Melbourne Rare Book Week: Digging for Dirt – Criminal inspiration from the archives

Sisters in Crime and the Prahran Mechanics Institute are partnering to present this special Melbourne Rare Book Week event, 5.30 for 6.00 pm, Tuesday 28 July.

Tara Oldfield and Lucy Sussex will be discussing the critical role that archival research plays in creating historical crime writing, both fiction and non-fiction. Using primary sources—such as police records, court transcripts, newspaper accounts, and diaries – helps create authentic narratives and enables characters to solve mysteries. 

Tara Oldfield’s debut novel, Diamonds, Furs and Murder: The Many Crimes of Mona Hayes (Ginninderra Press, March, 2026) is an historical fiction inspired by the life and crimes of little-known 1930s’ thief Mona Hayes.

While working at Public Record Office Victoria, Tara happened upon the files of the fascinating 1930s’ Melbourne criminal Mona and her criminal mates. Ten years of research and writing later, Tara’s historical fiction novel, inspired by these real-life crims, was born.

Mona Hayes was described by police as a well-educated, exceptionally clever crook – if she sees something she wants, she takes it. Diamonds, watches, and furs are Mona’s weakness. Not to be deterred by jail time, she hones her craft, performing cons on shopkeepers and charming the police. But when Mona falls in love with the mysterious Albert Sharpe, she quickly goes from petty crook to killer – then disappears from the public record. More info.

Lucy Sussex’s abiding interest in the hidden narratives to be revealed from research began as a reference librarian. Later, the task of identifying the woman behind Waif Wander led to a quest lasting years, finding over 500 short stories and even more pseudonyms. Often, a clue in a digitised newspaper will lead to cross-referencing, using both digitised records and hardcopy archival research. She has crossed the globe virtually, and actually, in search of facts. She is currently working on the queer life of writer Fergus Hume, using archival research about his blackmailers. 

Lucy’s most recent books are the 2025 Outrageous Fortunes, a biography of crime writer Mary Fortune and her criminal son George; and Nothing but Murders, a collection of Fortune’s detective fiction, both with Megan Brown. Lucy has abiding interests in women’s lives, Australiana, and crime fiction. Her award-winning fiction includes the novel, The Scarlet Rider (1996, reprint Ticonderoga 2015), and her anthology She’s Fantastical was shortlisted for the World Fantasy Award. She has five short story collections.

Her 2015 book, Fergus Hume & The Mystery of a Hansom Cab: The Story of the Crime Novel that Became a Global Publishing Phenomenon (Text), won the History Publication Award in the Victorian Community History Prizes. Lucy’s Women Writers and Detectives in the Nineteenth Century (2012) examines the mothers of the mystery genre. More info.

Men or ‘brothers-in-law’ welcome.

Free, but please book by 12 pm Monday, 27 July.

Additional information: Carmel Shute, Sisters in Crime Programming Coordinator, 0412 569 356; admin@sistersincrime.org.au