We are delighted to announce that Susannah Stapleton has won the CWA Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction for her book ‘That Dark Spring’, published by Picador. The award was presented at the CWA Dagger Awards gala dinner in London.
‘That Dark Spring’ was up against a strong shortlist that included Gordon Corera’s, ‘The Spy in the Archive’, Shaun Walker’s, ‘The Illegals’, Caroline Fraser’s, ‘Murderland’ and Áine Cain and Kevin Greenlee’s, ‘Shadow of The Bridge’.
The book has already drawn praise from critics and fellow authors. Lissa Evans, author of Small Bomb at Dimebley, said she “couldn’t stop reading it” and called it “a classic of true crime.” The Times described it as “a fascinating true crime case study” that is “deeply moving.”
This is Susannah’s second book and her second Dagger nomination. Her debut, The Adventures of Maud West Lady Detective, was shortlisted for the same award.
Before becoming a writer Susannah trained as an archaeologist and worked in museums and art galleries as a historical researcher. That grounding in archival digging and forensic attention to detail shows up clearly in her nonfiction, which turns real historical mysteries into gripping narrative.
Everyone at PFD sends huge congratulations to Susannah on this wonderful achievement.