We are delighted to share the news that The Malt Whisky Murders, the much-acclaimed debut novel by Natalie Jayne Clark, which has today been longlisted for the Crime Writers’ Association ILP John Creasey First Novel Dagger.

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 longlists showcase the breadth of talent from internationally bestselling authors to emerging debuts.  

Nadine Matheson, Chair of the CWA, said: Congratulations to every author who appears on this year’s Dagger Awards longlist. A longlist recognition is no small thing and speaks to the dedication, craft, and ambition that goes into every book. This year’s longlist also reflects something that excites me deeply as Chair of the CWA; the extraordinary range and evolution of crime writing today. The genre continues to grow in breadth, in voice, and in ambition, and this longlist is a testament to that.”  

The Malt Whisky Murders was also shortlisted recently for the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize and was one of our most popular titles of 2025. Congratulations to Natalie and all the other longlisted authors!