The Crime Writers Association has announced that Frederick Forsyth is the winner of this year's prestigious Diamond Dagger award.

Chair of the CWA Peter James said, "Frederick Forsyth is a hugely deserving recipient and The Day of Jackal remains one of the greatest thrillers of our times.  He has set a new standard of research-based authenticity with his writing, which has had a major influence on my work and on many of my contemporaries in the crime and thriller field. We are very thrilled that he has accepted this award."

Freddie Forsyth's most recent novel is The Cobra, which was published as a Corgi paperback in April 2011.