Widow’s Island by L A Larkin
Widow’s Island isn’t the most complex thriller of its type, but its rhythm leads you easily into down the dark path of the story and on to a satisfying conclusion.
Australian crime writing
The Silent Listener by Lyn Yeowart
Propelling the reader back and forth between the 1940s, 1960s and 1980s, The Silent Listener is an unforgettable literary suspense novel set in the dark, gothic heart of rural Australia. Warning: depiction of family violence will make you quiver and wince.
The Serpent’s Skin by Erina Reddan
Fourteen years after her mother suddenly disappeared JJ has a new life, but she puts it all in jeopardy when she stumbles across a chance to solve that dark mystery of her childhood. She organises a family reunion …
The Bombay Prince by Sujata Massey
Massey’s Perveen Mistry series is set during a period of political unrest and violence sparked by the arrival of Edward, Prince of Wales (and the future King Edward VIII) on a tour of India in 1921. It’s an intricate tapestry of a story and a fascinating insight into a complex culture
Beware of Dogs by Elizabeth Flann
Elizabeth Flann’s Beware of Dogs won the Banjo Prize for Fiction in 2019. It’s a carefully crafted cross-genre tale open to multiple readings: a contemporary castaway’s ordeal, a crime suspense story, a correlative of a psychological escape endeavour, and an exemplar of urbanised humanity’s need for the natural environment.
Fatal female friendships: Author spotlight with Polly Phillips
Perth author, Polly Phillips, drew on her observations and portrayals of female friendships for her debut novel My Best Friend’s Murder (Simon & Schuster). Gaslighting in female friendship hasn’t been examined with the same nuance that romantic relationships have, she says.
Sarah Bailey: Author, advertising executive and managing company partner
This month’s Murder Monday interview by Sisters in Crime’s national co-convenor, Karina Kilmore is with Sarah Bailey whose debut novel, The Dark Lake, is a best seller in Australia, the USA and Canada and won both the 2018 Davitt Award for Best Crime Debut and the 2018 Ned Kelly award for Best First Crime. (Click on …
New rules apply! Sisters in Crime’s Annual General Meeting – Carmel Shute (secretary) reports
Sisters in Crime held its much delayed Annual General Meeting yesterday (30 May) by Zoom. Thanks to the pandemic, it has been a long year since its last AGM – 19 months, in fact – but financial members rallied to the call for a big turnout (a quorum of 10%) to pass the new rules …
Launch of the 28th Scarlet Stiletto Awards – with a body or three in the library
Sisters in Crime Australia is joining forces with its long-time supporter, the Melbourne Athenaeum Library, to launch its 28th Scarlet Stiletto Awards for best short crime and mystery stories by Australian women. A record $11,910 is up for grabs this year. The Melbourne Athenaeum Library has sponsored the ‘Body in the Library’ Award since 2012, …
Working Class Girl: Q&A with Karina Kilmore
Debut author Karina Kilmore drew on her own life and work background to write her debut novel Where the Truth Lies (Simon & Schuster) which centres on a journalist investigating a death on the wharves and the tribal divide between big business, the media and unions. She spoke to Maggie Baron. Q: Hi Karina, firstly …