Minette Walters
1993
Cruel and unusual Patricia Cornwell
1992
The way through the woods Colin Dexter
1991
King Solomon’s carpet Barbara Vine
1990
Bones and silence Reginald Hill
1989
The wench is dead Colin Dexter
1988
Ratking Michael Dibdin
1987
A fatal inversion Barbara Vine
1986
Live flesh Ruth Rendell
1985
Monkey puzzle Paula Gosling
1984
The twelfth juror B. M. Gill
1983
Accidental crimes John Hutton
1982
The false Inspector Dew Peter Lovesey
1981
Gorky Park Martin Cruz Smith
1980
The murder of the Maharajah H. R. F. Keating