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 holiday reading. Fourteen ripper reads for only $5. Sydney author, Dinuka McKenzie, launched the book at the award ceremony on 21 November.
Emerita Professor Christina Lee wrangled the final judging session and also penned the introduction.
“Another year, another amazing collection of some of the best of Australian women’s crime writing . . . ,” she said.
“The range and variety of stories this year was outstanding. There were bodies in all manner of libraries, retributions fast and slow, mysteries in historical settings and faraway places. There were stories set in cities and deserts, the future and the past, worlds real and imagined. The protagonists were women, children, animals, and fantasy creatures.
“The authors’ tones ranged from light and hilarious to spooky and terrifying. There are stories from this year that will live forever in my head, stories in styles that I might never have chosen to read but devoured with pleasure when they were assigned. Judging was, as always, a great joy, an education, and a chance to reflect on one’s own limited range of preferences and experiences.”
Another amazing read is The Scarlet Stiletto: 30 Years of Mystery, Murder and Malice, edited by Vice-President Lindy Cameron, courtesy of Clan Destine Press. It came out in 2023 and features all first-prize-winning stories from the first three decades. And you can order paperback copies ($36.99), as well as e-books ($7.99)
Scarlet Stiletto: The 17th Cut – purchase here.
The Scarlet Stiletto: 30 Years of Mystery, Murder and Malice (paperback $36.99; e-book $9.95) – purchase here.