Crime Writers’ Association Announces 2026 Dagger Awards Shortlist

 

The shortlist for the Crime Writers’ Association’s prestigious
Dagger awards has been announced.

Created in 1955, the world-famous CWA Daggers are the oldest awards in the genre and have been synonymous with quality crime writing for over half a century.

This year’s shortlists showcase the range and depth of the genre, from historical fiction, to thrillers and classic whodunnits.

As well as championing established authors of the genre, it also provides a platform for debut and emerging talent.

Nadine Matheson, Chair of the CWA, said: "This year’s shortlist is a fantastic reflection of the extraordinary breadth and diversity of crime fiction today, and a celebration of authors from debuts to established names, whose creative talents ensure that the genre continues to grow from strength to strength.”

The coveted KAA Gold Dagger, sponsored by Kevin Anderson & Associates, is awarded for the best crime novel of the year.

Shortlisted novels are S.A Cosby with King of Ashes,
Abigail Dean’s The Death of Us, Holly Jackson with Not Quite Dead Yet, Vaseem Khan’s The Girl in Cell A, Ariel Lawhon with The Frozen and Lara Shepherd-Robinson’s The Art of a Lie, a novel that also makes the Historical Dagger shortlist.

S.A. Cosby is the only author to be shortlisted for an unprecedented three Dagger awards. As well as Gold, the American author of “Southern noir” is also in contention for the Short Story Dagger and the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger, which honours the best thriller of the year.

Also shortlisted for the Steel Dagger is the standalone thriller by BookTok sensation Noelle W Ihli, Such Quiet Girls inspired by the real-life 1976 Chowchilla kidnapping. She’s up against the global bestselling author Karin Slaughter for We Are All Guilty Here, Tariq Ashkanani’s The Midnight King, Robert Crais with The Big Empty, Mark Ezra’s A Sting in her Tale and
Liam McIlvanney’s The Good Father.

Joining Laura Shepherd-Robinson, authors Nina Allan, Rob McInroy, Donna Moore, Alan Parks and Sally Smith make the Historical Dagger shortlist.
The historical novels span 18th century London to 1920s Glasgow, from stories inspired by gritty true crimes to a cosy Christmas mystery.

The Twisted Dagger for psychological suspense shortlist features Sarah Pinborough, the author behind the New York Times bestselling breakout novel (and hit Netflix show) Behind Her Eyes with a haunting Gothic novel, We Live Here Now. She’s up against Kia Abdullah, Nicci Cloke, Fiona Cummins, Carole Hailey and Sam Lloyd.

The Whodunnit Dagger for books with an intellectual challenge at the heart of a good mystery, sees Alexandra Benedict, Victoria Goldman, Anna Fitzgerald Healy, Robert Holtom, Mel Pennant and CJ Wray in the running.

The global reach of the genre is showcased in the Crime Fiction in Translation Dagger.

International authors include two German writers - Karsten Dusse with his bestselling dark comedy series, Murder Mindfully and Leonie Swann with her mystery novel, Big Bad Wool, the anticipated follow-up to her breakout hit, Three Bags Full that follows a flock of sheep as they try to solve a murder.

The shortlist also sees Norway’s Jørn Lier Horst, the Croatian writer and journalist Jurica Pavicic, Finland’s Antti Tuomainen, and Strange Pictures – a novel from the Japanese YouTuber and writer, Uketsu.

Their translators are also recognised in the award, which is sponsored in honour of Dolores Jakubowski.

The ALCS Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction includes The Spy in the Archive by Gordon Corera and Shaun Walker’s The Illegals, profiling Russia’s most audacious spies, reflecting the enduring fascination with espionage and true crime, alongside Shadow of The Bridge by Áine Cain and Kevin Greenlee, John Curran’s The Murder Game, Caroline Fraser’s Murderland, and
Susannah Stapleton with That Dark Spring.

The Short Story Dagger features S.A. Cosby, alongside the acclaimed Scottish author Denise Mina and the bestselling Abir Mukherjee.
The Daggers are one of the few high-profile awards celebrating short-form storytelling.

The Dagger in the Library, voted for by librarians, recognises authors whose bodies of work have resonated with readers over time. On this year’s shortlist are Paula Hawkins, best known for her huge hit, Girl on the Train alongside JD Kirk, Clare Mackintosh, Freida McFadden, Abir Mukherjee and Tim Sullivan.

