Entries for the Scarlet Stiletto Awards 2026 are open! Join Australia’s premier short story crime writing competition for Australian women authors. Entries close at midnight on 31 August 2026.
How to enter
For Better, For Verse: Sharon Kernot
Author Sharon Kernot reflects on writing in free verse and the influence of Dorothy Porter on her latest work.
Anna Woods and moments of light in the darkness
Robyn Walton speaks to Anna Woods about her new novel and psychological thriller, LIT.
Red Herrings
Catch up with the latest crime events from around the nation. Already there are lots of crime events happening, especially in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Whatever the time, whatever the season, don’t forget that a book is the perfect gift. It offers so much reading pleasure as well as supporting authors and the publishing industry.
Win a copy of Neighbourhood Watch
Affirm Press, now an imprint of Simon & Schuster, is generously donating twenty copies Neighbourhood Watch by Lauren Williams, for the Crime Stack for July.
It’s time for Australian crime to come in from the wilderness – the best new novel is set in the suburbs, where the secrets are bigger and everyone’s watching. This is a special offer to Sisters’ members – so join now to be in the running.
BOOKED OUT! Melbourne Rare Book Week: Digging for Dirt – Criminal inspiration from the archives
Sisters in Crime and the Prahran Mechanics Institute are partnering to present a special Melbourne Rare Book Week event , Digging for Dirt – Criminal inspiration from the archives. Tara Oldfield and Lucy Sussex will be discussing the critical role that archival research plays in creating historical crime writing, both fiction and non-fiction.
Law & Disorder
Drawing on the rich tradition of lawyers dominating crime and legal fiction are three Australian authors Rebecca Lim (The Graduate), Joanna Jenkins (Bad Neighbours), and Eve Thomson (Smother). Their investigations traverse top male-dominated law firms, an Art Deco apartment complex, and an elite school’s girls’ football team. They’ll be admitting all to host, Melbourne author, Lyn Yeowart.
Cut a long story short
Grabbing a copy of Scarlet Stiletto: The Seventeenth Cut (ed. Phyllis King), the e-book collection of winning stories in the recent 32nd Scarlet Stiletto Awards, is the perfect answer to reading quandaries. Fourteen ripper reads for only $5.
New Reviews
Every month Sisters in Crime brings you new reviews from women who write criminally good books.