The winners: 2021 Ned Kelly Awards

 
 

The Australian Crime Writers Association received a huge increase in entries for this year’s Ned Kelly Awards. The Awards are an annual celebration of the best in Australian crime writing. In 2021 there were 149 entries, almost double the entries of the previous year. The entries were narrowed down to 22 books shortlisted across the four award categories; Best Crime Fiction, Best True Crime, Best Debut Crime Fiction, and Best International Crime Fiction published in Australia.

 

2021 BEST CRIME FICTION

The winner of the 2021 Ned Kelly Award for Best Crime Fiction is Consolation, by Garry Disher (Text).

Disher was awarded the Ned Kelly Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019 and has previously won Ned Kelly Awards for Chain of Evidence (2007) and Wyatt (2010).

The judges praised Disher’s masterly writing of place and landscape. In particular, his unsentimental portrayal of the precarious aspect of rural life and its impact on ordinary people. 

 

2021 BEST TRUE CRIME

The winner of the 2021 Ned Kelly Award for Best True Crime is Stalking Claremont by Bret Christian (Harper Collins).

Stalking Claremont is the story of Australia's longest-running homicide investigation by veteran newsman Bret Christian.

The judges said Stalking Claremont is a riveting story of the search for a serial killer which involved an investigation plagued by tunnel vision; devastated, brave families; lives wrecked by false accusations; and the forensic brilliance that finally saw a result.

2021 BEST DEBUT CRIME FICTION

The winner of the 2021 Ned Kelly Award for Best Debut Crime Fiction is The Second Son by Loraine Peck (Text).

The Second Son is a story of organised crime and family honour set in the western suburbs of Sydney.

The judges praised the strong character-driven plot and the realistic setting in multicultural Sydney. The intercutting of family dynamics and organised crime action brings a heightened level of both engagement and tension to The Second Son.

2021 BEST INTERNATIONAL CRIME FICTION

The winner of the 2021 Ned Kelly Award for  Best International Crime Fiction published in Australia, is We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker (Allen & Unwin).

The judges said: We Begin at the End is a complex and dark thriller which explores family, friendship and redemption. The story is driven by the character of the outlaw Duchess Ray Radley, a wise child carrying the load of generational trauma.

Australian Crime Writers Association chair Robert Goodman said once again the Ned Kelly Awards have captured the breadth and vibrancy of Australia’s crime writing scene.

‘In these difficult pandemic times, people need an escape more than ever. The sheer number of entries this year shows that crime authors are prepared to stand and deliver.’

‘The Ned Kelly Awards have always been recognised for showcasing both emerging and established Australian crime writing talent. It is wonderful to see not only that our well known authors are still delivering astounding crime writing but also the amazing depth of new talent across all award categories.’

 

ABOUT THE NED KELLY AWARDS

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

CONTACT

Australian Crime Writers Association chair Robert Goodman

info@austcrimewriters.com

The shortlist: 2021 Ned Kelly Awards

 
 

A record number of entries in the Ned Kelly Awards for crime writing

Many Australian writers appear to have spent their Covid lockdown producing crime fiction and true crime books. This year’s Ned Kelly Awards had 149 entries, a fifty percent increase on previous years.

Australian Crime Writers Association chair Robert Goodman said the large increase in entries this year demonstrates that Australian crime writing and reading has never been stronger.

‘This is not just evident in the number of submissions but in the diversity and quality of the entries. Congratulations to all our entry authors.’

‘There are plenty of familiar names among the best crime fiction and true crime entries but also an exciting crop of new voices across all categories, particularly those in contention for the Best Debut Crime Fiction Award.’ Goodman said.

This is the second year of the Ned Kelly Awards for Best International Crime Fiction published in Australia.

‘It is exciting to recognize not only our incredible home grown talent but also some of the world’s top international crime authors,’ Goodman said.

