The Australian Crime Writers Association presents
the 2024 Ned Kelly Awards winners! (Please watch.)

Congratulations to our 2024 Ned Kelly Award Winners

Darling Girls, by Sally Hepworth - Best Crime
Murder in the Pacific, Ilfira Point by Matt Francis - Best Debut
Crossing the Line, by Nick McKenzie - Best True Crime
The Only Suspect, by Louise Candlish - Best International Crime

PRESENTING THE 2024 NED KELLY AWARD WINNERS

2024 BEST CRIME FICTION

The winner of the 2024 Ned Kelly Award for Best Crime Fiction is:
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth (Pan Macmillan Australia).

The panel of judges praised Hepworth’s novel as a master read for all crime fiction lovers. Drawing on everyday characters and themes to create an absolutely compelling novel, Darling Girls is cleverly written and exquisitely plotted. This is Hepworth’s first Ned Kelly Award win. Her novel Soulmate was also shortlisted for best crime fiction in 2023.

2024 BEST DEBUT CRIME FICTION

The winner of the 2024 Ned Kelly Award for Best Debut Crime Fiction is:
Murder in the Pacific, Ilfira Point, by Matt Francis (Big Sky Publishing).

The judging panel described the first novel by Francis as complex and well written with a great sense of place and community. Set in Vanuatu the story is centred around two endearing characters with the potential to create a future series.

2024 BEST TRUE CRIME

The winner of the 2024 Ned Kelly Award for Best True Crime is:
Crossing the Line, by Nick McKenzie (Hachette Australia).

This book details the attempts to hide one of Australia’s worst war crimes. It is an explosive investigation into one of Australia’s most highly decorated soldiers Ben Roberts Smith and McKenzie’s dogged pursuit to uncover the truth, culminating in an epic legal battle. McKenzie is a highly awarded journalist. This is his first Ned Kelly Award win.

2024 BEST INTERNATIONAL CRIME FICTION

The winner of the 2024 Ned Kelly Award for Best International Crime Fiction is:
The Only Suspect by Louise Candlish (Simon & Schuster Australia).

A twisty, past versus present psychological thriller with an everyday domestic setting that soon spins everyone’s lives upside down as longstanding lies and relationships are unravelled. Candlish at her best, a deserved international best selling author.

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The Australian Crime Writers Association congratulates all 184 authors who entered the Ned Kelly Awards this year.

2024 AWARDS SHORTLIST

BEST DEBUT CRIME FICTION SHORTLIST

Violet Kelly and the Jade Owl, by Fiona Britton
Lowbridge by Lucy Campbell
Murder in the Pacific - Ilfira Point, by Matt Francis
Four Dogs Missing, by Rhys Gard
Gus and the Missing Boy, by Troy Hunter
The Beacon, by P A Thomas
The Fall Between, by Darcy Tindale

BEST TRUE CRIME SHORTLIST

The Murder Squad, by Michael Adams
Reckless, by Marele Day
Killing for Country, by David Marr
Crossing the Line, by Nick McKenzie
The Teacher’s Pet, by Hedley Thomas

BEST INTERNATIONAL CRIME FICTION SHORTLIST (Published in Australia)

Dice, by Claire Baylis
The Only Suspect, by Louise Candlish
Birnam Wood, by Eleanor Catton
Resurrection Walk, by Michael Connelly
The Search Party, by Hannah Richell
Zero Days, by Ruth Ware

BEST CRIME FICTION SHORTLIST

Killer Traitor Spy, by Tim Ayliffe
Dark Mode, by Ashley Kalagian Blunt
Ripper, by Shelley Burr
Dark Corners, by Megan Goldin
The Seven, by Chris Hammer
The Tea Ladies, by Amanda Hampson
Darling Girls, by Sally Hepworth
Everyone on this Train is a Suspect, by Benjamin Stevenson

ABOUT THE NED KELLY AWARDS

The Ned Kelly Awards are Australia’s oldest and most prestigious acknowledgements for crime fiction and true crime writing. Established in 1996, previous winners include: Peter Temple, Shane Maloney, Helen Garner, Gabrielle Lord, Garry Disher, Candice Fox, John Silvester and Duncan McNab.

2024 Best Crime Fiction

2024 Best Debut Crime Fiction

2024 Best True Crime Fiction

2024 Best International Crime Fiction