The Crime Readers' Association

Cursing 'n' Killing

Unlike films, there is no certification for books. Yet crime novels, thanks to their subject matter, have a fair amount of choice stuff contained within. I’ve received enough shocked emails about my own books to know that not every reader is comfortable with swearing and violence. Always eager to please, I’ve invented a unique scoring system (patents pending, of course) for the two categories and each book is scored accordingly!

The Profano- Meter

lets you know how many expletives to expect.

Harmless As clean as a nun's conscience Mild The odd naughty word here and there Spicy I say, the language is a bit strong Oh! This'll make a fish-wife blush

The Platelet- Counter

lets you know how much of the red-stuff gets spilled.

Spotless Not a drop is shed Eek Nothing a plaster couldn't fix Ugh Some parts get pretty squishy Whoah! You'll need a raincoat to read this

Latest from our blog

Submitting for CWA Competitions: In at the Kill

20th February 2024

The deadline’s getting close! So here’s some last-minute advice for you on the practicalities of submitting. Please remember the rule: if you have any problems with your Debut Dagger submission, you m... Read more

Notes on Word Count for CWA Writing Competitions

20th February 2024

Different competitions have different rules – and different levels of rigour in the way they apply them. For the Debut Dagger we are super-strict. We ask for entries not to exceed 3,000 words (1,500 w... Read more

Debut Dagger Writing Tips

19th February 2024

Here are tips from recent newsletters compiled for you by Dea Parkin, the CWA’s Competitions Coordinator (and professional editor). If you’re at the stage where your entry is finished and you’re into... Read more

Image by christoph_mschrd via PixabayMargery Allingham Short Story Competition

14th November 2023

A lot of readers are writers, too. Whether you’re a bestselling author or an aspiring wordsmith, if you have a short mystery in the works, the Margery Allingham Short Story Competition wants to... Read more

Behind the Scenes of Crime in 1987 – the CWA on BBC Radio 4!

14th July 2023

In 1987 longstanding CWA member Joan Lock, who had already written and presented several plays and programmes for Radio 4, made a documentary about the CWA featuring many crime-writing luminaries of t... Read more

2023 Dagger Awards Winners Announced

6th July 2023

2023 CWA Dagger Awards Announced The winners of the 2023 CWA Daggers, which honour the very best in the crime writing genre, have been announced. The prestigious Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Dagge... Read more

National Crime Reading Month off to a blazing start!

8th June 2023

National Crime Reading Month kicked off with simultaneous launches in London, Belfast and Edinburgh – appropriately in one of Waterstones flagship stores in Piccadilly; No Alibis, an independent... Read more

Vaseem Khan elected new Chair of the CWA

31st May 2023

Vaseem Khan has been elected as the new Chair of the CWA at the association’s AGM earlier this month, taking over from Maxim Jakubowski, who ably steered the CWA Chair for three years. Vaseem is... Read more

CWA Daggers Shortlist 2023 announced

30th May 2023

The 2023 shortlists for the prestigious Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Dagger awards, which honour the very best in the crime-writing genre, have been announced at Crime Fest in Bristol. 2023 marks... Read more

International Literary Properties (ILP) to sponsor the CWA John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger 2023

12th May 2023

International Literary Properties (ILP), the global company that invests in, acquires, and manages the intellectual property rights to books, plays and other literary works, has announced their sponso... Read more

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