The CWA Daggers are also known for providing a platform for emerging talent, with the much-anticipated ILP John Creasey First Novel Dagger and the Emerging Author Dagger competition, sponsored by Fiction Feedback; over two dozen past winners and shortlisted debut authors have signed publishing deals to date.

The Best Crime and Mystery Publisher category recognises the publishers behind the genre’s success, with leading imprints including Faber & Faber, Pan Macmillan, and Simon & Schuster shortlisted against Bitter Lemon Press, No Exit Press and Viper.

The CWA Diamond Dagger, sponsored by Karen Baugh Menuhin, is awarded to an author whose crime-writing career has been marked by sustained excellence, is announced in early spring and in 2026 was awarded to Mark Billingham.

The winners are announced at the CWA gala dinner awards night in July.

The shortlists in full:

CWA KAA Gold Dagger

S. A. Cosby King of Ashes (Headline)

Abigail Dean The Death of Us (HarperCollins/Hemlock Press)

Holly Jackson Not Quite Dead Yet (Penguin Random House/Michael Joseph)

Vaseem Khan The Girl in Cell A (Hodder Fiction).

Ariel Lawhon The Frozen (River Swift Press)

Laura Shepherd-Robinson The Art of a Lie (Pan Macmillan/Mantle)

Ian Fleming Steel Dagger

Tariq Ashkanani The Midnight King (Profile Books/Viper)

S. A. Cosby King of Ashes (Headline)

Robert Crais The Big Empty (Simon & Schuster UK)

Mark Ezra A Sting in her Tale (Bedford Square Publishers/ No Exit Press)

Noelle W Ihli Such Quiet Girls (Pan Macmillan/ Pan)

Liam McIlvanney The Good Father (Bonnier Books UK/Zaffre)

Karin Slaughter We Are All Guilty Here (HarperCollins Publishers)

ALCS Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction

Áine Cain and Kevin Greenlee Shadow of The Bridge: The Delphi Murders and The Dark Side of The American Heartland (Pegasus Books/Pegasus Crime)

Gordon Corera The Spy in the Archive: How One Man Tried to Kill the KGB (HarperCollins/ William Collins)

John Curran The Murder Game (HarperCollins/Collins Crime Club)

Caroline Fraser Murderland (Little, Brown Book Group/Fleet)

Susannah Stapleton That Dark Spring (Pan Macmillan/Picador)

Shaun Walker The Illegals (Profile Books)

Historical Dagger

Nina Allan A Granite Silence (Quercus/riverrun)

Rob McInroy Barvick Falls (Tippermuir Books)

Donna Moore The Devil's Draper (Fly on the Wall Press)

Alan Parks Gunner (John Murray Press/Baskerville)

Laura Shepherd-Robinson The Art of a Lie (Pan Macmillan/Mangle)

Sally Smith A Case of Life and Limb (Bloomsbury Publishing/Raven Books)

Crime Fiction in Translation Dagger

Karsten Dusse Murder Mindfully (Faber) translated by Florian Duijsens

Jørn Lier Horst The Lake (Penguin Random House) translated by Anne Bruce

Jurica Pavicic Red Water (Bitter Lemon Press) translated by Matt Robinson

Leonie Swann Big Bad Wool (Allison & Busby) translated by Amy Bojang

Antti Tuomainen The Winter Job (Orenda Books) translated by David Hackston

Uketsu Strange Pictures (Pushkin Press) translated by Jim Rion

Whodunnit Dagger

Alexandra Benedict The Christmas Cracker Killer  (Simon & Schuster UK)

Victoria Goldman Little Secrets (Three Crowns Publishing UK/self-published)

Anna Fitzgerald Healy Etiquette for Lovers & Killers (Little, Brown Book Group/Fleet)

Robert Holtom A Queer Case (Titan Books)

Mel Pennant A Murder for Miss Hortense (John Murray Press/Baskerville)

CJ Wray Bad Influence (Orion Fiction)

Twisted Dagger

Kia Abdullah What Happens in the Dark (HarperCollins/HQ Ficiton)

Nicci Cloke Her Many Faces (Penguin Random House UK/Harvill)

Fiona Cummins Some of Us are Liars (Pan Macmillan/Macmillan)

