Author Mark Billingham has been awarded the Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Diamond Dagger for his contribution to crime writing. The 64-year-old, who is best known for his 19 novels in the Tom Thorne series which began with his debut Sleepyhead (2001), was given the award for his “sustained excellence”. He is also a member of the rock band the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers alongside other bestselling crime and thriller writers Val McDermid, Luca Veste, Doug Johnstone, Stuart Neville, and Chris Brookmyre. Billingham previously won the CWA’s Dagger In The Library, voted for by librarians for his body of work in 2022. Previous winners of the Diamond Dagger include Lynda La Plante, Ruth Rendell, PD James, Colin Dexter, Reginald Hill, and John le Carre.