IF I TELL YOU.. I'LL HAVE TO KILL YOU, edited by Michael Robotham

• Allen & Unwin paper back
• ISBN 978-1-743331-348-0
• 319 pages
• borrowed from my local library

Kindle edition available July 24

Australia's best crime writers - Michael Robotham, Kerry Greenwood, Shane Maloney, Peter Corris, Tara Moss and more - share the secrets to their success, their best- ever writing tips and their favourite 'must reads'. An ideal guide for aspiring writers and crime fiction fans alike.

Description

Crime fiction is the single most popular genre in international publishing and Australia has some of the finest practitioners when it comes to walking the mean streets and nailing the bad guys.

Whether you're a fan of crime fiction, true crime or a would-be crime writer, this collection of essays will provide laughter, understanding, insight, ideas, advice and hopefully some inspiration. Learn about Shane Maloney's near-death experience in a freezer, Leigh Redhead's adventures as a stripper and Tara Moss taking a polygraph test to prove her doubters wrong.

There are stories of struggle and triumph, near misses and murderous intent, as our best crime writers lay bare their souls and reveal their secrets as never before, along with their rules for writing and reading lists.

But beware. They will have to kill you...

My Take

All royalties from this book go towards the Australian Crime Writers Association, which runs the annual Ned Kelly Awards and was established to promote crime writing and reading in Australia.
So while I read this copy from my local library, I also bought a copy for my Kindle.

Here's a unique opportunity to find out what makes some of your favourite Aussie authors tick. The book consists of 20 very readable essays. I've sat through a lot of author talks at the Adelaide Writer's Week and reading these essays reminded me of some of the more candid of those sessions. The five "must-reads" at the end of each essay give further insight and for me, reminded me that I have never read Raymond Chandler's THE BIG SLEEP.

The Table of Contents reads a bit like a Who's Who of successful Australian crime writers, so here is a chance of finding a new author or two, or just relaxing in the company of someone you already follow. The format was a winner for me - each essay is twelve to fifteen pages long and is followed by "My Rules" which of course vary from writer to writer, and then "Five Must Reads" with similarities from author to author.

The final essay is from Peter Lawrance and picks out some of the highlights in the history of the Ned Kelly Awards, founded in 1996. Peter is a long-time convenor and organiser of the NKs.

Well done to whoever had the idea of putting this anthology together. It should be must reading for all crime fiction courses, whether for readers or budding writers.

My rating: 4.8

24 July 2013, On the doorstep, waiting to be read

As you can see from my list below, I am not making a lot of headway in making my TBR (To Be Read) pile diminish. Review copies are piling up, not helped by my self selected library books. Hopefully you will also find something to interest you among these. See the history of this occasional post. I'd like to also stress that there is no rhyme or reason to my selections. Please note that this listing is in no way a recommendation for you to read a title, simply a chance for you to assess for yourself whether you would like to read it. I will also try to discover whether the book is available on Kindle, particularly for Australian authors which are not necessarily available overseas.

IF I TELL YOU.. I'LL HAVE TO KILL YOU, edited by Michael Robotham
Kindle edition available July 24
Allen & Unwin paper back

Australia's best crime writers - Michael Robotham, Kerry Greenwood, Shane Maloney, Peter Corris, Tara Moss and more - share the secrets to their success, their best- ever writing tips and their favourite 'must reads'. An ideal guide for aspiring writers and crime fiction fans alike.

Description

Crime fiction is the single most popular genre in international publishing and Australia has some of the finest practitioners when it comes to walking the mean streets and nailing the bad guys.

Whether you're a fan of crime fiction, true crime or a would-be crime writer, this collection of essays will provide laughter, understanding, insight, ideas, advice and hopefully some inspiration. Learn about Shane Maloney's near-death experience in a freezer, Leigh Redhead's adventures as a stripper and Tara Moss taking a polygraph test to prove her doubters wrong.

There are stories of struggle and triumph, near misses and murderous intent, as our best crime writers lay bare their souls and reveal their secrets as never before, along with their rules for writing and reading lists.

But beware. They will have to kill you...

THE SHADOW TRACER, Meg Gardiner

A review copy from Penguin Australia
Kindle edition here.

When someone wants to find you badly enough, vanishing is no longer an option
.
Sarah Keller is a young single mother living in Oklahoma with her five year-old daughter, Zoe. Her day job is to hunt out people on the run and bring them to justice. So imagine how it looks when a school bus accident sends Zoe to the ER and tests reveal Sarah can't be Zoe's mother.

Sarah has been living a lie for years and finally the truth is coming out. Who is she? Who were Zoe's parents? And why does Zoe's identity bring the FBI down on Sarah's tail in mere minutes?
The FBI is the least of her worries, though. Sarah needs to keep Zoe off the grid, but with a sinister religious cult also preparing to attack, where on earth can they hide?

Something deadly lurks in Sarah's past and its resurrection brings terror to all it touches.

EYE FOR AN EYE, Ben Coes
Review copy from Pan Macmillan Australia
Amazon Kindle version here

When Dewey Andreas uncovers the identity of a mole embedded at a high level in Israel's Mossad, it triggers a larger, more dangerous plot. The mole was the most important asset of Chinese Intelligence, and Fao Bhang, head of China's Ministry of State Security (MSS), responds to the discovery and brutal elimination of the mole, by immediately placing a kill order on the man responsible – Dewey Andreas.

Dewey is tracked to Argentina, where he is on vacation with his fiancee, Jessica Tanzer, a U.S. National Security Advisor. A top-level kill team is sent in quickly and quietly, but their attack fails to take out Dewey. The collateral damage, however, is both horrifying and deeply personal. With nothing left to lose, Andreas is determined to have his revenge.

Once he learns who is probably behind the attack – and why they are after him – Dewey goes rogue, using all of his assets and skills to launch a counterattack. Andreas must now face the full weight and might of the MSS, Chinese Intelligence, and the formidable Fao Bhang, if he's to achieve his one last goal: revenge on a biblical scale, no matter the odds or the armies that he will have to fight his way through. Andreas – former Army Ranger and Delta – is a man of great skills and cunning. His opponent, Fao Bhang, is ruthless, determined, and with no limit to the assets at his disposal. In this conflict, there are only two possible outcomes. And only one Dewey Andreas.

