CWA Diamond Dagger: Mark Billingham

Crime Writers' Association (CWA) 2026 Diamond Dagger. This award “recognises authors whose crime-writing careers have been marked by sustained excellence, and who have made a significant contribution to the genre.” 

MARK BILLINGHAM

Sleepyhead introduced Detective Inspector Tom Thorne, leading to a further 18 books in Billingham's series, which was adapted to screen by Sky 1 in 2010, starring David Morrissey as Thorne. The latest Thorne book, What the Night Brings, was published in June 2025 - Billingham’s 25th book.

Mark Billingham said: “Presuming this is not an administrative error, I could not be more thrilled or honoured. To be added to a list that features most of my literary heroes is fantastic. That so many are also friends is the icing on the cake and, for me, a mark of how very special the crime-writing community is.”

HT: The Rap Sheet

Theakstons Crime Novel of the Year

Mark Billingham has won this year's Theakstons Crime Novel of the Year for Death Message. This was awarded at the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival.

For the complete list of nominees, go here.

Congratulations!