The Ned Kelly Awards – known fondly as ‘The Neds’ – have been an annual event for close on thirty years now, run by the Australian Crime Writers Association.
Past winners of the prize for best fiction include many of the giants of Australian crime fiction such as Shane Maloney, Peter Temple, Michael Robotham and Garry Disher.
Back in the day, the awards were dominated by men, but that has become more balanced in recent years with a new wave of female winners including Jane Harper, Candice Fox and Sulari Gentil.
So it’s an absolute delight – and honour – to be short listed for this years award, together with some wonderful writers, friends and colleagues: Tim Ayliffe, Ashlay Kalagian Blunt, Shelley Burr, Megan Goldin, Amanda Hampson, Sally Hepworth and Benjamin Stevenson.
If you’re looking for a good read, you could do worse than starting with this shortlist!