DEADLY HARVEST, Michael Stanley
Library book - I need to read this for the 2013 Global Reading Challenge which I have sadly been neglecting
Kindle version available

Synopsis (Amazon)

Deadly Harvest in Michael Stanley’s beloved Detective Kubu series tracks a series of murders and a mysterious witch doctor whose nefarious potions might hold the key to a web of missing persons.

When young girls start to go missing, Samantha, a new detective on the Botswana police force suspects that muti, a traditional African medicine, is the reason. She and Detective David “Kubu” Bengu race to stop a serial killer, all as the father of one of the victims threatens to take matters into his own hands.

Weaving together a thrilling mystery with a fascinating look at modern-day Africa, Deadly Harvest is filled with elements suspense and plot twists that will keep you captivated until the very end.

GODS & BEASTS, Denise Mina
Library book - this recently won the Theakston's Old Peculier Novel of the Year Award at the Harrogate Crime Festival
Kindle edition

Synopsis (Amazon)

A Glasgow post office one week before Christmas. Martin Pavel cowers on the floor, his eyes locked on those of a terrified child. Above them a masked gunman wields an AK47 while the boy's grandfather calmly volunteers to help the robber gather the money. Then the old man stands passively, hands by his sides, while the gunman raises the barrel and shoots him to shreds.

Recently returned to work after the birth of her twins, DS Alex Morrow is called in to head the investigation. Why did the grandfather offer his help? Was it a moment of madness, a noble act of self-sacrifice, or did the old man and his killer share a dark past?

Morrow's enquiries lead her to the door of Kenny Gallagher, a politician fighting for his political life - and his marriage - after he's publicly accused of having an affair with a young employee. And unknown to Morrow a temptation too great to resist leads two of her colleagues, DCs Leonard and Wilder, to make a rash decision and leaves them at the mercy of a ruthless blackmailer.

The complicity of an old man in his own death, a promiscuous politician and a bag of untraceable money - one city, three crimes and a powerful connection that runs from Glasgow's dark criminal underworld to the international spheres of the super rich.

THE CORPSE ON THE COURT, Simon Brett
Library book - this will bring me up to date in the Fethering series.

Available on Kindle

Synopsis (Fantastic Fiction)

Jude's life has been turned upside-down thanks her new mant, Piers Targett, who's keen to get her involved in his hobby - or obsession - of Real Tennis. But when one of Piers' friends dies on the court in suspicious circumstances, Jude finds herself caught up in the police investigation.

Meanwhile, Jude's neighbour Carole is trying to identify the human remains known locally as the 'Lady in the Lake.' As the two investigations become intertwined, Carole and Jude's efforts to find the truth look set to lead to more murders.

Review: WATCHING YOU, Michael Robotham

• publication Australia August 8 2013 (see other release dates)
• published by Sphere
• ISBN 978-1-84744-527-8
• 441 pages
• Available for pre-order on Amazon
• source: ARC from author/publisher

Synopsis (author site)

Marnie Logan often feels like she's being watched. Nothing she can quite put her finger on - a whisper of breath on the back of her neck, or a shadow in the corner of her eye - and now her life is frozen.
Her husband Daniel has been missing for more than a year. Depressed and increasingly desperate, she seeks the help of clinical psychologist Joe O'Loughlin.
Joe is concerned by Marnie's reluctance to talk about the past, but then she discovers a book packed with pictures, interviews with friends, former teachers, old flames and workmates Daniel was preparing for her birthday. It was supposed to be a celebration of her life. But it's not the story anyone was expecting...

My Take

Another terrific read from Michael Robotham. There are bits of the plot that strain credibility but, balanced against the superb writing, they hardly matter. Rather they serve to make the reader question whether something like that could happen.

The structure of the story is interesting - two main stories unfolding side by side. I find as I write that I can't really talk too much about the book without plot spoilers. You'll have to take my word for it that I found WATCHING YOU a very satisfying read. Read the first chapter here.

Followers of Robotham will welcome the furtherance of the Joe O'Loughlin / Vincent Ruiz story, and I for one want the next story NOW.

My rating: 5.0

Other reviews on this blog
BOMBPROOF
SHATTER
SHATTER (audio)
BLEED FOR ME
5.0, THE WRECKAGE
4.8, SAY YOU'RE SORRY 

Watch out for IF I TELL YOU, I'LL HAVE TO KILL YOU being released in August at the Byron Bay Writer's Festival. Edited by Michael Robotham,  (More)
Australia’s finest crime writers reveal their secrets
Find out where they bury their bodies…
Crime fiction is the single most popular genre in international publishing and Australia has some of the finest practitioners when it comes to walking the mean streets and nailing the bad guys.

Whether you’re a fan of crime fiction, true crime or a would-be crime writer, this collection of essays will provide laughter, understanding, insight, ideas, advice and hopefully some inspiration. Learn about Shane Maloney’s near-death experience in a freezer, Leigh Redhead’s adventures as a stripper and Tara Moss taking a polygraph test to prove her doubters wrong.

There are stories of struggle and triumph, near misses and murderous intent, as our best crime writers lay bare their souls and reveal their secrets as never before, along with their rules for writing and reading lists.
But beware. They will have to kill you…

Review: BICYCLE SHOP MURDER, Robert Burton Robinson

•  Format: Kindle (Amazon)
• File Size: 334 KB
• Print Length: 250 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1448610818
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B002BWPZDC
• Source: I bought it

Synopsis (Amazon)

Greg Tenorly Suspense Series - Book 1. Suspense with a touch of romance. Length: 56,300 words.
Greg Tenorly lives a quiet and lonely life in a small East Texas town, until he is selected as a juror for a murder trial. A beautiful, mysterious redhead befriends him, and seems to have a romantic interest. But is she merely using him to influence the outcome of the trial?
By the end of the first week, three people connected with the case are dead, and Greg is beginning to fear for his own life. He is now convinced that a powerful Dallas attorney is directing the murder spree in his little town. But why? He is determined to find out. But his investigation just might earn him a spot at the top of the hit list.

My take

#1 in the Greg Tenorly suspense series (see full list below).

As the title suggests, the book focusses on the trial of a young black man accused of murdering the owner of a bicycle shop. The victim was elderly but also well thought of in the small community, particularly for the work he did adolescents in repairing their bicycles.