Carole Hailey Scenes From A Tragedy (Atlantic Books/Corvus)

Sam Lloyd The Bodies (Transworld/Bantam)

Sarah Pinborough We Live Here Now (Orion Fiction)

ILP John Creasey (First Novel) Dagger

Sam Guthrie The Peak (HarperCollins Publishers)

Elspeth Latimer The Lost Detective (Story Machine)

Laura McCluskey The Wolf Tree (HarperCollins/Hemlock Press)

Zoë Rankin The Vanishing Place (Profile Books/Viper)

Bailey Seybolt Coram House (Bloomsbury Publishing/Raven Books)

Henry Wise Holy City (Bedford Square Publishers/No Exit Press)

Short Story Dagger

SA Cosby ‘Split Your Silver Tongue’ in Birds, Strangers and Psychos (No Exit Press)

Denise Mina ‘The Karpman Drama Triangle’ in Birds, Strangers and Psychos (No Exit Press)

Abir Mukherjee ‘Full Circle’ in Playing Dead: Short Stories by Members of the Detection Club (Severn House)

Ambrose Perry ‘The Apple Falls Not Far’ (Canongate)

Peter Swanson ‘Strangers on a School Bus’ in Birds, Strangers and Psychos (No Exit Press)

Michael Wood ‘Waiting’ in Criminal Pursuits: This Is Me (Telos Publishing)

Emerging Author

Rod Cookson, Ill Met By Murder

Sophia Georghiou, The Man Who Fit the Case

Kate Koester, Just a Simple Wedding

Lorna Mathew, The Fixer

Rebecca McFarland, The Madam of Morningside

Michael Nikitin, Blind Side of the Sun

Melisssa Smith, The Pattern of Absence

Dagger in the Library

Paula Hawkins

JD Kirk

Clare Mackintosh

Freida McFadden

Abir Mukherjee

Tim Sullivan

Best Crime & Mystery Publisher

Bitter Lemon Press

Faber & Faber

No Exit Press (Bedford Square)

Pan Macmillan

Simon & Schuster

Viper (Profile Books)

‘Heroica’ by Alison Morton

Published by Pulcheria Press,
10 May 2026.
ISBN: 9791097310424 (PB)

Heroica is the latest book in the alternative history series based on the concept that when the Roman Empire was crumbling a group of the foremost families fled and established a new country, Roma Nova. This small but prosperous country has always been ruled along traditional Roman lines by the women who are the heads of the founding families and this method of government has continued until the present day. Roma Nova has become a blend of the past and present as they practise traditional religious rites alongside utilising their groundbreaking technology and ruthless military and espionage abilities.

Heroica consists of three short stories, all dealing with different aspects of challenges to the political integrity of Roma Nova. The first story is set in 2020 and is titled Revolution? The protagonist is Carina Mitela, an officer in the Praetorian Guard, who is also heir to one of the most influential families in the country. Carina is sent to Brancadorum, an agricultural backwater, to investigate reports that a rabble rouser is creating dissatisfaction among the people by playing on their weaknesses and spreading the belief that the government is using the poor workers to enrich themselves. Carina knows that this narrative is false but she is also aware that it could lead to riots, and even to revolution. Carina goes to Brancadorum in the guise of a market researcher, a persona she finds hard to maintain when a thug acting as an enforcer for the main agitator threatens her and she has pretend to be afraid, even though her military training has prepared her to deal with far tougher opponents than this ruffian. Despite getting caught up in a riot, Carina manages to bring her mission to a successful conclusion, but in doing so she comes by a piece of information that could have disquieting implications for her family. 

The second story Honoria’s Battle is set in 1683 when Honoria Mitela, the chief of intelligencers, is summoned to interrogate a spy who is believed to work for an ally of the Ottoman Empire, which is threatening to overrun much of Europe. This is a meeting that will change Honoria’s life. A few months later Honoria is leading troops to help defend Vienna from the Ottomans, utilising the innovations that Roma Nova have developed. 

The third and final story is called The Idealist and it begins in the present day with Carina as the protagonist. Carina has succeeded her grandmother as the head of the Mitela family when a discovery in the archives threatens everything that she and her family have built up over the generations. The story moves to the outskirts of Rome in 1849 and features a second protagonist, Statia Mitela, who is the head of the family. In this story, Statia makes a courageous decision that is rooted more in idealism than in political expediency, which could have grave implications for not only for Statia herself but for the Mitela family right through to the twenty-first century. 

