The CWA ALCS Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction also called the ALCS Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction is a British literary award established in 1978 by the Crime Writers' Association, who have awarded the CWA Gold Dagger for fiction since 1955. It is sponsored by the Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society, and is open to "any non-fiction work on a crime-related theme by an author of any nationality as long as the book was first published in the UK in English during the judging period." The prize is a cheque for £1,000 (reduced in 2009 from £2,000) and a decorative dagger.
In 1978 and 1979 only there was also a silver award. From 1995 to 2002 it was sponsored by The Macallan (Scotch whisky brand) and known as The Macallan Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction. In 2008 the award was sponsored by Owatonna Media (a London-based literary brand investor and owner). Between 2006 and 2010 it was awarded every other year, in even-numbered years, but in 2011 it returned as an annual award.
Winners and shortlists
+Award winners and shortlistsYearAuthorTitlePublisherResult1978Winner (joint) List created by search for "Winner" and "Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction"1978Winner (joint) 1979 and Douglas SutherlandFraudWinner (joint) 1979RachmanWinner (joint)1980 and Robbyn SwanConspiracyWinner1981Prisoner Without a Name, Cell Without a NumberWinner1982Earth to EarthWinner1983Double Dealer: How Five Art Dealers, Four Policemen, Three Picture Restorers, Two Auction Houses and a Journalist Plotted to Recover Some of the World's Most Beautiful Stolen PaintingsWinner1984In God's NameWinner1985Killing for CompanyWinner1986Evil AngelsWinner1987 and Stephen KnightPerfect MurderWinner1988Winner1989Winner1990Winner1991Giordano Bruno and the Embassy AffairWinner1992Winner1993Murder in the HeartWinner1994Criminal Shadows: Inside the Mind of the Serial KillerWinner1995Dead Not BuriedWinner1996Winner1997Winner1998Cries Unheard: Why Children Kill - The Story of Mary BellWinner1999VikingWinnerDoubledayShortlistHodology Ltd.Shortlist2000Mr. Blue: Memoirs of a RenegadeNo Exit PressWinnerWainewright the PoisonerFaber and FaberShortlistFourth EstateShortlistRichard Elias and Peter Walsh, CockyMilo BooksShortlistBloggs 19Warner BooksShortlist2001 and Martin Maynard, with Tony ThompsonPenguinWinnerPatriot Traitors: Roger Casement, John Amery and the Real Meaning of TreasonViking PressShortlistMaggots, Murder and Men: Memories and Reflections of a Forensic EntomologistHarley BooksShortlist2002Dead Man's Wages: The Secrets of a London Conman and His FamilyPicadorWinner and Kathleen BeckerScene of the Crime: a Guide to the Landscapes of British Detective FictionJudged to be outside the scope of the award but worthy of commendationAurumSpecial mention, with Marika Huns and Hamish McGregorTown Without Pity: the Fight to Clear Stephen Downing of the Bakewell MurderCenturyShortlistAnthony Blunt, His LivesMacmillanShortlist2003Pointing from the Grave: a True Story of Murder and DNAHamish HamiltonWinnerImprint of the Raj: the Colonial Origin of Fingerprinting and its Voyage to BritainMacmillanShortlistJohn MurrayShortlistDoubledayShortlistWicked Beyond Belief: the Hunt for the Yorkshire RipperHarperCollinsShortlistGang War: the Inside Story of the Manchester GangsMilo BooksShortlist2004Cosa Nostra: A History of the Sicilian MafiaHodder & StoughtonWinnerJonathan CapeWinner and Damian LewisSlave: The True Story of a Girl's Lost Childhood and her Fight for SurvivalTime WarnerShortlistHamish HamiltonShortlistTelos PublishingShortlist2005On The Run: a Mafia childhoodHutchinsonWinnerHarperCollinsShortlistCenturyShortlistLittle, BrownShortlistHarperCollinsShortlist2006, Lee Sheldon, and Kathryn Abnet (The Borough of Barking and Dagenham)WinnerMichael JosephShortlistFourth EstateShortlistCanterbury PressShortlistAnd Then the Darkness: The Fascinating Story of the Disappearance of Peter Falconio and the Trials of Joanne LeesJohn BlakeShortlistUnder and Alone: The True Story of the Undercover Agent Who Infiltrated America's Most Violent Outlaw Motorcycle GangMainstreamShortlist2007Not awarded. It was decided that the award was to become a biennial award.2008Nationality: Wog - The Hounding of David OluwaleRandom HouseWinnerViolation: Justice, Race and Serial Murder in the Deep