It takes a while to select the jury and the reader becomes aware that someone is trying to rig the jury in order that the accused will be acquitted. How serious this is becomes obvious when first of all a witness and then a juror are found dead, the latter clearly murdered.

Greg Tenorly, part-time music teacher, becomes involved because he is on the list from which the jury is chosen, and then Cynthia, the wife of one of the jurors, comes to him because she is being beaten by her husband.

When the wife of the  original victim phones Greg and tells him the name of the person behind the killings, and then is murdered herself, Greg and Cynthia decide to confront him. So begins a series of bizarre episodes when, among other things, they are followed by a hit man.

The main thing that me reading THE BICYCLE SHOP MURDER was that I wanted to know why the first murder had occurred. I thought the novel was rather unpolished in places and could have done with more editorial help. Some of the scenarios were down right improbable. I can't make up my mind if I want to meet Greg and Cynthia again.

My rating: 2.7

About the Author

After a career in music, Robert Burton Robinson worked as a software engineer, developing applications for the Mission Control Center at Johnson Space Center in Houston for fourteen years. His books include the Greg Tenorly Suspense Series: Bicycle Shop Murder, Hideaway Hospital Murders, Illusion of Luck, and Fly the Rain, the Ginger Lightly Short-Novel Mysteries Series: Sweet Ginger Poison and Ginger Dead House, the first book of the Rebecca Ranghorn Short-Novel Mystery Series: Naked Frame, and two short story collections: 22 Short Stories, and Amateur Investigator.

Robert earned a Bachelor of Music degree and a Bachelor of Science in Computer and Information Sciences from Lamar University, and did graduate music work at University of North Texas.

He loves spending time with family, playing guitar, and watching movies. He has three children and six grandchildren. He and his wife live near Houston, Texas.

Fair Dinkum Crime at Left Coast Crime

Tomorrow is the day at Left Coast Crime when our little panel swings into action, item 67, 9-9.45 am on Thursday morning, 12 March to be precise.

I thought participants might appreciate the handout being on line, and those of you unable to be there, would appreciate also being able to see what we are talking about.

I hope I will be able to post later a photo of our accumulated loot for the panel, which includes our own version of "tasting Australia". In true Australian tradition of beer and chook raffles, participants will be given a raffle ticket as they come in the door, so hopefully each will have something apart from a sheet of paper to take away with them.

Recommendations from oz_mystery_readers taken from top books 2007 and 2008:
Adrian Hyland, DIAMOND DOVE
Peter Temple, THE BROKEN SHORE
Barry Maitland, NO TRACE
Chris Nyst, CROOK AS ROOKWOOD
Garry Disher, CHAIN OF EVIDENCE
Michael Robotham: SHATTER, BOMBPROOF
P.D. Martin: BODY COUNT, FAN MAIL, THE MURDERER'S CLUB
Leah Giarratano: VODKA DOESN'T FREEZE, VOODOO DOLL
Katherine Howell: FRANTIC, THE DARKEST HOUR
Leigh Redhead: CHERRY PIE, RUBDOWN
Felicity Young: A CERTAIN MALICE, AN EASEFUL DEATH
Adrian McKinty: DEAD I WELL MAY BE, THE DEAD YARD

Ned Kelly Winners

Best Novel
2008: SHATTER, Michael Robotham
2007: CHAIN OF EVIDENCE, Gary Disher
2006: CROOK AS ROOKWOOD, Chris Nyst & THE BROKEN SHORE, Peter Temple
2005: LOST, Michael Robotham
2004: DEGREES OF CONNECTION, Jon Cleary
2003: WHITE DOG, Peter Temple
2002: DEATH DELIGHTS, Gabrielle Lord
2001: DEAD POINT, Peter Temple & THE SECOND COMING, Andrew Masterson
2000: SHOOTING STAR, Peter Temple
1999: AMAZE YOUR FRIENDS, Peter Doyle
1997: THE BRUSH OFF, Shane Maloney
1996: THE MALCONTENTA, Barry Maitland & INSIDE DOPE, Dope Paul Thomas

Best First Novel
2008: THE LOW ROAD, Chris Womersley
2007: DIAMOND DOVE, Adrian Hyland
2006: OUT OF THE SILENCE, Wendy James
2005: A PRIVATE MAN, Malcolm Knox
2004: THE WALKER, Jane R Goodall & JUNKIE PILGRIM, Wayne Grogan
2003: BLOOD REDEMPTION, Alex Palmer
2002: APARTMENT 255, Bunty Avieson & WHO KILLED ANGELIQUE?, Emma Darcy
2001: LAST DRINKS, Andrew McGahan
2000: THE WOODEN LEG OF INSPECTOR ANDERS, Marshall Browne
1999: THE LAST DAYS, Andrew Masterson
1997: BAD DEBTS, Peter Temple & GET RICH QUICK, Peter Doyle
1996: DARK ANGEL, John Dale

Authors (or their publishers) who gave us books:

Michael Robotham
Felicity Young
P. D. Martin
Brian Kavanagh
Adrian Hyland
Katherine Howell
Chris Womersley
Lenny Bartulin
Tony Berry
Jane R. Goodall

Blogs and sites
MYSTERIES IN PARADISE (Kerrie): http://paradise-mysteries.blogspot.com/
IT’S CRIMINAL (Helen): http://its-criminal.blogspot.com/
SUNNIE’S BOOK BLOG: http://sunniesbookblog.blogspot.com/
REACTIONS TO READING (Bernadette): http://reactionstoreading.wordpress.com/
BOOKS & MUSINGS FROM DOWNUNDER (Sally): http://sally906.blogspot.com
AUST CRIME FICTION (KarenC): http://www.austcrimefiction.org/
NED KELLY AWARDS: http://nedkellyawards.com/

Audio Books (checked by Kathy)
SKIN AND BONE, by Kathryn Fox, and VOODOO DOLL, by Leah Giarratano, and THE CORONER’S LUNCH, by Colin Cotterill are available in audible from amazon.co.uk. I can’t find them in the U.S.

