'Slow Horses' Author Mick Herron Wins Crime Writing Lifetime Achievement Award
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Loading... - Nicholas Leos
- 24 Jan 2025
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Mick Herron, the acclaimed British crime novelist known for his Slough House spy series, has been awarded the prestigious Diamond Dagger by the Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) for his lifetime contribution to crime writing. This honor is considered the highest accolade in UK crime fiction.
At 61 years old, Herron has made a significant impact on the genre, particularly with his Slough House series, which began with the novel Slow Horses published in 2010. The series has gained widespread popularity and has been adapted into a successful television show featuring stars like Gary Oldman, Jack Lowden, and Kristin Scott Thomas. The upcoming 14th installment, titled Clown Town, is set to be released this year.
Herron's second novel in the Slough House series earned him the CWA’s Gold Dagger award in 2013, recognizing it as the best crime novel of the year. He has been shortlisted for the Gold Dagger five additional times and has also received five nominations for the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger, winning once in 2017 for Spook Street.
Upon receiving the Diamond Dagger, Herron expressed his gratitude, stating, “To receive this accolade from these friends and colleagues is a career highlight and a personal joy. I’m touched and thrilled beyond measure, and will try to live up to the honour.”
Before the Slough House series, Herron published the Zoë Boehm collection, a series of four novels released between 2003 and 2009. This series is also being adapted for television, with Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson set to star.
The CWA, established in London in 1953, aims to promote crime and thriller fiction. Its annual Dagger awards celebrate the best writing in these genres. The Diamond Dagger is awarded based on nominations from CWA members, which are then reviewed by a panel of industry experts before a winner is selected from previous recipients.
Past winners of the Diamond Dagger include notable authors such as John le Carré, Ian Rankin, and Lee Child, underscoring the prestigious nature of this recognition. Herron's achievement further solidifies his status as a leading figure in contemporary crime fiction.