Heroica is a fascinating trilogy of stories in which the political framework of the past has relevance to present times. The protagonists are not merely strong courageous women, but also women who are accustomed to wielding power and making hard choices and who accept accountability for their decisions. The three stories form into a fast-paced political thriller because there is a central theme that links the stories. Heroica is the latest addition to the books featuring Roma Nova and the Mitela family. It is a great addition to the series for those who are familiar with the earlier Roma Nova books, and enjoyable as a stand-alone for those who have that pleasure yet to come. I recommend Heroica to any reader who is looking for an enjoyable and exciting read that explores some important and recurring political themes in the setting of alternative history.
--------
Reviewer: Carol Westron

Alison Morton writes award-winning thrillers featuring tough but compassionate heroines. She lives in Poitou in France, the home of Mélisende, the heroine of her latest three contemporary thrillers, Double Identity, Double Pursuit and Double Stakes. Her eleven-book Roma Nova thriller series is set in an imaginary European country where a remnant of the ancient Roman Empire has survived into the 21st century and is ruled by women who face conspiracy, revolution and heartache but with a sharp line in dialogue. Six years’ military service, a fascinating with ancient Rome and a life of reading crime, historical and thriller fiction have inspired her writing. On the way, she collected a BA in modern languages and an MA in history. For the latest news, subscribe to her newsletter at

 https://www.alison-morton.com/newsletter

Carol Westron is a Golden Age expert who has written many articles on the subject and given papers at several conferences. She is the author of several series: contemporary detective stories and police procedurals, comedy crime and Victorian Murder Mysteries. Her most recent publications are Paddling in the Dead Sea and Delivering Lazarus, books 2 and 3 of the Galmouth Mysteries, the series which began with The Fragility of Poppies. 

www.carolwestron.com 

‘Lost Girls’ by Charlotte Philby

Published by Baskerville,
12 March 2026.
ISBN: 978-1-399-81212-2 (HB)

Serious Crime Investigator DS Madeleine Farrow is in Dubai when she is awakened by a call from her colleague Jonny Robertson advising her that the Swedish Ambassador’s daughter Freya Sjoberg has disappeared from her prestigious school in London and they could do with her help to find her. So far there has not been a ransom demand. She seems to have just disappeared. It’s Wimpole Girls school, isn’t that where your niece goes? says Jonny. As a former pupil of Wimpole Girls school, Madeleine has only painful memories of her time there. But even worse is to come.  Constance Fairweather is now head of the school and was no friend to her.

 As Madeleine heads back to London, she muses on her situation, she has reaches the big 50 and has to decide whether to apply for promotion to D.I. which would mean a managerial role or remain in her role within the Serious Crime Investigation Department working in the field. Whilst pondering on that decision she is also aware that she must visit her boss Paul Ritter, who is terminally ill in hospital. She just keeps putting it off! 

For assistance in finding missing Freya Sjoberg, she calls on young Ramona Chang, a former journalist, now a private investigator who is currently facing a charge of manslaughter after she killed a gang member in self-defence.  Pleading guilty to manslaughter she knows that she will most likely be facing a prison sentence. Things are not going well for Ramona as she is now being evicted from her flat at the end of the week. Can things get any worse?  Will gangster Michael O’Keegan now send someone else to kill her after she killed his brother. Daniel. 

With no ransom request, has Freya run away? The last person to actually speak to Freya during games lesson at a nearby park was teacher Sarah Booth.  Madeleine senses that there is something the teacher is not telling her and gets Jonny to do a bit of digging into her past. 

Cleverly and intricately plotted this is a page turner. There are several different threads running though this book.  A compelling read. Highly recommended.
-------
Reviewer: Lizzie Sirett 

Charlotte Philby worked for the Independent for eight years, as a columnist, editor and reporter, and was shortlisted for the Cudlipp Prize at the 2013 Press Awards for her investigative journalism. Founder of the online platform Motherland.net, she regularly contributes to the Guardian and iNews, as well as the BBC World Service, Channel 4 and Woman's Hour. She has three children and lives in London. Charlotte is the granddaughter of Kim Philby, Britain’s most famous communist double-agent. 