All the remaining books are available through audible.com here in the U.S.:
Gary Disher: CHAIN OF EVIDENCE
Peter Temple: THE BROKEN SHORE, DEAD POINT
Peter Carey: THE TRUE STORY OF THE NED KELLY GANG, HIS ILLEGAL SELF, THEFT: A LOVE STORY, JACK MAGGS, MY LIFE AS A FAKE
Katherine Howell: FRANTIC
Michael Robotham: SUSPECT, LOST, THE NIGHT FERRY, and, in March of 2009 SHATTER
Steve Toltz: A FRACTION OF THE WHOLE,
Kerry Greenwood: MURDER ON A MIDSUMMER NIGHT, MURDER IN MONTPARNASSE, AWAY WITH THE FAIRIES: A PHRYNE FISHER MYSTERY, THE CASTLEMAINE MURDERS: A PHRYNE FISHER MYSTERY, DEVIL’S FOOD, MURDER IN THE DARK: A PHRYNE FISHER MYSTERY, TRICK OR TREAT, DEATH BY WATER: A PHRYNE FISHER MYSTERY, RUDDY GORE: A PHRYNE FISHER MYSTERY
Sydney Bauer: UNDERTOW
Adrian McKinty: THE BLOOMSDAY DEAD, THE DEAD YARD, HIDDEN RIVER,
DEAD I WELL MAY BE
Sara Douglass: HADES' DAUGHTER: THE TROY GAME, BOOK I (UNABRIDGED)
Emma Darcy: WHO KILLED ANGELIQUE, WHO KILLED BIANCA, WHO KILLED CAMILLA
Geoffrey McGeachin: D-E-D DEAD!
Tara Moss: COVET, FETISH, HIT
Michael MacConnell MALESTROM
Kerry McGinnis THE WADI TREE
Gabrielle Lord WHIPPING BOY
Sonya Hartnett OF A BOY
Jane R. Goodall: THE WALKER; THE VISITOR.

Australian authors available in Canada (Ann’s research)

Bauer, Sydney
Corris, Peter
Darcy Emma
Disher, Garry
Douglass Sara
Fox, Kathryn
Gott, Robert
Greenwood Kerry
Howell, Katherine
Hyland, Adrian
Lord, Gabrielle
Maitland, Barry
Maloney, Shane
Martin, P.D.
McGeachan, Geoffrey
McKinty Adrian
Moss, Tara
Peter Carey
Redhead, Leigh
Robotham Michael
Rowe, Jennifer
Temple, Peter
Toltz Steve
Upfield, Arthur

Oz_Mystery_Readers Announce top reads for 2008

The oz_mystery_readers Yahoo group has announced it's top crime fiction reads for 2008.

15 members suggested 140 titles

How we voted:

47% (7) - SHATTER, Michael Robotham
25% (4) - FAN MAIL, P. D. Martin
20% (3) - THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, Stieg Larsson
20% (3) - VODKA DOESN'T FREEZE, Leah Giarratano

then all the following were chosen by 2 readers
A CURE FOR ALL DISEASES, Reginald Hill
A SUPERIOR DEATH, Nevada Barr
BODY COUNT, P.D. Martin
FRANTIC, Katherine Howell
GUILTY PLEASURES, Laurell K. Hamilton
MY ENEMY'S CRADLE, Sara Young
THE DARKEST HOUR, Katherine Howell
THE DRAINING LAKE, Arnaldur Indridason
THE PRIVATE PATIENT, P.D. James
VOODOO DOLL, Leah Giarratano

If we sort it by author here is what we get (*** Aussie writers surface)

50% (8) - ***Michael Robotham: SHATTER, BOMBPROOF
47% (7) - ***P.D. Martin: BODY COUNT, FAN MAIL, THE MURDERER'S CLUB
40% (6) - ***Leah Giarratano: VODKA DOESN'T FREEZE, VOODOO DOLL
25% (4) - ***Katherine Howell: FRANTIC, THE DARKEST HOUR
20% (3) - Stieg Larsson: THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
20% (3) - Nevada Barr: A SUPERIOR DEATH, TRACK OF THE CAT

then each of the following authors got 2 mentions
Val McDermid: A DARKER DOMAIN, BENEATH THE BLEEDING
Stephanie Meyer: NEW MOON, TWILIGHT
Sara Young: MY ENEMY'S CRADLE
Reginald Hill: A CURE FOR ALL DISEASES
Peter Robinson: FRIEND OF THE DEVIL
Nicci French: LOSING YOU, THE MEMORY GAME
Lynda la Plante: ABOVE SUSPICION, CLEAN CUT
Linwood Barclay: NO TIME FOR GOODBYE, TOO CLOSE TO HOME
***Leigh Redhead: CHERRY PIE, RUBDOWN
Ken Bruen: CROSS, PRIEST
Jo Nesbo: NEMESIS, THE REDBREAST
Fred Vargas: SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR, WASH THIS BLOOD CLEAN FROM MY HAND
***Felicity Young: A CERTAIN MALICE, AN EASEFUL DEATH
Arnaldur Indridason: THE DRAINING LAKE
Ann Cleeves: RAVEN BLACK, WHITE NIGHTS
Adrian McKinty: DEAD I WELL MAY BE, THE DEAD YARD

Good Crime Fiction we read in 2008

Here is the full list that resulted from What were your Best Crime Fiction reads for 2008?

40 crime fiction readers listed 396 books
On Monday I posted the top 21 books, and yesterday the top 37 authors.
Today I am listing all the books by author.

