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.
Australia’s love affair with crime books continued this year with 160+ books entered for the 2025 Ned Kelly Awards. The majority of those entries, more than 100, were for the Best Crime category.
The judging panel commented that the 2026 entries offered a large range of sub-genre within the crime fiction category, including spy thrillers, noir, historical, outback crime as well as political and community corruption and social crime. It was a true reflection on the broad range of crime writing throughout Australia and internationally.
The Australian Crime Writers Association is proud to announce the 2026 Ned Kelly Awards Shortlist for Best Crime Fiction.
Liar’s Game by Jack Beaumont
Lyrebird by Jane Caro
The Other Child by Susi Fox
Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth
The Ghost Walk by Karen Herbert
Fire in the Head by Daniel Oakman
The White Crow by Michael Robotham
The Casino by Iain Ryan
Award categories: Best True Crime, Best Debut, Best International and Best Crime Fiction. Inquiries to: Karina Kilmore: info@austcrimewriters.com (Winners announced September)