Article: Daggers drawn as Black Leather Jackets take on the Blue Rinses Stay away from the crime-writers' AGM tonight. It'll be absolute murder . By Jane Jakeman

The sedate surroundings of the New Cavendish Club, just behind Marble Arch in the West End of London, may soon witness a deadly conflict. The opponents are all experts in murder weapons, from the stud-nailed boot to the slim, Italian dagger.

Tonight, at their AGM, the 450-odd members of the Crime Writers Association will vote on whether their current silver-haired Chairman (the chosen term, irrespective of sex) should hand over the reins of authority. Janet Laurence is a writer of "civilised" crime stories about art and food, and a former Daily Telegraph food columnist. Her challenger is Ian Rankin, author of gritty murder fiction in tough settings. Should the vote go against her, it would ...

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