A childhood spent reading Trixie Belden novels inspired Nicole Morris to devote herself to the cause of missing persons. When she gets a new missing persons case, she feels like Trixie. She thinks how can I help find this person? What will I write that might reach the person who knows what happened? Find out more here and learn about Nicole’s book, Vanished: True Stories from families of Australian missing persons.
The Interpreter, Brooke Robinson’s debut novel, explores the power of language to bring – or avoid – justice. Its protagonist, Revelle Lee, is a court interpreter in London. She’s supposed to be impartial, in order to change the course of a trial she intentionally mistranslates a couple of words. The result is a compelling, twisty thriller.
Sisters in Crime has announced its shortlist for its 23rd Davitt Awards for the best crime and mystery books – eight adult novels, four YA adults, three children’s novels, three non-fiction books, and six debut novels (most of which are nominated in other categories) – but it’s not disproportionate given that 144 books are in contention!
Sisters in Crime’s Jacq Ellem gives the Murder Monday treatment to American cosy crime writer Raquel V. Reyes, author of the Caribbean Kitchen Mystery Series featuring Latina sleuth, Miriam Quiñones-Smith. Her Cuban-American heritage, Miami, and ‘Spanglish’ feature prominently in her work.
For the July Crime Stack, Penguin Random House Australia has kindly offered 20 copies of Broken Bay, the third in her award-winning police procedural series featuring Detective Sergeant Mark Ariti. Cutters End, the first in the series, was the winner of the BAD Danger Prize 2022 and was shortlisted for the Ned Kelly Award for Best First Fiction 2022. To be in the running you need to be a member of Sisters in Crime. Why not join now?
Thirty-three books have made it to the longlist for the 23rd Davitt Awards for the best crime and mystery books published by women in 2022. It’s a long longlist but the overall number of books competing is 144, including a formidable 101 adult novels. And what’s even more remarkable is the standard of the writing.
Over her years working as a humanitarian aid worker, Chris Stuart would return home between assignments, but couldn’t really talk about what she had seen or done and some her stories made for uncomfortable listening. She learned it was easier to remain silent, but the stories, the inequity, the tragedies were ingrained in her head and cemented in her heart.
Part of the reason Rae Cairns writes, alongside an absolute love of storytelling, is to try to understand why people do what they do. She is particularly intrigued by the complexity of relationships, especially within family units, and the power of the need to belong. She is driven by the idea of exploring the female ‘hero’.
Voting for Sisters in Crime’s 23nd Davitt Awards Readers’ Choice Award is now open to financial members.
An impressive 144 books are competing. Voting for the Readers’ Award Choice closes Friday 28 July, 11.59 pm. If you’re not a member, join now if you want to vote.
Our guest author for the June Murder Monday is the US best-selling author, T J Newman. T J, a former book seller and flight attendant based in Arizona, has been flying high since her debut novel, Falling, became a publishing sensation and debuted at number two on the New York Times bestseller list. She spoke about her crime craft to Jacq Ellem, bibliophile, copywriter, occasional broadcaster, award-winning podcaster, and a member of the new Tasmanian chapter.