CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger
1 appearances
-
Edition 2 (2003) Winner
Dan Fesperman
ダン・フェスパーマン
Dan Fesperman
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1955-09-15 （Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.）
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. (birthplace) → Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. (residence) → Germany (international assignment) → Bosnia (international assignment) → Afghanistan (international assignment) → Pakistan (international assignment) → Middle East (international assignment)
Career
- Occupations
- Reporter, Author
- Active Years
- 1977-
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Carolina | — | — | — | — | United States |
University of North Carolina
Year of Graduation:
1977
Country:
United States
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | John Creasey Memorial Dagger | Lie in the Dark | 新人長編賞 (Best First Novel) | Crime Writers' Association (CWA) | 受賞 |
| 2003 | Ian Fleming Steel Dagger | The Small Boat of Great Sorrows | ベスト・スリラー (Best Thriller) | Crime Writers' Association (CWA) | 受賞 |
| 2006 | Hammett Prize | The Prisoner of Guantánamo | — | International Association of Crime Writers – North America (IACW/NA) | 受賞 |
John Creasey Memorial Dagger
1999
Work:
Lie in the Dark
Category:
新人長編賞 (Best First Novel)
Organization:
Crime Writers' Association (CWA)
Result:
受賞
Ian Fleming Steel Dagger
2003
Work:
The Small Boat of Great Sorrows
Category:
ベスト・スリラー (Best Thriller)
Organization:
Crime Writers' Association (CWA)
Result:
受賞
Hammett Prize
2006
Work:
The Prisoner of Guantánamo
Organization:
International Association of Crime Writers – North America (IACW/NA)
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Hammett Prize
1 appearances
-
Edition 16 (2006) Winner
Barry Award
1 appearances
-
Edition 23 (2019) Winner
Works
Major Works
Lie in the Dark
1999 ThrillerDebut novel. A thriller drawing on the author's international reporting experience, involving espionage, betrayal, and the search for truth.
espionagebetrayalinternational relationsreporting experience
The Small Boat of Great Sorrows
2003 ThrillerA thriller that explores human drama around conflict zones and international intrigue, reflecting the author's reporting experience in troubled regions.
conflictrefugeeshuman dramainternational politics
The Warlord's Son
2004 ThrillerA thriller exploring the effects of war on families and power structures, focusing on regional conflict and personal choices.
warfamilypower strugglesrevenge
The Prisoner of Guantánamo
2006 ThrillerSet around Guantánamo Bay, this political thriller addresses counterterrorism, human rights issues, and intelligence operations.
counterterrorismhuman rightsdetentionintelligence warfare
The Amateur Spy
2007 ThrillerA spy thriller about an amateur drawn into the world of espionage and the dangers that follow.
espionagecoverpersonal awakeningcrisis management
The Arms Maker of Berlin
2009 ThrillerSet in Berlin, this novel combines weapons trafficking, technology, and international conspiracy into a tense thriller.
arms traffickingcrimetechnologyinternational conspiracy
Layover in Dubai
2010 ThrillerA thriller in which a layover in Dubai becomes the nexus for international intrigue and intersecting personal stories.
international financeMiddle Eastcover-upscrime investigation
The Double Game
2012 ThrillerA psychologically charged espionage novel centered on double agents, deception, and shifting loyalties.
double agentsbetrayalpsychological warfareintelligence agencies
Unmanned
2014 ThrillerA contemporary thriller that examines drones and remote weapons, and the ethical and military dilemmas they create.
dronesmilitary technologyethicsautomation of warfare
The Letter Writer
2016 ThrillerA novel where letters and past events unlock a personal and political conspiracy.
secretssettling the pastinformation manipulationpersonal justice
Safe Houses
2018 ThrillerA tense story revolving around asylum, safe houses, and the networks that protect—or betray—those seeking refuge.
asylumsafe housesspy networkspursuit
The Cover Wife
2021 ThrillerA novel where domestic life serves as cover for espionage, questioning identity, loyalty, and sacrifice.
cover marriagesidentityfamilyespionage
Winter Work
2022 ThrillerA suspenseful novel set against wintry backdrops, intertwining past and present tensions.
seasonalityshadows of the pastsuspensepersonal history
Pariah
2025 ThrillerA recent novel (2025) exploring international politics and the alienation of an outsider protagonist.
alienationinternational politicspersonal conflictjustice
Bibliography
- Lie in the Dark (1999)
- The Small Boat of Great Sorrows (2003)
- The Warlord's Son (2004)
- The Prisoner of Guantánamo (2006)
- The Amateur Spy (2007)
- The Arms Maker of Berlin (2009)
- Layover in Dubai (2010)
- The Double Game (2012)
- Unmanned (2014)
- The Letter Writer (2016)
- Safe Houses (2018)
- The Cover Wife (2021)
- Winter Work (2022)
- Pariah (2025)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Detailed, reportage-informed descriptionsConcise, direct prose that sustains tension
- Recurring Motifs
- ambiguity of informationfaltering loyaltiestransnational guilt and responsibilityisolated protagonists
Legacy
An acclaimed thriller writer known for realistic depictions of international conflict and espionage. A former reporter, he has won multiple major crime-fiction awards and is noted for his reportage-informed perspective.
Trivia
- Former reporter for The Baltimore Sun with extensive international reporting experience.
- Married to Liz Bowie, a reporter for The Baltimore Sun.
- Graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1977.
- Major awards: 1999 John Creasey Memorial Dagger (Lie in the Dark), 2003 Ian Fleming Steel Dagger (The Small Boat of Great Sorrows), 2006 Hammett Prize (The Prisoner of Guantánamo).
- Official website: https://danfesperman.com/