‘Death in a Shetland Family’ by Marsali Taylor

Published by Headline Accent,
16 April 2026.
ISBN: 978-1-0354-3627-9 (PB)

Shetland's sailor sleuth Cass Lynch is home from the sea and looking forward to spending a few days with her partner, policeman Gavin Macrae, but the best laid plans don't always work out. Gavin has been called away; his mother has been taken ill, and Cass comes home to an empty house and a list of unfamiliar chores. On the way, an encounter with a runaway horse will lead to unexpected ramifications, though she doesn't know that yet. That evening she meets the horse's owner and is unimpressed by his suave attitude and very un-Shetland demeanour. He has recently returned to the island after forging (or failing to forge) a career in England and has made himself unpopular. 

A day later the same man's murdered body is discovered – and it becomes evident that Cass was one of the last people to see him alive. With Gavin away and an investigation team brought in from mainland Scotland, Cass's local knowledge and easy-to-talk-to manner mean she is soon doing what she does best, apart from sailing of course: gathering pieces of information everywhere she goes and putting them together.  

As always in one of Marsali Taylor's novels, there's plenty of sailing. Cass is glad to be reunited with her own beloved yacht Khalida, and there are trips to look forward to on her new ship the Shetland-based Swan. There's also Shetland itself: the variety of lifestyles, the country shows, the harvest festivals, all described in the kind of detail that makes you feel you're right there in the middle of it. And it seems that everywhere she goes on land or at sea, something significant occurs or Cass happens upon someone who has new light to throw on the murder. 

We meet plenty of familiar characters: Magnie, Cass's retired fisherman friend; Anders the Norwegian engineer; Cass's father and redoubtable Maman; Freya Petersen, Gavin's super-efficient sergeant. The family of the murdered man figure as strongly as you might expect: his stern mother, alcoholic brother and fragile sister; also, his neighbours: Mattie, who is in love with the brother's estranged wife, and observant Mary, who lives according to strict religious principles. Everyone is as rounded as regular readers have come to expect, with the ring of reality; there's good in all the bad guys and no one is perfect. 

It's all set against a background unfamiliar to both Cass and her legions of fans: the croft where Cass and Gavin's cottage is situated. In Gavin's absence she finds herself learning more than she bargains for, about feeding, counting and rounding up a whole troop of animals: ponies, hens, sheep and of course the cats. 

Naturally, the information Cass gathers plays a key role in solving the murder, and as always she finds herself in trouble and gets out of it with ingenuity and courage. And there's a hint – just a hint – at the end that there are plenty more adventures in store. I couldn't be more glad of that.
----------
Reviewer: Lynne Patrick 

Marsali Taylor grew up near Edinburgh and came to Shetland as a newly-qualified teacher. She is currently a part-time teacher on Shetland's scenic west side, living with her husband and two Shetland ponies. Marsali is a qualified STGA tourist-guide who is fascinated by history, and has published plays in Shetland's distinctive dialect, as well as a history of women's suffrage in Shetland. She's also a keen sailor who enjoys exploring in her own 8m yacht, and an active member of her local drama group.  

www.marsalitaylor.co.uk

Lynne Patrick has been a writer ever since she could pick up a pen, and has enjoyed success with short stories, reviews and feature journalism, but never, alas, with a novel. She crossed to the dark side to become a publisher for a few years and is proud to have launched several careers which are now burgeoning. She lives in Oxfordshire in a house groaning with books, about half of them crime fiction.

‘One By One’ by Sam Frances

Published by Headline Accent,
4 December 2025.
ISBN: 978-103541844-4 (PB)

When Detective Sergeant Alice Washington joins the team tasked with policing a rock festival in high summer, the last thing she needs is the lead band The Dolls receiving death threats as they plan their revival. Well, perhaps not quite the last; it would help if Roy, her DC, wasn't being so holier-than-thou about his new health kick. And keep his trousers hoisted instead of displaying more than she needs to see of his nether regions.

