Each year the Australian Crime Writers Association recognises and celebrates the achievements and continuing strength of Australian authors.
The Ned Kelly Awards for crime writing are among Australia’s oldest and most recognised awards. They are a highlight of the Australian publishing and literary calendar and received more than 160 entries this year.
The Best Debut Crime Fiction Award showcases our newest Australian writers and the diversity of style and stories they bring to the crime fiction genre.
The 2026 debut shortlist is an exciting example of a fresh crop of Australian crime authors.
The judging panel this year commented that the range of books included several bold topics and fresh writing styles. Settings and characters, in particular, stood out this year with both being finely detailed and exquisitely written to draw in the reader.
The Australian Crime Writers Association is proud to announce the 2026 Ned Kelly Awards Shortlist for Best Debut Crime Fiction:
In Bloom by Liz Allan
The Butterfly Women by Madeleine Cleary
The Peak by Sam Guthrie
Malaleuca by Angie Faye Martin
The Wolf Tree by Laura McCluskey
The Wykehamist by Alexandra Strnad
Award categories: Best True Crime, Best Debut, Best International and Best Crime Fiction. Inquiries to: Karina Kilmore: info@austcrimewriters.com (Winners announced September)