After what can only be described as extensive deliberation, the judges have announced the shortlist for the Davitt Awards 2025. Congratulations to all of these very worthy Australian women writers.
Ruth Wykes, Davitts Coordinator and Sisters in Crime Convenor said “This shortlist is a stunning collection of Australian women’s crime writing. Everyone always says how hard it has been to judge an awards, but this was particularly true this year. What incredible riches we have amongst our Australian women crime writers. We had robust debate, many books were re-read and re-read, and the decisions were fiercely debated. I have huge admiration for our judges who were informed and diligent throughout. Just look at what has been left out and you can see how hard this decision was. We now heartily congratulate these shortlisted authors and will be meeting again to decide on the final winners”.
The winners will be announced on Friday 5 September at an awards ceremony in Melbourne.
ADULT FICTION
Donna M. Cameron, The Rewilding (Transit Lounge Publishing)
Shankari Chandran, Safe Haven (Ultimo Press)
Georgia Harper, What I Would Do to You (Penguin Random House Australia) Debut
Fiona McFarlane, Highway 13 (Allen & Unwin)
Vikki Wakefield, To the River (Text Publishing)
NON FICTION
Dassi Erlich, In Bad Faith: Inside a Secret Ultra-Orthodox Sect and the Brutal Betrayal It Tried to
Hide (Hachette Australia) Debut
Anne Manne, Crimes of the Cross (Black Inc Books)
Lucia Osborne-Crowley, The Lasting Harm: Witnessing the Trial of Ghislaine Maxwell (Allen &
Unwin)
YOUNG ADULT
Jane Godwin, Look Me in the Eye (Hachette Australia)
Erin Gough, Into the Mouth of the Wolf (Hardie Grant Publishing)
CHILDRENS
Judith Rossell, The Midwatch (Hardie Grant Publishers)
Emily Gale and Nova Weetman, Outlaw Girls (Text Publishing)
Joe Weatherstone, Queen of the Dogs (Walker Books) Debut