Monday 5 March 2018

Michael Connelly honoured with CWA Diamond Dagger



The Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) will award the CWA Diamond Dagger, given annually for “sustained excellence”, to US author Michael Connelly.

The prize recognises crime authors “who have made a significant contribution to the genre”, with previous recipients including P D James, John le Carré, Dick Francis, Ruth Rendell, Lee Child and Ann Cleeves.

Connelly will be presented with the highest honour in British crime writing at the CWA’s Dagger Awards ceremony in London on 25th October.

Martin Edwards, chair of the CWA, said: “Michael Connelly’s crime novels have won international acclaim for more than a quarter century, and have given readers, television viewers, and film fans rich entertainment. 

A combination of wonderful characters, vivid settings, and gripping storylines characterises his work. The CWA is delighted to celebrate his achievements with the award of the Diamond Dagger.”

Connelly described the award as “truly exciting”.

The Philadelphia-born writer said: “How can a writer who writes about a guy trying make sense of things in Los Angeles ever expect to receive recognition from such a fine group from so far away? It's beyond anything I could have imagined, and I am very honoured and humbled.”

The former newspaper reporter has written 31 novels and one work of non-fiction.

His first novel, The Black Echo (Little, Brown), published in 1992, introduced Hieronymus ‘Harry’ Bosch and won an Edgar for the best first novel. Two of his books have been adapted for film and in 2016 Connelly produced his own TV series, Bosch, for Amazon with the show now in its fourth season.

He embarked on a new series with Orion last year, as well as publishing a further Harry
Bosch novel.

The CWA Diamond Dagger is selected from nominations provided by its members. Nominees have to meet two essential criteria: first, their careers must be marked by sustained excellence, and second, they must have made a significant contribution to crime writing published in the English language.

No comments: