The Dagger Comes for Cole

UK crime writer Martina Cole has been announced as the winner of the 2021 Diamond Dagger, a coveted commendation presented by the Crime Writers’ Association. A press release explains:

The long-reigning Queen of Crime Drama is a publishing powerhouse. Martina has written 25 novels, all published by Headline, seventeen of which reached No.1 and her books have collectively spent over 4 years in the bestseller charts. Total sales stand at over 17 million copies, making her Britain’s bestselling female crime writer and with The Faithless [2011] she became the first British female adult audience novelist to break the £50 million sales mark since Nielsen Bookscan records began. Her books have been translated into 31 languages and adapted for multiple stage plays and television series.

That release includes a quote from the author herself: “It means so much to me to be receiving this prestigious award from my peers at the CWA. I can’t believe it’s nearly thirty years since Dangerous Lady was published—some people dismissed me as an Essex girl and a one-book wonder—but as one of my favourite songs goes: ‘I’m still here’!”

The Diamond Dagger is given out annually to fictionists “whose crime-writing careers have been marked by sustained excellence, and who have made a significant contribution to crime fiction writing.” Previous recipients include P.D. James, John le Carré, Sara Paretsky, Peter Lovesey, Andrew Taylor, Sue Grafton, Lee Child, Ann Cleeves, and last year’s honoree, Martin Edwards.

Cole will receive her commendation during a special Dagger Awards ceremony to take place in October.