2021 Ned Kelly Award for BEST CRIME FICTION (8)

  • Consolation by Garry Disher (Text)

  • Gathering Dark by Candice Fox (Penguin Random House)

  • A Testament of Character by Sulari Gentill (Pantera Press)

  • The Survivors by Jane Harper (Pan Macmillan)

  • The Good Turn by Dervla McTiernan (Harper Collins)

  • Tell Me Lies by J.P. Pomare (Hachette)

  • When She Was Good by Michael Robotham (Hachette)

  • White Throat by Sarah Thornton (Text)

 

2021 Ned Kelly Award for BEST DEBUT CRIME FICTION (4)

The Debut Crime Fiction shortlist covers a diverse range of new voices including:

  • The Good Mother by Rae Cairns (Bandrui Publishing)

  • The Second Son by Loraine Peck (Text)

  • The Bluffs by Kyle Perry (Penguin Random House)

  • The Night Whistler by Greg Woodland (Text)

 

2021 Ned Kelly Award for BEST TRUE CRIME (5)

  • The Husband Poisoner by Tanya Bretherton (Hachette)

  • Stalking Claremont: Inside the hunt for a serial killer by Bret Christian (Harper Collins)

  • Public Enemies by Mark Dapin (Allen and Unwin)

  • Hazelwood by Tom Doig (Penguin Random House)

  • Witness by Louise Milligan (Hachette)

 

2021 Ned Kelly Award for BEST INTERNATIONAL CRIME FICTION (5)

The 2021 Ned Kelly Award for international crime fiction included submissions from some of the world’s biggest-selling crime fiction authors and some exciting new names. The shortlist has been narrowed down to:

  • The Guest List by Lucy Foley (Harper Collins)

  • The Secrets of Strangers by Charity Norman (Allen and Unwin)

  • Take Me Apart by Sara Sligar (Text)

  • We Begin at the End by Chris Whittaker (Allen and Unwin)

  • Broken by Don Winslow (Harper Collins)

 

ABOUT THE NED KELLY AWARDS

The Ned Kelly Awards are Australia’s oldest and most prestigious recognition of crime fiction and true crime writing. The previous winners include: Peter Temple, Shane Maloney, Gabrielle Lord, Sarah Bailey, Adrian McKinty, Helen Garner and Duncan McNab.

Contact: 

Australian Crime Writers Association chair Robert Goodman

info@austcrimewriters.com

Announcing: The 2020 Ned Kelly Awards Shortlists

 
 

This year’s Ned Kelly Crime Awards entries are testimony to the strong increase in crime reading and crime writing,  despite a challenging year for book publishing and retailers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Australian Crime Writers Association chair Robert Goodman said the large number of entries in this year’s awards demonstrates that Australian crime writing and reading has never been stronger.

‘This is not just evident in the number of submissions but the diversity and quality of the entries. Congratulations to all our entry authors.’

‘Fiction entries include page turning thrillers, police procedurals, lone detectives and dirty dealings with many fascinating characters across a range of vividly portrayed settings.’ Goodman said.

This year, for the first time, the Ned Kelly Awards also include a category for Best International Crime Fiction published in Australia, adding to the regular categories of Best Crime Fiction, Best Debut Crime Fiction and Best True Crime. 

‘It is exciting to be able to recognize not only our incredible home grown talent but also some of the world’s top international crime authors,’ Goodman said.

BEST CRIME FICTION

The 2020 shortlist for the Ned Kelly Awards headline category, Best Crime Fiction features: Death of a Typographer, by Nick Gadd, a ‘quirky and original story which is funny and very Melbourne’; The Strangers We Know, by Pip Drysdale, a ‘conspiratorial well-paced read that keeps you glued to the page’; The Scholar, by Dervla McTiernan, ‘an elegant and tightly constructed read with depth and excellent characterisation’; The Wife and the Widow, by Christian White, is ‘cleverly plotted with a major plot twist threaded extremely well through the action’; River of Salt, by Dave Warner, is an ‘evocative tale about the Australian surf scene in the early 1960s with compelling characters’; and True West, by David Whish-Wilson, is a book with ‘a distinct sense of time and place where you can almost smell the outback’.

