The CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger

The CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger lifetime achievement award was established in 1986. The CWA committee selects writers nominated by the membership. 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 fiction published in the English language, whether originally or in translation.

• 2009 Andrew Taylor
• 2008 Sue Grafton
• 2007 John Harvey
• 2006 Elmore Leonard
• 2005 Ian Rankin
• 2004 Lawrence Block
• 2003 Robert Barnard
• 2002 Sara Paretsky
• 2001 Lionel Davidson
• 2000 Peter Lovesey
• 1999 Margaret Yorke
• 1998 Ed McBain
• 1997 Colin Dexter
• 1996 H.R.F. Keating
• 1995 Reginald Hill
• 1994 Michael Gilbert
• 1993 Edith Pargeter (Ellis Peters)
• 1992 Leslie Charteris
• 1991 Ruth Rendell
• 1990 Julian Symons
• 1989 Dick Francis
• 1988 John le Carr
• 1987 P D James
• 1986 Eric Ambler