Sydney crime writer wins illustrious award

Sydney author Michael Robotham has beaten Harry Potter creator JK Rowling and sci-fi novelist Stephen King to win a prestigious award for crime writing.

Robotham took out the UK Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger award for the year's best crime novel for his book Life or Death.

Robotham, who has previously ghost-written memoirs for celebrities including Rolf Harris and Geri Halliwell, said he was gob-smacked to win the accolade.

"Is this a dagger I see before me? Too right. And I'm taking it home with me!" he tweeted from the awards in London.

Life or Death, described by judges as a compelling and fascinating thriller, tells the story of a Texan prisoner who escapes from jail a day before he is to be released.

It triumphed over a shortlist that included The Silkworm by JK Rowling, writing under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith and Stephen King's Mr Mercedes.

"This might mean, on my gravestone, they won't write `The Ghostwriter for Geri Halliwell'," Robotham said in his acceptance speech.

"The idea (for Life or Death) came to me 20 years ago when I wrote two paragraphs. I kept that cutting on my desk for a decade thinking, `there's a novel in this somewhere.'

"It took me about another 10 years before I had the courage to think I could write that book."

Robotham joins a list of previous Gold Dagger winners that includes Ben Elton, Patricia Cornwell and Wallander author Henning Mankell.

His 10th novel, Robotham describes Life or Death as his most worthy to win the award.

The Australian Crime Writers Association, where he is chairman, said the local crime reading and writing community would be celebrating his victory.