The Australian Crime Writers Association (ACWA) has announced the shortlisted titles for the 2023 Ned Kelly Awards.
The shortlists for the awards’ four categories include the following titles:
Best Crime Fiction
When We Fall by Aoife Clifford
The Tilt by Chris Hammer
Exiles by Jane Harper
Soulmate by Sally Hepworth
Seven Sister by Katherine Kovacic
Lying Beside You by Michael Robotham
Those Who Perish by Emma Viskic
The Carnival Is Over by Greg Woodland
Best Debut Crime Fiction
Wake by Shelley Burr
The House of Now and Then by Jo Dixon
How To Kill A Client by Joanna Jenkins
Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder by Kerryn Mayne
Denizen by James McKenzie Watson
Dirt Town by Hayley Scrivenor
Black River by Matthew Spencer
No Country For Girls by Emma Styles
Best True Crime
Rattled by Ellis Gunn
Betrayed by Sandi Logan
Out of the Ashes by Megan Norris
Tiger! Tiger! Tiger! by Officer A
Death Row At Truro by Geoff Plunkett
Best International Crime Fiction
Paper Cage by Tom Baragwanath
The Lemon Man by Keith Bruton
The Favour by Nicci French
The Hitchhiker by Gerwin van der Werf
In announcing the shortlisted books, the ACWA made the following observations:
"We are proud to report that Aussie crime writing continues to grow in strength and identity, as demonstrated in today’s announcement of the 2023 Ned Kelly Awards shortlists.
It is particularly pleasing to see authors continuing to break away from some of the more common crime tropes, with an even larger variety of characters, settings and social diversity in this year’s entries than we have received before."
Going on to add: "The flagship award, Best Crime Fiction, with 88 entries, was a treasure-trove of excellence. The shortlist of Aussie authors includes some of the highest selling and most popular authors on the global crime writing stage.
Congratulations and thank you to everyone who entered the 2023 Ned Kelly Awards. Writing is a tough gig and the Australian Crime Writers Association committee acknowledges the hard work and incredible creativity of every entry. Special recognition to all the shortlisted authors. The winners are expected to be announced in about four weeks."
Read the full announcement on the ACWA website.