 

BEST DEBUT CRIME FICTION

The Debut Crime Fiction shortlist covers a diverse range including Eight Lives, by Susan Hurley, an ‘original medical thriller viewed through the lens of the migrant experience’; Where the Truth Lies, by Karina Kilmore, is ‘a great read with an interesting new setting and good twists’; Lapse, by Sarah Thornton, is ‘atmospheric rural crime with well-drawn characters’; The Nancys, by RWR McDonald, is ‘full of quirky characters and pays homage to Nancy Drew’;  Six Minutes, by Petronella McGovern, considers ‘the nightmare scenario of a missing child’; and Present Tense, by Natalie Conyer, ‘has a great setting, complex taut plot and flawed characters’

  

BEST TRUE CRIME

This year’s True Crime shortlist includes Dead Man Walking: The murky world of Michael McGurk and Ron Medich by Kate McClymont which has a cast of true characters to rival any fiction novel; Bowraville, by Dan Box, addresses themes of endemic racism and justice as well as the ethics of true crime reporting; Shark Arm, by joint authors Phillip Roope and Kevin Meagher, centres on an old but almost forgotten tale retold with great research and powerful writing; and Snakes and Ladders, by Angela Williams, about a young mother’s experience of addiction, recovery and serving time clean.

 

BEST INTERNATIONAL CRIME FICTION

The new Ned Kelly Award for international crime fiction included submissions from some of the world’s biggest-selling crime fiction authors and the shortlist has been narrowed down to: The Night Fire by US author Michael Connelly,  The Last Widow by US author Karin Slaughter, The Chain by Irish author Adrian McKinty and Cruel Acts by Irish author Jane Casey.

 

ABOUT THE NED KELLY AWARDS

The Ned Kelly Awards are Australia’s oldest and most prestigious prizes for crime fiction and true crime writing. First established in 1995 and now in their twenty-fifth year, previous winners include: Peter Temple, Shane Maloney, Gabriel Lord, Candice Fox, Garry Disher, Helen Garner and Duncan McNab.

 

CONTACT

Australian Crime Writers Association Chair
Robert Goodman
email: info@austcrimewriters.com

2020 Ned Kelly Awards Shortlists

BEST CRIME FICTION:

  • Nick Gadd, Death of a Typographer (Australian Scholarly Publishing)

  • Pip Drysdale, The Strangers We Know (Simon & Schuster Australia)

  • Dervla McTiernan, The Scholar (Harlequin Enterprises Australia)

  • Christian White, The Wife and the Widow (Affirm Press)

  • Dave Warner, Rivers of Salt (Fremantle Press)

  • David Whish-Wilson, True West (Fremantle Press)

 

BEST DEBUT CRIME FICTION:

  • Natalie Conyer, Present Tense (Clan Destine Press)

  • Susan Hurley, Eight Lives (Affirm Press)

  • Karina Kilmore, Where the Truth Lies (Simon & Schuster Australia)

  • RWR McDonald, The Nancys (Allen & Unwin)

  • Petronella McGovern, Six Minutes (Allen & Unwin)

  • Sarah Thornton, Lapse (Text Publishing)

BEST TRUE CRIME:

  • Dan Box, Bowraville (Penguin Random House Australia)

  • Kate McClymont, Dead Man Walking: The murky world of Michael McGurk and Ron Medich (Penguin Random House Australia)

  • Phillip Roope and Kevin Meagher, Shark Arm (Allen & Unwin)

  • Angela Williams, Snakes and Ladders (Affirm Press)

 

BEST INTERNATIONAL CRIME FICTION:

  • Jane Casey, Cruel Acts (Harper Collins Australia)

  • Michael Connelly, The Night Fire (Allen & Unwin)

  • Adrian McKinty, The Chain (Hachette Australia)

  • Karin Slaughter, The Last Widow (Harper Collins Australia)