Literary zines - DARKNESS BEFORE THE DAWN, POWDER BURN FLASH, TWIST OF NOIR
Adrian Hyland - DIAMOND DOVE (aka MOONLIGHT DOWNS)
Adrian McKinty - DEAD I MAY WELL BE, HIDDEN RIVER, THE BLOOMSDAY DEAD, THE DEAD YARD
Agatha Christie - CAT AMONG THE PIGEONS, FIVE LITTLE PIGS, NEMESIS, THE MURDER OF ROGER ACKROYD, THE SEVEN DIALS MYSTERY
Ãke Edwardson - FROZEN TRACKS, SUN AND SHADOW
Alex Auswaks - SHERLOCK HOLMES IN RUSSIA
Aline Templeton - LYING DEAD
Allan Guthrie - SAVAGE NIGHT
Amara Lakhous - CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS OVER AN ELEVATOR IN PIAZZA VITTORIO
Andrea Camilleri - THE PAPER MOON, THE PATIENCE OF THE SPIDER
Andrea Maria Schenkel - THE MURDER FARM
Andrew Taylor - BLEEDING HEART SQUARE
Ann Cleeves - WHITE NIGHTS
Antonia Fraser - A SPLASH OF RED
Arnaldur Indridason - ARCTIC CHILL, THE DRAINING LAKE
Asa Larsson - THE SAVAGE ALTAR (a.k.a THE SUN STORM)
Barry Maitland - BRIGHT AIR
Bart Schneider - THE MAN IN THE BLIZZARD
Benjamin Black - CHRISTINE FALLS
Betty Webb - THE ANTEATER OF DEATH
Boileau and Narcejac - THE PRISONER
Boris Akunin - THE STATE COUNSELLOR
Brian McGilloway - GALLOWS LANE
C J Box - BLUE HEAVEN
C.S. Harris - WHAT ANGELS FEAR, WHEN GODS DIE
Carlo Lucarelli - VIA DELLE OCHE
Carol O'Connell - BONE BY BONE
Castle Freeman - GO WITH ME
Catherine Arley - WOMAN OF STRAW
Catherine O'Flynn - WHAT WAS LOST
Charlaine Harris - AN ICE COLD GRAVE
Charles Ardai - FIFTY-TO-ONE
Charlie Huston - ALREADY DEAD, NO DOMINION
Chris Grabenstein - HELL HOLE, MAD MOUSE, THE CROSSROADS, TILT A WHIRL, WHACK A MOLE
Christa Faust - HOODTOWN, MONEY SHOT
Christopher Fowler - THE VICTORIA VANISHES
Colin Bateman - ORPHEUS RISING
Colin Cotterill - ANARCHY AND OLD DOGS, THE CORONER'S LUNCH
Cormac McCarthy - NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
Craig Holden - FOUR CORNERS OF THE NIGHT
Craig Johnson - DEATH WITHOUT COMPANY, KINDNESS GOES UNPUNISHED, THE COLD DISH
Craig McDonald - TOROS & TORSOS
Cyril Hare - AN ENGLISH MURDER
Daniel Woodrell - GIVE US A KISS
Dave Diotalevi - MIRACLE MYX
Dave Zeltserman - SMALL CRIMES
David Corbett - THE DEVIL'S REDHEAD
David Peace - 1980
David Rosenfeld - OPEN AND SHUT
Deanna Raybourn - SILENT IN THE GRAVE, SILENT IN THE SANCTUARY
Deborah Crombie - DREAMING OF THE BONES, WATER LIKE A STONE
Declan Burke - EIGHTBALL BOOGIE, THE BIG O
Declan Hughes - THE COLOUR OF BLOOD
Denise Mina - A SLIP OF THE KNIFE, THE DEAD HOUR
Deon Meyer - DEVIL'S PEAK
DL Sayers - GAUDY NIGHT
Dominique Manotti - LORRAINE CONNECTION
Don Winslow - THE DAWN PATROL
Donald E. Westlake - DROWNED HOPES
Donna Leon - THE GIRL OF HIS DREAMS
Doris Miles Disney - ROOM FOR MURDER
Dorothy B. Hughes - IN A LONELY PLACE
Duane Swierczynski - THE BLONDE
Ed Gorman - SLEEPING DOGS
Elisabeth Sanxay Holding - THE BLANK WALL
Elizabeth George - CARELESS IN RED
Elizabeth Hand - GENERATION LOSS
Elizabeth Peters - THE APE WHO GUARDS THE BALANCE, THE FALCON AT THE PORTAL
Elizabeth Zelvin - DEATH WILL GET YOU SOBER
Evelyn Berckman - THE BECKONING DREAM
Felicity Young - A CERTAIN MALICE, AN EASEFUL DEATH
Frank Tallis - FATAL LIES
Fred Vargas - SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR, THIS NIGHT'S FOUL WORK, WASH THIS BLOOD CLEAN FROM MY HAND
Friedrich Glauser - THE CHINAMAN
Gabriel Cohen - THE GRAVING DOCK
Gabrielle Lord - DIRTY WEEKEND
Garbhan Downey - YOURS CONFIDENTIALLY
Georges Simenon - LOCK 14, MONSIEUR MONDE VANISHES, THE WIDOW
Giancarlo De Cataldo - CRIMINI
Grace Brophy - THE LAST ENEMY
Gyles Brandreth - OSCAR WILDE AND THE CANDLELIGHT MURDERS
Hakan Nesser - THE MIND'S EYE
Harlan Coben - THE WOODS
Helen Fitzgerald - DEAD LOVELY
Henning Mankell - FACELESS KILLERS
Henry Wade - RELEASED TO DEATH
Ian Rankin - EXIT MUSIC
Ian Sansom - THE DELEGATES' CHOICE
J D Robb - PURITY IN DEATH, SEDUCTION IN DEATH
Jacqueline Winspear - MESSENGER OF TRUTH
Jakob Arjouni - KISMET
James Crumley - THE LAST GOOD KISS
James Reasoner - DUST DEVILS
Jean Stubbs - DEAR LAURA
Jennifer Egan - THE KEEP
Jo Nesbo - NEMESIS, THE DEVIL’S STAR, THE REDBREAST
Joan Paton Walsh and DL Sayers - THRONES DOMINATIONS
Joanne Harris - GENTLEMEN AND PLAYERS
Joe Hill - HEARTSHAPED BOX
Johann Theorin - ECHOES FROM THE DEAD
John Connolly - THE UNQUIET
John Franklin in Bardin - THE DEADLY PERCHERON
John Hart - DOWN RIVER
John Harvey - COLD IN HAND
John Lawton - SECOND VIOLIN
John Levitt - NEW TRICKS
John McFetridge - DIRTY SWEET, EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS IS NOWHERE
Joseph Caldwell - PIG DID IT
Joseph O'Connor - THE STAR & THE SEA
Joseph Skvorecky - SINS FOR FATHER KNOX
Julia Spencer-Fleming - I SHALL NOT WANT, OUT OF THE DEEP I CRY
Julie Hyzy - STATE OF THE ONION
Karen E. Olson - SHOT GIRL
Karin Alvtegen - MISSING, BETRAYAL
Karin Fossum - BLACK SECONDS
Karin Slaughter - FRACTURED
Kate Atkinson - WHEN WILL THERE BE GOOD NEWS