The death threats appear to be linked to the murder ten years ago of The Dolls' lead singer. It seemed to be an open-and-shut case, and the singer's erstwhile best friend is currently serving a life sentence, but to Alice something doesn't quite sit right about that. To Alice – but to nobody else, especially the top brass. Her one potential ally, DI Jane Josephs, is on leave, and the other senior officer on the team is a mysoginist who prides himself on his lack of political correctness, and dismisses her reservations. But Alice is convinced she's right, and that the cases are linked, and that's the line of enquiry she's determined to pursue. It doesn't help that recent events in the area have made the police appear untrustworthy. Or that her dad, a retired superintendent, was involved in the earlier investigation. But when she gets the bit between her teeth, she doesn't hold back. 

For me, and I'm sure for many other readers, a key factor in enjoying a crime novel is the characters. One By One is brimming with them: maverick smart-mouth Alice, over-keen PCSO Eddie, taciturn Bret her colleague and promotion rival, feckless Judith, mother of the singer's supposed killer ten years ago. Even Mr Logan, the primary school teacher who has nothing to do with the case, has a distinct personality. The Dolls themselves are very much individuals: fey Tabby the poor little rich girl; Geordie Nush whose background is very different, ambitious and acerbic Em. Sherrie the band's manager could double as a bouncer; Manu their actual bouncer is clearly hiding something behind a buttoned-up exterior; Ryan the band member who didn't come back is all about family these days. And then there's Kit, a journalist following the band's progress. There's something odd about Kit.  

There's a twisty plot too, of course: another staple of a successful crime novel. Just when you think you've got it sussed, another bend in road takes you off in a new direction. One by One is only Sam Frances's second novel; I have a feeling we'll be seeing more of her.
--------
Reviewer: Lynne Patrick 

Sam Frances is a British crime thriller author from Tyne and Wear. She writes stories that combine her love of sardonic characters with her background in policing and lives in London with her partner. When not writing (or daydreaming about writing or listening to writing podcasts), she can usually be found no more than 9-10 metres from a block of cheese, either in deep conversation with one of her cats, or playing a musical instrument poorly. Author of the DS Alice Washington books, All Eyes on You was her debut novel, followed by the second in the series, One by One. You can find her on Instagram and X @SamFranWriter. 

Lynne Patrick has been a writer ever since she could pick up a pen, and has enjoyed success with short stories, reviews and feature journalism, but never, alas, with a novel. She crossed to the dark side to become a publisher for a few years and is proud to have launched several careers which are now burgeoning. She lives in Oxfordshire in a house groaning with books, about half of them crime fiction.

Coming Soon: 'A Deadly Summer' by Claire Back

Published by Cranthorpe Millner Publishers

30 June 2026

When disillusioned detective Nia Tremeyrick stumbles upon a

30-year-old cold case in her Pembrokeshire seaside town, she

relishes the chance to prove herself to her arrogant male colleagues.
But with the identity of the victim remaining a mystery, and her own family drama dragging her down, she is struggling to piece together the truth.
Meanwhile, back in 1984, bookish teenager Cerys Pritchard is expecting an uneventful summer, until she is persuaded to attend an illicit party in an abandoned hotel by her rebellious new friend
Kay Abbot.
By the end of summer, one of them will be dead. As Nia digs deeper, she fears the case that was supposed to make her career will turn out to be her worst nightmare.
But who was killed that deadly summer? And why?

Claire Back was born and raised in Pembrokeshire, and has always felt a deep connection to this part of the Welsh coastline. After a successful career in finance, she retrained to work in Early Years education. She is currently writing her second novel - another mystery set in wartime Wales. A keen walker and gardener, she lives with her husband and two spaniels in Wrexham. Her debut novel, A Deadly Summer (2026) is described as a cross between ITV’s Broadchurch and Unforgotten. The story is an atmospheric dual-timeline mystery set on the rugged Pembrokeshire coast between 1984 and 2015. It follows Detective Nia Tremeyrick as she investigates a 30-year-old cold case that unearths buried trauma and lifelong secrets within a small seaside community.

News From Bloody Scotland

 

We wanted to let you know that there will be four more early release headliners in the next few weeks, starting today with the first visit to Stirling from one of the world’s most lauded crime writers, Tana French.  