SouthHarperPressShortlistBantam PressShortlistAtlantic BooksShortlistBloomsburyShortlistInto the Darkness: 7/7Vintage BooksShortlist2009Not awarded as award had become biennial.2010Aftermath: The Omagh Bombing & the Families' Pursuit of JusticeHarvill SeckerWinnerDefending the GuiltyPenguin / VikingShortlistKilling TimeHeinemannShortlistMajor Farran's HatHeinemannShortlist, with Mario SpeziVirgin / Random HouseShortlistSimon & SchusterShortlist2011Simon & SchusterWinnerSlaughter on a Snowy MornIcon BooksShortlistHarperCollinsShortlistMr Briggs' HatLittle, BrownShortlistMichael JosephShortlist2012 and Robbyn SwanTransworldWinnerLittle, BrownHighly commended with Carol Ann LeeWitnessMainstreamShortlistHood RatPan MacmillanShortlistTo Live Outside the LawSerpent's TailShortlistDark MarketVintageShortlist2013Midnight in PekingPenguin / VikingWinnerPan MacmillanHighly commendedMainstreamShortlistInjustice: Life and Death in the Courtrooms of AmericaRandom HouseShortlistMurder at Wrotham HillQuercusShortlist with Damien LewisAgainst a Tide of EvilMainstreamShortlist2014 and Cathy Scott-ClarkVikingWinnerLife After Death: Eighteen Years on Death RowAtlantic BooksShortlistMansonSimon & SchusterShortlistDid She Kill Him?Little, Brown Book GroupShortlist and Rob EvansUndercover: The True Story of Britain's Secret PoliceFaber and FaberShortlistSimon & SchusterShortlist2015In Plain Sight: The Life and Lies of Jimmy SavileQuercusWinnerOne of Us: The Story of Anders Breivik and the Massacre in NorwayViragoShortlistJust Mercy: a story of justice and redemptionScribeShortlistGun Baby Gun: A Bloody Journey Into the World of the GunCanongateShortlistGhettoside: Investigating a Homicide EpidemicBodley HeadShortlistPenguinShortlist2016You Could Do Something Amazing With Your Life [You Are Raoul Moat]ScribeWinnerJohn le Carré: The BiographyBloomsburyShortlistFaber and FaberShortlistHarperCollinsShortlistJeremy Hutchinson’s Case HistoriesJohn MurrayShortlistSexy Beasts: The Hatton Garden MobQuercusShortlist2017Close but No Cigar: A True Story of Prison Life in Castro's CubaWeidenfeld & NicolsonWinnerJonathan CapeShortlistText PublishingShortlistAnother Day in the Death of AmericaGuardian / Faber and FaberShortlistBloomsburyShortlistThe History PressShortlist2018Blood on the PageWilliam HeinemannWinnerMacmillanShortlistKillers of the Flower MoonSimon & SchusterShortlistRex v Edith ThompsonHead of ZeusShortlistBlack Dahlia Red RoseCoronetShortlist and Ken ArmstrongHutchinsonShortlist2019VikingWinnerMurder by the BookVikingShortlistDoubledayShortlistHutchinsonShortlistCanongateShortlistAll That RemainsDoubledayShortlist2020Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud and the Last Trial of Harper LeeWilliam HeinemannWinnerProfile BooksShortlistHonour: Achieving Justice for Banaz MahmodOneworld PublicationsShortlistCorrupt BodiesIcon BooksShortlistSimon & SchusterShortlistPicadorShortlist2021Written in BoneDoubleday, PenguinWinnerThese Are Not Gentle PeopleMacLehoseShortlistWe Keep the Dead CloseWilliam Heinemann, PenguinShortlistAgent SonyaViking, PenguinShortlistDancing with the OctopusProfile BooksShortlistBloomsburyShortlist2022Profile BooksWinnerCanongateShortlistFaber and FaberShortlistAtlantic Books; Grove Press UKShortlistEmpire of PainPan Macmillan; PicadorShortlistPenguin Random House; Harvill SeckerShortlist2023Unlawful Killings: Life, Love and Murder: Trials at the Old BaileyTransworldWinnerTremors in the BloodHarperCollinsShortlistAbout a SonOrion Publishing GroupShortlistTo Hunt a KillerHarperCollinsShortlistHarperCollinsShortlistIcon BooksShortlist2024Ian Fleming: The Complete ManVintageWinnerSimon & SchusterShortlist with John MurrayNo Ordinary Day Ad Lib PublishersShortlist with Douglas ThompsonDevil’s CoinAd Lib PublishersShortlistSeventy Times SevenBedford Square PublishersShortlist and Keina YoshidaHow Many More Women? EndeavorShortlist2025Kate SummerscaleThe Peepshow: The Murders at 10 Rillington PlaceBloomsburyWinnerDuncan HardingThe Criminal MindPenguin - Michael JosephShortlistHenry HemmingFour Shots in the NightQuercusShortlistJeremy CraddockThe Lady in the LakeMirror BooksShortlistJohn Grisham and Jim McCloskeyFramedHodder & StoughtonShortlistJonathan Coffey and Judith MoritzUnmasking Lucy LetbyOrion Publishing Group - Seven DialsShortlist
Notes
References
External links CWA website: The CWA Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction