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 +Ian Fleming Steel Dagger winners and finalists, 2002-2009 Year Author Title Result 2002WinnerFinalist Without FailFinalist HostageFinalist Lime's PhotographFinalistFinalist Tango OneFinalist2003Winner PersuaderFinalist CandlemothFinalistFinalistFinalist Empire StateFinalist Traitor's KissFinalist2004 Garden of BeastsWinnerFinalist ParanoiaFinalist TokyoFinalist Hard LandingFinalist Dead I Well May BeFinalistFinalist2005 BrandenburgWinnerFinalistFinalistFinalist LabyrinthFinalist Double Cross BlindFinalistFinalist2006 Mr ClarinetWinnerFinalist Sweet GumFinalist Pig IslandFinalistFinalistFinalist Contact ZeroFinalist2007 Sharp ObjectsWinnerFinalist Finalist City of LiesFinalistFinalistFinalist TriptychFinalist2008 Child 44Winner RitualFinalist I See YouFinalist ShatterFinalistFinalist2009WinnerFinalist Dark PlacesFinalist Calumet CityFinalist Moscow RulesFinalistFinalistFinalist 2010s +Ian Fleming Steel Dagger winners and finalists, 2010-2019Year Author Title Result 2010Winner61 HoursFinalistGoneFinalistSlow HorsesFinalistFinalistInnocentFinalistFinalist2011WinnerFinalistCold RainFinalistBefore I Go to SleepFinalist2012WinnerDare MeFinalistFinalistReamdeFinalist2013GhostmanWinnerRatlinesFinalistFinalistCapital PunishmentFinalist2014WinnerApple Tree YardFinalistI Am PilgrimFinalistNatchez BurningFinalist2015Cop TownWinnerMissingFinalistFinalistNobody WalksFinalistFinalistFinalistFinalist2016WinnerMake MeFinalistReal TigersFinalistRain DogsFinalistFinalist2017Spook StreetWinnerYou Will Know MeFinalistFinalistWe Go Around in the Night and Are Consumed by FireFinalistRedemption RoadFinalistFinalist2018Bluebird, BluebirdWinnerLondon RulesFinalistIf I Die Before I WakeFinalistFinalistFinalistFinalist2019To The LionsWinnerGive Me Your HandFinalistSafe HousesFinalistKilling Eve, No TomorrowFinalistLives Laid AwayFinalistMemo From TurnerFinalist
2020s +Ian Fleming Steel Dagger winners and finalists, 2020-present Year Author Title Result 2020November RoadWinnerThis is GomorrahFinalistOne Way OutFinalistBetween Two EvilsFinalistCold StorageFinalistFinalist2021When She Was GoodWinnerTroubled BloodFinalistFinalistFinalistOne by OneFinalistWe Begin at the EndFinalist2022Dead GroundWinnerFind You FirstFinalistFinalistFinalistRazorblade TearsFinalistDream GirlFinalist2023Agent SeventeenWinnerTake Your Breath AwayFinalistThe BotanistFinalistThe Ink Black HeartFinalistThe ChaseFinalistMay God ForgiveFinalist2024Everybody KnowsWinnerAll the Sinners BleedFinalistOzark DogsFinalistThe MantisFinalistGas LightFinalistDrowningFinalist
References