Kate Ellis - THE BLOOD PIT
Kate Morton - HOUSE AT RIVERTON
Katherine Howell - FRANTIC, THE DARKEST HOUR
Kathleen Kent - HERETIC'S DAUGHTER
Kathryn Fox - MALICIOUS INTENT:
Kaye C. Hill - DEAD WOMAN'S SHOES
Keith Snyder - COFFIN'S GOT THE DEAD GUY ON THE INSIDE
Kelley Armstrong - EXIT STRATEGY
Kelli Stanley - NOX DORMIENDA
Ken Bruen - AMERICAN SKIN, CROSS, ONCE WERE COPS, PRIEST
Kenneth Fearing - THE BIG CLOCK
Kerry Greenwood - EARTHLY DELIGHTS
Kevin Michaels - THE CHEATER
Kjell Eriksson - DEMON OF DAKAR
Laura Lippman - EVERY SECRET THING, WHAT THE DEAD KNOW
Laura Wilson - STRATTON’S WAR
Lawrence Alexander - RUBICON
Lawrence Block - 8 MILLION WAYS TO DIE
Leah Giarratano - VODKA DOESN'T FREEZE, VOODOO DOLL
Lee Child - BAD LUCK AND TROUBLE
Leighton Gage - BLOOD OF THE WICKED
Linda Barnes? - DEATH WAS THE OTHER WOMAN
Linwood Barclay - NO TIME FOR GOODBYE
Lisa Gardner - SAY GOODBYE
Lisa Lutz - CURSE OF THE SPELLMANS
Loren Estelman - GAS CITY
Louis Bayard - THE BLACK TOWER
Louise Penny - THE CRUELEST MONTH
Louise Ure - THE FAULT TREE
Lynn Brittney - NATHAN FOX:TRAITOR'S GOLD
Magdalen Nabb - VITA NUOVA
Marcus Sakey - THE BLADE ITSELF
Margaret Maron - DEATH’S HALF ACRE
Margery Allingham - THE TIGER IN THE SMOKE
Marta Stephens - THE DEVIL CAN WAIT
Martin Edwards - DANCING FOR THE HANGMAN, THE ARSENIC LABYRINTH
Martin Millar - LONELY WEREWOLF GIRL
Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows - THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY
Matt Beynon Rees - A GRAVE IN GAZA, THE COLLABORATOR OF BETHLEHEM (a.k.a. THE BETHLEHEM MURDERS)
Maurice Leblanc - THE EXTRAVAGANT LIFE OF BALTHAZAR
Megan Abbott - BURY ME DEEP, QUEENPIN, A HELL OF A WOMAN: AN ANTHOLOGY OF FEMALE NOIR (edit)
Michael Chabon - THE YIDDISH POLICEMEN'S UNION
Michael Connelly - BRASS VERDICT, ECHO PARK
Michael Cox - GLASS OF TIME
Michael Dobbs - THE LORDS' DAY
Michael Koryta - ENVY THE NIGHT
Michael Robotham - SHATTER
Michael Stanley - A CARRION DEATH
Michel Guibert - PIANO NOBILE
Mick Herron - RECONSTRUCTION
Mike Carey - VICIOUS CIRCLE
Mike Marshall - BAD THINGS
Minette Walters - THE CHAMELEON'S SHADOW
Nancy Pickard - RING OF TRUTH, THE VIRGIN OF SMALL PLAINS
Natsuo Kirino - OUT, GROTESQUE
Newton Thornberg - CUTTER AND BONE
Ngaio Marsh - DEATH IN A WHITE TIE
Nicci French - BENEATH THE SKIN
Nick Quantrill - BLACK& WHITE
Nigel McCrery - STILL WATERS
Olen Steinhauer - THE BRIDGE OF SIGHS
P D James - AN UNSUITABLE JOB FOR A WOMAN, DEATH IN HOLY ORDERS, THE PRIVATE PATIENT
P.D. Martin - BODY COUNT, FAN MAIL, THE MURDERERS' CLUB
Patricia Highsmith - THE TALENTED MR. RIPLEY
Paul Goldstein - A PATENT LIE
Paul Halter - LES LARMES DE SIBYL
Peter Bowen - CRUZATTE AND MARIA, THE STICK GAME
Peter James - DEAD MAN'S FOOTSTEPS, NOT DEAD ENOUGH
Peter Lovesey - BERTIE AND THE SEVEN BODIES, THE HEADHUNTERS
Peter Robinson - FRIEND OF THE DEVIL
Peter Temple - BAD DEBTS, THE BROKEN SHORE
Philip Kerr - A QUIET FLAME
Pierre Bayard - SHERLOCK HOLMES WAS WRONG: REOPENING THE CASE OF THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES
Pierre Darcis - L'ESTOMPE
Qiu Xialong - RED MANDARIN DRESS
R.D. Wingfield - KILLING FROST
R.J. Ellory - A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS
Rachel Caine - GALE FORCE
Ray Banks - NO MORE HEROES
Raymond Chandler - FAREWELL, MY LOVELY
Reginald Hill - A CURE FOR ALL DISEASES, DEADHEADS, THE DEATH OF DALZIEL
Richard Matheson - I AM LEGEND
Robert Crais - CHASING DARKNESS
Robert Fate - BABY SHARK
Roddy Doyle - A STAR CALLED HENRY
Ross Macdonald - THE BARBAROUS COAST
Russell Hill - ROBBIE'S WIFE
Ruth Rendell - NOT IN THE FLESH
Sam Reeves - MEAN TOWN BLUES
Sandra Ruttan - WHAT BURNS WITHIN
Sandra Scoppettone - SOME UNKNOWN PERSON
Sara Banerji - BLOOD PRECIOUS
Sara Young - MY ENEMY'S CRADLE
Sean Chercover - BIG CITY, BAD BLOOD; TRIGGER CITY
Sean Doolittle - THE CLEANUP
Selden Edwards - LITTLE BOOK
Shepard Rifkin - THE MURDERER VINE
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle - THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES
Sophie Hannah - LITTLE FACE
Stephanie Barron - A FLAW IN THE BLOOD
Steve Hockensmith - THE BLACK DOVE
Steven F. Havill - THE FOURTH TIME IS MURDER
Stewart O'Nan - SONGS FOR THE MISSING
Stieg Larsson - THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE
Stona Fitch - GIVE AND TAKE
Stuart MacBride - BROKEN SKIN
Susan Hill - THE PURE IN HEART, THE RISK OF DARKNESS, VOWS OF SILENCE
Tana French - IN THE WOODS, THE LIKENESS
Tasha Alexander - AND ONLY TO DECEIVE
Tess Gerritsen - THE KEEPSAKE
Timothy Hallinan - A NAIL THROUGH THE HEART
Tom Rob Smith - CHILD 44
Ursula Curtiss - DON'T OPEN THE DOOR
Val McDermid - BENEATH THE BLEEDING
Vanda Symon - OVERKILL
Vicki Delaney - IN THE SHADOW OF THE GLACIER
Wilkie Collins - THE MOONSTONE
Yrsa Siggarddottir - LAST RITUALS
Zoe Ferraris - FINDING NOUF

