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Best holiday reads, 2023-2024

Sisters in Crime invited convenors, author members, Davitt Award judges and winners, and others to nominate their best holiday reads for 2023-2024. As you’ll note, they traverse an extraordinarily wide range of themes, locations, and interests. There is even a bit of magic – not to mention reindeer (not Santa’s helpers!) Some nominations are up-to-the-minute. Others are golden oldies. What they all offer, of course, are hours of reading pleasure and diversion. Let us know what you think.

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).

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.

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”.

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.

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.

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.

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: Patricia Wolf

For the November Murder Monday, Sisters in Crime’s Jacq Ellem talks to Patricia Wolf, author of the international bestselling debut novel, Outback. Her second DS Walker novel, Paradise, came out in May, and a third one is in the offing.
Patricia grew up in Queensland, Australia. She likes whisky and strong coffee, busy cities, surf beaches and wild places which doesn’t quite square with now living in Berlin.

Jillian Cantor, The Fiction Writer

For the November Crime Stack, Simon & Schuster has kindly offered 20 copies of The Fiction Writer the 12th novel by international bestselling author, Jillian Cantor, who is based in Arizona. 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 Fiction Writer.