Crime
Debut fiction to read this month
Proving just how strong the Australian literary scene is at the moment, we have a wonderful selection of ten debut fiction and crime fiction books this month to add to your 'to be read' pile. There are also a couple of excellent international fiction titles to throw into the mix!
🦘 Australian fiction
Translations by Jumaana Abdu
Amid a series of personal disasters, Aliyah and her daughter, Sakina, retreat to rural New South Wales to make a new life. Aliyah…
Winners of the 2024 Davitt Awards
Sisters in Crime Australia has announced the winners of the 2024 Davitt Awards for best crime books by Australian women.
The winning titles in each category in order of how they were presented, from last to first, are:
🔍 Best Adult Crime Novel
When One of Us Hurts by Monica Vuu
Port Brighton hates outsiders. It has its own ways of dealing with the evil, the foolish, the misled, and it holds tightly to them. But the seams start to…
Most anticipated fiction books for the second half of the year
It's hard to believe we're already in August and publishers have finalised (mostly!) their lists for Summer 2024. It's difficult To eclipse what has already been a very strong year, but we think you'll agree from the preview below that there's much to look forward to in the coming months! Many of our favourite authors are releasing books and we hope to see you as they begin to grace our shelves and online collections.
📚 AUSTRALIAN FICTION
Juice by Tim…
The 2024 Ned Kelly Awards shortlist
The shortlists for the 2024 Ned Kelly Awards have been announced, recognising the best Australian crime fiction and true crime writing from the past year.
Each year, the Australian Crime Writers Association recognises and celebrates the achievements and continuing strength of Australian authors. The Ned Kelly Awards for crime writing are among Australia’s oldest and most respected awards.
The judging panel commented that 2024 was the year of cosy crime, a sub-genre that has surged in popularity around the…
The Davitt Awards shortlist 2024
Sisters in Crime has announced the shortlists for the 2024 Davitt Awards for the best crime books by Australian women! Here are the shortlisted titles in each category:
Adult crime novels
The Chasm by Bronwyn Hall
The Tea Ladies by Amanda Hampson
The Half Brother by Christine Keighery
Prima Facie by Suzie Miller
Exquisite Corpse by Marija Peričić
The Fall Between by Darcy Tindale
When One of Us Hurts by Monica Vuu
Nonfiction crime books
If you love Agatha Christie, read these . . .
Agatha Christie's legacy as the queen of crime means she's often the first author suggested to readers looking for a cosy, yet devilishly ingenious mystery. But despite the huge number of Poirot and Miss Marple available, there must come a time when every reader has to ask – what next? What else can I read that will have the same combination of picturesque settings, lovable detectives and incredible twists?
Fortunately, there's actually a wealth of books and series available that…
The July Crime Review
These are the crime books which have been read and reviewed by our excellent booksellers this month – all in one place!
Middle of the Night by Riley Sager
Reviewed by Aurelia Orr from Readings Kids
Set in the affluent neighbourhood of Hemlock Circle, New Jersey, a group of families surround each other in a cul-de-sac, closely bound together like a ribcage. Every Friday for the summer, best friends Ethan and Billy camp out in Ethan’s backyard. There should have…
The 2024 CWA Dagger Winners
The Crime Writer's Association UK has announced the winners of the 2024 CWA Daggers.
Here are the recipients for each of the main categories.
Gold Dagger: Tell Me What I Am by Una Mannion
The Gold Dagger is given to the overall best crime novel of the year, from thrillers to mysteries, procedurals to psychological suspense.
Deena Garvey disappeared in 2004. She left behind a daughter and a sister.
Deena’s daughter grows up in the country. She learns how to…
The June Crime review
These are the crime books which have been read and reviewed by our excellent booksellers this month - all in one place!
Smoke by Michael Brissenden
Reviewed by Chris Gordon, events and programming manager for Readings
Journalist Michael Brissenden has covered the impact huge fires have on communities in his work for the ABC. This knowledge is apparent in his latest novel; an atmospheric dive into how a fire-ravaged town deals with the trauma of losing homes, lives, and…
The April Crime Review
These are the crime books which have been read and reviewed by our excellent booksellers this month – all in one place!
It Takes a Town by Aoife Clifford
Reviewed by Aurelia Orr from Readings Kids
Reading this book, I’m reminded of a quote in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, when Jordan says ‘And I like large parties. They’re so intimate. At small parties there isn’t any privacy.’
Set in the Australian countryside in the small town of…
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