CWA dagger award longlist 2026

 Congratulations to the writers. Going to read some of these fine novels.

Crime Writers’ Association Announces 2026 Dagger Awards Longlists

The Crime Writers' Association (CWA) reveal the longlists for the prestigious 2026 Dagger Awards, celebrating the very best in crime writing.

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 coveted KAA Gold Dagger, sponsored by Kevin Anderson & Associates, is awarded for the best crime novel of the year. The longlist includes Abigail Dean, longlisted for The Death of Us, a powerful psychological novel also longlisted in the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger and Twisted Dagger categories.

Also longlisted are British crime writers Vaseem Khan with Quantum of Menace, and Laura Shepherd-Robinson for The Art of a Lie, alongside international authors, James Lee Burke, and the late Martin Cruz Smith.

The Ian Fleming Steel Dagger honours the best thriller of the year. The longlist includes global bestseller Karin Slaughter, alongside Robert Crais and Julie Clark. The Historical Dagger features acclaimed writers such as Graeme Macrae Burnet and Ariel Lawhon on the 2026 longlist.

New Reviews for novel Oct 2025

 Received good reviews for Ring Twice for Mrs Naren. 

https://pressnewstime.wordpress.com/2025/09/27/books-in-news-new-romantic-crime-thriller-ring-twice-for-mrs-naren-captivates-readers/

https://www.keveinbooksnreviews.in/2025/09/book-review-ring-twice-for-mrs-naren-by.html

https://ibooksta.wordpress.com/2025/09/28/book-review-ring-twice-for-mrs-naren-vijay-medtia/

Good review in Asian Review

 I received a good review in the Asian review of books. The link is below. 

https://asian-reviews.com/2025/09/27/a-gripping-noir-thriller-ring-twice-for-mrs-naren-by-vijay-medtia/

CWA author September

 I'm happy to be selected by the Crime Writers Association website, as the featured author for September. 

Hopefully, this will increase the exposure for my novel, RING TWICE for MRS NAREN. 

Here is the link.

https://thecwa.co.uk/crime-readers/

DesiBlitz Interview

 I am pleased to be interviewed in a leading British Asian magazine, Desiblitz.

They interviewed about my new novel, Ring Twice for Mrs Naren and my inspiration for writing the story along with my thoughts on writing. 

The interview link: https://www.desiblitz.com/content/vijay-medtia-on-love-crime-delhi-in-ring-twice-for-mrs-naren

Vijay Medtia on Love, Crime & Delhi in ‘Ring Twice for Mrs Naren’

Vijay Medtia discusses ‘Ring Twice for Mrs Naren’, a noir tale of lust, guilt, and betrayal set in 1998 Delhi.

 August 11, 2025

By Ravinder Kaur

"Love has the tremendous power to purify."

Set against the backdrop of 1998 Delhi, Ring Twice for Mrs Naren by Vijay Medtia is a sultry noir tale steeped in desire, secrecy, and danger.

The novel reimagines the classic love-triangle-gone-wrong through a distinctly South Asian lens, tapping into a richly atmospheric world where ambition and morality collide.

Medtia’s story follows Anand Sinha, a struggling lawyer drawn into a web of passion and betrayal by the enigmatic Leela Naren.

The novel explores how far people will go when lust, greed, and guilt take hold, challenging readers to question their moral boundaries.

From dimly lit rooms and landline calls to covert meetings under the veil of cultural conservatism, the Delhi of the late 90s becomes a character in itself, echoing the novel’s tensions between modernity and tradition.

Publication Day of Ring Twice for Mrs Naren

 I am happy to announce today is the publication day of my new crime novel, 

  RING TWICE for MRS NAREN.

 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ring-Twice-Mrs-Naren-seduction/dp/1915778905/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.5K-1oLO4F4UuDTHMTTLMuW0OOpeNCWoDmHS-MS7C4cfiHJ39QOC7UpwbZJ2J67x43FIFZkc63WtTNV4blQZ7iu_RznMTl8glKdWHaoHZXeo.bchf5sIjM5odSa1moUKQmBwBVjPmdz3T7JiB3KFXUNw&qid=1752568412&sr=8-1

It is available to buy via amazon.co.uk and amazon.in and orders in book shops.

He was thirty-six with his life moving in the wrong direction. She was stuck in a loveless marriage. When they meet, sparks were bound to fly. Only he didn’t know it would lead to murder.

Struggling lawyer, Anand Sinha, meets Mrs Leela Naren at her mansion in Delhi. He is stunned by her seductive charms and looks. The fateful meeting changes the course of their lives. He mentions that her husband plans to change the Will. This has a dramatic effect. She wonders what her abusive husband will do. She fears being thrown out of her luxurious house. She is unhappy in her married life and when she hears that her husband plans to disinherit her; it sets her heart on fire. Before long, they embark on a passionate love affair. Kapil Naren has a fifty-crore fortune. Leela Naren and Anand Sinha plan a sinister scheme to murder Mr. Naren. But will they escape the sharp eyes of the Delhi police, the insurance company and their own inner demons.

I hope the readers will enjoy reading this thriller and please leave a review!

New Novel Cover reveal

 This is the new cover for the novel from my publisher. The novel will be published in July, 2025!

I hope the readers enjoy the novel. It will be available to order from amazon in both kindle and 

paperback. Pre-order link:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FCD4296H

He was thirty-six with his life moving in the wrong direction. She was stuck in a loveless marriage. When they meet, sparks were bound to fly. Only he didn’t know it would lead to murder.

Struggling lawyer, Anand Sinha, meets Mrs Leela Naren at her mansion in Delhi. He is stunned by her seductive charms and looks. The fateful meeting changes the course of their lives. He mentions that her husband plans to change the Will. This has a dramatic effect. She wonders what her abusive husband will do. She fears being thrown out of her luxurious house. She is unhappy in her married life and when she hears that her husband plans to disinherit her; it sets her heart on fire. Before long, they embark on a passionate love affair. Kapil Naren has a fifty-crore fortune. Leela Naren and Anand Sinha plan a sinister scheme to murder Mr. Naren and hope to escape with the fortune.

READ RING TWICE FOR MRS NERAN AND BE BLOWN AWAY...