 

Buy Tickets for Denise Mina Presents Tana French

The other early release headliners will be released at noon on 21st, 26th and 28th May. You can find out who our early Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky & Twitter. The rest of our brilliant, jam packed programme will be  announced at noon on the 4th of June and tickets will be available immediately - so get that date in your diary now.  For more information about Bloody Scotland and to  view our upcoming events, visit: www.bloodyscotland.com

Visit: Bloodyscotland.com

 

 

‘Murder At Vigna D’Oro by Camilla Trinchieri

Published by Allison & Busby,
19 March 2026.
ISBN: 978-0-7490-3358-3 (PB)
Originally Published as
The Bitter Taste of Murder 2021

In Murder at Vigno D’oro we are back in Gravigna, a small, wine-producing, medieval town in the Chianti Hills of Tuscany. Nico Doyle, ex NYPD detective, and his seemingly psychic, four-legged friend OneWag, are now well settled members of the community with Nico routinely helping out at the Trattoria run by his late wife’s sister Tilde and her husband Enzo.  All is peaceful until several people hear Nico’s landlord, Aldo, threatening to kill Michele Manetti a prestigious wine critic.  Then trouble descends on the town. 

When Manetti dies after being poisoned and driving his car down a cliff, Aldo becomes the prime suspect. Delle Langhe, the superior officer at provincial police headquarters insists that Aldo is arrested and taken to the cells in Florence. The discovery that Manetti had an affair with Aldo’s wife, Cinzia, and that she had been his one and only great love, did nothing to help Aldo’s case. Neither Nico, nor the local police, Salvatore Perillo and his sensitive, young assistant Daniel are convinced of Aldo’s guilt.  The three of them start looking for other suspects of whom there are plenty. To start with there is the dead man’s ex-wife Diane. She will inherit all Manetti’s money and property. Then there is Manetti’s young, drug-taking and very beautiful girlfriend, Loredana whom he has just rejected. Also in the queue is Peppino, the old caretaker, whose entire life and love has been expended on looking after Manetti’s house and garden. He was heartbroken when Manetti cast him out on the streets. Then there is one local grower, Verdini, and two other vine growers who all owe money to Manetti. 

Investigations take place against the background buzz of a small town where everybody knows everyone else and everybody else’s business.  Information and banter are exchanged over breakfast, lunch and evening meals at which delicious recipes are often revealed. The young constable Daniel has a sensitive soul and is convinced that somebody as beautiful as Loredana could not murder anyone. He is very upset when she is eventually murdered. On the lighter side, romance is blooming very slowly between Daniel and Stella – Nico’s niece and Enzo and Tilde’s daughter. Nico is struggling to overcome feelings of disloyalty to his forma wife, Rita, over the awakening feelings he has for the kind and generous artist Nelli.  It’s a pity that OneWag, the small dog who has adopted Nico/been adopted by Nico, can’t talk.  Generally speaking, he seems to have a very sensible head on his shoulders. All in all, this is an absolutely charming book of many varied parts.  Whilst Murder at Vigno D’Ora is part of a series, it can easily be read as a standalone. Once you have read one book though, you will likely be drawn to the others.
 ---------

Reviewer: Angela Crowther 

Camilla Trichieri  was born in Prague to an Italian diplomat father and an American mother. Camilla came to the U.S. when she was twelve and returned to Italy after she graduated from Barnard College. In Rome she worked in the movie industry as a dubbing producerdirector with Federico Fellini, Luchino Visconti, Lina Wertmüller and many others. She came back to New York City in 1980, married, received an MFA from the Columbia's Graduate Writing program and became an American citizen. Under the pseudonym Camilla Crespi, she has published seven novels in “The Trouble With” mystery series, featuring Simona Griffo, a nosy Italian immigrant who loves to cook. The Breakfast Club Murder, featuring caterer Lori Corvino, was published in February, 2014. As Camilla Trinchieri, her own name, The Price of Silence was published by Soho Press in 2007. Seeking Alice, a fictionalized account of her mother’s life in Europe during WWII, was published by SUNY Press in 2016. Both have been translated and published in Italy. She followed with a Tuscan mystery series featuring Nico Doyle a New York ex-homicide detective and Maresciallo dei Carabinieri Salvatore Perillo. Soho Press published Murder in Chianti in 2020. There are six books in the series.

Angela Crowther is a retired scientist.  She has published many scientific papers but, as yet, no crime fiction.  In her spare time Angela belongs to a Handbell Ringing group, goes country dancing and enjoys listening to music, particularly the operas of Verdi and Wagner.