Katherine Howell wins Davitt Award for FRANTIC

The Davitt Awards, presented in Melbourne on Friday 10th October 2008, are presented annually by Sisters in Crime Australia for the best crime novel by an Australian woman published in the previous year. This year there were 41 nominees in three categories, adult, young adult and true crime, as well as a readers' choice award.

The winners:

• Katherine Howell's FRANTIC won the best crime novel by an Australian woman writer in 2007. This novel was also shortlisted for the Ned Kelly Award. My review of Katherine's latest: THE DARKEST HOUR. Sally's review of FRANTIC is here.
  
• Mandy Sayer won the young adult prize for THE NIGHT HAS A THOUSAND EYES.
• Best True Crime went to KILLING JODIE by Janette Fife-Yeomans
• The readers choice award, voted on by Sisters Members when to Lindy Cameron for her editing of SCARLET STILETTO: THE FIRST CUT, which is a collection of stories that have won prizes in the Scarlet Stiletto awards - the Sisters own crime award designed to encourage and assist up and coming writers in particular.
  

This year's nominees for best crime novel were:

* Sydney Bauer, Gospel (Pan Macmillan)
* Joyce Berendes, The Fourteenth Day (Zeus)
* Robin Bowles, The Curse of the Golden Yo-Yo (The Five Mile Press)
* Lindy Cameron, Redback (Mira)
* Lindy Cameron, ed., Scarlet Stiletto – The First Cut (Mira)
* Lauren Crow, Bye Bye Baby (HarperCollins)
* Kathryn Fox, Skin and Bone (Pan Macmillan)
* Liz Filleul, To All Appearance Dead (Bettany Books)
* Leah Giarrantano, Vodka Doesn’t Freeze (Random House)
* Jane Goodall, The Calling (Hachette Livre)
* Alison Goodman, Killing the Rabbit (Random House/Bantam)
* Kerry Greenwood, Trick or Treats (Allen & Unwin)
* Kerry Greenwood, A Question of Death (Allen & Unwin)
* Sheridan Hay, The Secret of Lost Things (HarperCollins/4th Estate)
* Katherine Howell, Frantic (Pan Macmillan)
* Janette Turner Hospital, Orpheus Lost (HarperCollins/4th Estate)
* Dorothy Johnston, Eden (Wakefield Press)
* Wendy Laing, Cock of the Walk (Writers Exchange E-publishing)
* Wendy Laing, Severance Packages (Writers Exchange E-publishing)
* Gabrielle Lord, Shattered (Hachette Livre)
* Pat Noad, Rockhound (Zeus)
* Susan Parisi, Blood of Dreams (Penquin/Viking)
* Dorothy Porter, El Dorado (Pan Macmillan/Picador)
* Leigh Redhead, Cherry Pie (Allen & Unwin)
* Mandy Sayers, The Night Has a Thousand Eyes (HarperCollins)
* Felicity Young, An Easeful Death (Fremantle Arts Centre Press)

Meeting up at Melbourne Writers Festival (MWF)

I couldn't really say that I have much problem in coming up with a topic to blog about but I couldn't resist pointing you to this site, called Blaugh.

I had originally hoped to get to MWF for most of last week, but eventually only made it on Friday night. I got to the Ned Kelly Awards just in time to see the first announced.

• Best Non-Fiction
  RED CENTRE, DEAD HEART, Evan McHugh
• Best First Fiction
  THE LOW ROAD, Chris Womersley
• Best Fiction
  SHATTER, Michael Robotham
• Marele Day was given a lifetime award in recognition of her role in creating the Ned Kelly awards.

I ran a poll on this blog some weeks back to see if we could pick the Ned Kelly winners.
So which ones did we pick? Well, we didn't do very well as it happens, except for Michael Robotham with SHATTER which I always believed deserved to win.

On Saturday morning I went to a session called "Genre Jumper- Kate Atkinson" and am now reading her latest WHEN WILL THERE BE GOOD NEWS?
She also signed a copy of the book for me.

On Saturday a bunch of us from oz_mystery_readers and members of 4MA in Australia went out to lunch. 15 of us altogether and it was great to catch up. Last year at MWF about 10 of us caught up for dinner, so this is now well on the way to becoming an annual occasion.

On Saturday evening I went to "It May not Leave a Scar" - Robert Drew, John Clanchy, and William McInnes. As a result today I've read John Clanchy's short story anthology VINCENZO'S GARDEN. Not crime fiction except for one lovely story called "Radinsky's Will" which would sit

comfortably in any crime fiction anthology. I'll post a review of VINCENZO'S GARDEN later this week.

On Sunday morning I went to a session called "Liars make the best writers" with Mark Billingham, Matt Condon, and Michael Robotham (replacing Delia Falconer).

This was a really wonderful session - these authors are all entertaining in their own way, and they really sparked off each other.

