Ann Cleeves to receive CWA Diamond Dagger

The Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) will give this year’s CWA Diamond Dagger, awarded every year to a crime author whose career has shown “sustained excellence”, to Ann Cleeves.

Cleeves is the author of the Vera Stanhope series and the Shetland series (Macmillan), both of which were adapted into television shows. In 2006, her novel Raven Black was awarded the Duncan Lawrie Dagger (the prestigious CWA Gold Dagger) for best crime novel and in 2012 she was inducted into the CWA Crime Thriller Awards Hall of Fame.

Last year she wrote a murder mystery script for libraries and booksellers to use in "author-less" events as a way of thanking librarians and booksellers for their support for her titles.

“It’s a huge honour to be recognised by my peers, the crime-writers whose books, friendship and support I’ve enjoyed for more than thirty years,” said Cleeves. “I am privileged to have had such a happy career and I will always be grateful for the support of booksellers and forever indebted to the passion and expertise of librarians, without whom I wouldn't still be writing today.'

Cleeves will be presented with the CWA Diamond Dagger at a ceremony in London on 26th October.