A sea of scarlet and pearls: Celebrating 30 years of mystery, murder, and malice with Sisters in Crime’s Scarlet Stiletto Awards

South Melbourne’s Rising Sun Hotel was awash with scarlet and pearls on Saturday night (25 November) as crime writers and fans gathered to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Sisters in Crime’s Scarlet Stiletto Awards for best short stories. This year, a record 250 short stories competed for a record $12,720 in prize money. Over the…

Murder Monday: Hannah Richell

For the December Murder Monday, Sisters in Crime’s Jacq Ellem spoke to Hannah Richell, dual citizen of the UK and Australia, and author of four international bestselling novels – Secrets of the Tides (2012), The Shadow Year (2014), The Peacock Summer (2019) and The River Home (2020). Hannah’s latest novel is The Search Party (out very soon with Simon & Schuster).

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Celebrating 30 Years of Mystery, Murder and Malice

To mark the Scarlet Stiletto Awards big anniversary, Sisters in Crime published The Scarlet Stiletto: 30 Years of Mystery, Murder and Malice, edited by Vice-President Lindy Cameron, courtesy of Clan Destine Press. Sue Turnbull says that this precious volume contains all 30 of the winning stories that are so different in their approach that it is evident that there is no ‘right’ way to write a winning Scarlet Stiletto story. Indeed, what the unpredictability of these stories suggest is that the more unconventional and original your take on the genre might be, the more likely you are to succeed.

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Never underestimate the power of a scarlet stiletto: Cate Kennedy

Cate Kennedy, the winner of the first two Scarlet Stiletto Awards in 1994 and 1995, and launched Scarlet Stiletto: The Fifteenth Cut, an e-book collection of the 2023 winning stories, edited by Phyllis King ($7.99) and The Scarlet Stiletto: 30 Years of Mystery, Murder and Malice, edited by Lindy Cameron. (paperback $36.99; e-book $7.99), And, after a witty speech, she sang a wonderful Christmas song, “God rest ye women crime writers, let nothing you dismay”.

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Téa Cooper, The Talented Mrs Greenway

For the December-January Crime Stack, HQ Fiction has kindly offered 20 copies of The Talented Mrs Greenway by NSW bestselling author, Téa Cooper. The Crime Stack is a benefit for Sisters in Crime members. Every month there are 20 books to win in a random draw of members. Join now and be in the running for a complimentary paperback copy of The Talented Mrs Greenway.

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Dreaming of Manderley (and Mailbu): Jill Cantor

Inspired by all the women who wrote gothic mysteries before me, I wrote my own modern-day take on one with The Fiction Writer. But I also wanted to explore what it means to create original work, what it means to be a struggling writer, and who owns any story.

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Double Vision: Marele Day

For the first time, pioneering, prize-winning Sysney author, Marele Day, has put herself on the page. Reckless blends memoir, adventure and crime, and explores the nature of risk and friendship. In it Marele writes about her past, her friendship with the ‘shapeshifter’ Jean Kay, and her investigation into his part in a multi-million-dollar heist. Reckless is a memoir and its structure more closely mirrors how memory works – events in the present trigger memories of the past.

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Sisters in Crime SA – End-of-year Networking Event with Crime Quiz

Everyone is welcome at Sisters in Crime South Australia’s end-of-year Networking Drinks and Crime Quiz, 6.30 pm Wednesday 13 December at the Seven Stars Hotel, Angas Street, Adelaide. The cost includes a drink upon arrival (at the bar) and finger food (platters). We look forward to celebrating the end of the year with you! $20-25. Meantime, …

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Another big year for Sisters in Crime Australia  

Sisters in Crime Australia held its 2023 Annual General Meeting on Friday 13 October 2023, following its Killing Time event at South Melbourne’s Rising Sun Hotel. Elected were President: Kelly Gardiner; Vice-President: Lindy Cameron; Secretary: Carmel Shute: Treasurer: Lesley Gillis and committee members Leslie Falkiner Rose and Ruth Wykes.

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23rd Davitt Awards winners announced

The 23rd Davitt Awards Ceremony on 2 September was booked out and a huge success. Debi Marshall, the Walkley-award winning investigative journalist and true-crime author, presented the awards after discussing her amazing life in crime with Emily Webb, true crime author and podcaster (and former Davitt Judge). Six wonderul books won awards.

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New Reviews

Every month Sisters in Crime brings you new reviews from women who write criminally good books.

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