The work of two regional journalists has been shortlisted for this year’s Macallan Daggers Awards.

Organised by the Crime Writers’ Association, the awards recognise the best fiction and non-fiction crime books.

Former Matlock Mercury editor Don Hale has been nominated in the Gold Dagger for non-fiction category for his book Town Without Pity, which tells of Don’s seven-year campaign to free Stephen Downing who served 27 years for a murder he claims he did not commit.

The book will compete with Anthony Blunt: His Lives by Miranda Carter and Dead Men’s Wages by Lillian Pizzichini with the winner being announced at the CWA’s annual awards lunch on November 7.

Former Worksop Guardian deputy editor Stephen Booth could also be in line for an award, with a nomination in the Dagger in the Library category.

The award, sponsored by the Random House Group, is judged by librarians and will go to the author who is deemed to have given most pleasure to readers.

Stephen has written three books so far. His debut novel, Black Dog, won the Barry award for the Best British Crime Novel Awards at Boucheron, the World Mystery Convention last year and he is also the author of Dances with Virgins and Blood on the Tongue.

He will compete against fellow crime novelists Liz Evans, Quintin Jardine, Stuart Pawson, Peter Robinson and Natasha Cooper, Daphne Wright and Clare Layton.

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