Leading lawyer wins international crime fiction award

Published: 15th July 2008

A leading North West lawyer and crime fiction writer has scooped a major international short story competition.

Mace & Jones head of employment law Martin Edwards beat off best selling American author Michael Connelly to win the Crime Writers Association (CWA) 'Short Story' award at the CWA's annual Dagger Awards for his spine-tingling tale 'The Bookbinders Apprentice'. The judges described the story as 'A subtle, insidious, and disturbingly creepy tale of how an Englishman in Venice finds himself offered the job of apprentice to a bookbinder with unusual methods.'

"'I am absolutely delighted to win this award, especially in view of the international competition,' he said. "It is definitely rewarding to have this kind of recognition after so many hours spent toiling over plots and characters."

As well as Michael Connelly, Edwards was shortlisted for the award and £1500 first prize with another American, Laura Lippman, CWA Diamond Dagger winner Robert Barnard, and former CWA Chair, and previous winner of the award, Danuta Reah. (see notes to editors). The awards dinner took place at the Four Seasons Hotel in London's Park Lane.

The Bookbinders Apprentice'. was first published in The Mammoth Book of Best British Mysteries.

Last Month Mace & Jones launched its own short story competition on the theme of justice as part of Liverpool's Capital of Culture celebrations. The competition is open to amateurs and professionals. For more information visit the Mace & Jones website, http://www.maceandjones.co.uk/

Visit: http://www.martinedwardsbooks.com/