‘Head Hunting’ by Chris Blackwater

Published by Catisfield Books,
10 April 2026.
ISBN: 978-1-73930504-8 (PB)

After Danny Verity left the army, he became a medic on a North Sea oil rig. The events that occurred there resulted in two important changes in Danny’s life. One was that he made another career move and became a Private Investigator, although his work often involved the oil industry. The second significant change was Danny’s meeting and subsequent friendship with Gemma Gauld, a feisty Scottish oil worker who takes outspokenness and attitude to a new level. 

Gemma is offshore working on an oil rig when Danny is approached by Marissa Ling, who asks him to investigate her uncle’s murder in the rainforest of Borneo. It sounds like an interesting and lucrative case but, from the first, Danny has reservations. He has encountered Marissa before and knows that although she is beautiful, well-born and wealthy, she is also manipulative, devious and ruthless, as well as being rather too dependent on alcohol. The investigation into the murder is far from simple, because Marissa’s uncle, Joash Ling, was a man who had spent his life making enemies. His body had been discovered in the Borneo rainforest that he had been deforesting for financial gain, and the state of his body indicated that he had been killed by one of the indigenous tribes that still cling to elements of their traditional life in the rainforest. Danny understands why Marissa selected him to investigate when his first task is to work as the medic on a local oil rig, the condition of which makes the North Sea rigs seem luxurious. The only clue that Marissa has given him about who he is supposed to contact is an oblique hint about Narnia. 

Gemma’s job ends early and she accepts Marissa’s invitation to join the investigation and leaves wet, cold Aberdeen for the heat and luxury of the private island in Borneo that had belonged to Marissa’s uncle. At the airport she is greeted by Mikhail Ling, Marissa’s brother, an undeniably attractive young man, and the tough and unsentimental Gemma suddenly starts to fantasise about marrying into a noble family and living in luxury. 

As Gemma and Danny probe into Joash’s life they discover that there are many motives for his murder, ranging from abusive family relationships to war crimes, their only problem is to sort out who amongst all the people who had reason to want revenge on Joash had turned their hatred into action. Gemma’s dreams of a life of luxury soon vanish when she and Mikhail have to head into the rainforest to inspect the place where Joash’s body had been discovered.  

Danny returns from the oil rig and he, Gemma and Mikhail embark on a perilous, high-speed adventure to probe Joash’s secrets and discover which one of them was responsible for his death. As they move closer to the truth it becomes evident that nothing is as it seemed at first glance, and numerous dangerous people are trying to prevent them from finding out the truth. Soon Danny and Gemma are uncertain who they can truly trust, apart from each other, and their lives are very much on the line. 

Head Hunting is the third novel featuring Danny Verity and Gemma Gauld. The protagonists are engaging, They have many flaws, but their basic integrity is unimpeachable, and they develop and grow stronger all the time. Gemma and Danny are very different characters, which means they have their differences: Gemma thinks that Danny is too soft because he flinches from leaving an enemy to bleed to death, and Danny considers Gemma to be too ruthless, impulsive and eager to plunge into unwise action. However, they know that they can totally trust each other, as Danny puts it: ‘Gemma always had his back, whereas Marissa was more likely to put a knife in it’. The witty dialogue and humorous action is one of the delights of this book, and the description of Gemma trekking through the rainforest wearing ill-fitting native costume made me laugh out loud. The pace of the book is fast-moving and superbly timed, moving skilfully between the two viewpoint protagonists. Head Hunting is a darkly humorous page-turner, which I wholeheartedly recommend.
--------
Reviewer: Carol Westron 

Chris Blackwater is a chartered engineer from Leeds. He began writing to entertain himself while working away on offshore oil platforms, power stations and shipyards. His career has taken him all over the world to many unusual locations and introduced him to some remarkable characters. His short stories have appeared in a variety of publications and anthologies. In recent years Chris has gradually drifted down to the south coast of England where he now spends his spare time kayaking and sailing on the Solent. Emergency Drill is his first book. 

Carol Westron is a Golden Age expert who has written many articles on the subject and given papers at several conferences. She is the author of several series: contemporary detective stories and police procedurals, comedy crime and Victorian Murder Mysteries. Her most recent publications are Paddling in the Dead Sea and Delivering Lazarus, books 2 and 3 of the Galmouth Mysteries, the series which began with The Fragility of Poppies. 

www.carolwestron.com