So here are the authors I caught up with to chat with:

Michael Robotham

Mark Billingham (the "odd" one out in this list, but he's a friend of Michael's)

Adrian Hyland

Phillipa (PD) Martin

Leigh Redhead

Katherine Howell

I didn't really need to acquire any more books but I came home with

WHEN WILL THERE BE GOOD NEWS?, Kate Atkinson

VINCENZO'S GARDEN, John Clanchy

BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE MUSEUM, Kate Atkinson

THE FIRST FINGERPRINT, Xavier-Marie Bonnot

DEATH MESSAGE, Mark Billingham

A SHORT HISTORY OF TRACTORS IN UKRAINIAN, Marina Lewycka (not crime fiction at all, just a title I've seen interesting reviews of)

GHOST LINES, Nick Gadd

Catching up at MWF has become an annual event for some of us, but I do stand with some of my original criticisms of the programme on offer this year. As it was I eventually only came over for the second weekend, but even so I did only attend 3 events and only 2 of those were crime fiction.
My friends who came from Tasmania, Newcastle and Darwin for the week had nothing to attend at the beginning of the week, Monday to Wednesday, simply because there were no events on for the general public on those days.

Author Photos Revealed

Here are the answers for the author photos "competition" that I ran for Weekly Geeks #13.
Correct answers came from Linda and Sunnie.
They are all Australian crime fiction writers.

1. Kate Morton.	2. Adrian Hyland.	3. Leigh Redhead.	4. Gabrielle Lord.
5. Felicity Young.	6. Katherine Howell.	7. Brian Kavanagh.	8. Garry Disher.
9. Shane Maloney.	10. Marshall Browne.	11. Michael Robotham.	12. Kerry Greenwood.

Weekly Geeks #13 - Author Photos

The weekly geek challenge this week relates to author photos. Now I have access to quite a few so I've chosen just 12 for you to muse over.
Below the photos I will list the authors but their order will be different to the photo order. Your job is to, in a comment, list the photos numbered 1 to 12 with the correct names beside the numbers. Make sure you put your email address in the comment or tick the box that says you want to receive copies of the comments, otherwise I'll have no way of letting you know that you've won.

Your prize? - I'll put the names of the correct entries in a hat, and Sparky the cat will select the winning entry, to whom I promise to send a copy of Michael Robotham's mini-book BOMBPROOF. The closing date is Sunday next week (10th August)

So here is an Australian dozen who all write crime fiction!
(Sorry if a big gap appears on the page here- don't know what is causing it- can't see anything in the code. If you don't see one, you're lucky! If you do, scroll down to the important stuff please)

1.	2.	3.	4.
5.	6.	7.	8.
9.	10.	11.	12.

The authors are
Michael Robotham
Brian Kavanagh
Kerry Greenwood
Garry Disher
Adrian Hyland
Kate Morton
Katherine Howell
Marshall Browne
Leigh Redhead
Gabrielle Lord
Felicity Young
Shane Maloney

Ned Kelly Shortlists - what we reckon

For the last 2 or 3 weeks I've had a poll running on the bottom on my blog so people can say which books/authors will figure in the Ned Kelly shortlist. The longlist is here.

Here's what people think:

Best Non-Fiction
NED KELLY'S JERILDERIE LETTER, Carole Wilkinson (1)
KILLING JODIE, Janet Fife-Yeomans (1)

Best First Fiction
FRANTIC, Katherine Howell (4)
VODKA DOESN'T FREEZE, Leah Giarratano (4)
THE LOW ROAD, Chris Womersley (1)
THE BUTCHERBIRD, Geoffrey Cousins (1)
MAELSTROM, Michael MacConnell (1)

Best Fiction
SHATTER, Michael Robotham (4)
SKIN & BONE, Kathryn Fox (3)
CHERRY PIE, Leigh Redhead (2)
HARUM SCARUM, Felicity Young (2)
THE CALLING, Jane Goodall (2)
FAN MAIL, PD Martin (1)
APPEAL DENIED, Peter Corris (1)
SUCKED IN, Shane Maloney (1)
SHATTERED, Gabrielle Lord (1)

The program is now available online and will be published in the Age newspaper tomorrow.

Author Marele Day will be given a LifeTime Award

Australians are fascinated with crime fiction

If my recent hosting of The Carnival of Criminal Minds didn't convince you, then maybe this article in yesterday's Melbourne Age titled Crime Lines will.
Promoting Australia's first ever Crime & Justice festival, where among the participants you will find Michael Robotham, Garry Disher, Gabrielle Lord, Chloe Hooper, Leigh Redhead, Brendan Kilty SC, Brian Walters SC, Barry Jones and Malcolm Fraser.

Just some snippets...
next weekend will see the launch of Melbourne's — and Australia's — first-ever specialist crime-writing and justice festival, to be held at the Abbotsford Convent.

Crime fiction has become respectable, says the internationally acclaimed and Ballarat-based crime writer Peter Temple, author of nine crime novels and winner of the world's biggest crime-writing prize, Britain's Golden Dagger.

"Crime fiction readers have come out, they are admitting to their secret addiction," he says. "All sorts of people are now prepared to say: 'I love crime fiction.'

..... According to Temple, a passionate interest in crime fiction is an Australian tradition that dates back to 1886, the year our first blockbuster crime novel was published. Fergus Hume's The Mystery of a Hansom Cab, billed as "a sensational Melbourne novel", sold more than 400,000 copies before the turn of the century .

He missed out Rolfe Boldrewood's Robbery Under Arms first published in 1882 and now available as an e-book. And For the Term of His Natural Life, by Marcus Clarke, published in serial form 1872 -1874 now also available as an e-book.

So crime fiction, here downunder, we do well. Go read the whole article.

The Age invites Melburnians to "Tell us in 50 words or less the author and title of your best read, and why you enjoyed it so much." Email: sunday@theage.com.au

Carnival of Criminal Minds, No. 18

The Carnival has come to Paradise, hurtling at 100 kph along the O-Bahn to the home of Mysteries in Paradise.

Adelaide's North-East busway, commonly known as the O-Bahn, was the second of its kind in the world. Built in 1985, the concrete O-Bahn busway has since sparked a series of similar style roads in other major cities across the world. With limited access points and grade separated junctions, the road is only built for specially fitted buses. So get your ticket and ride!

The Carnival has already visited a number of very entertaining locations. Most recently it was at Do You Write Under Your Own Name with host Martin Edwards. I just hope your reading sack still has room for just a few more authors and titles, especially for some with an antipodean flavour.
It is my pleasure to list for your delectation some wonderful crime fiction authors from the land of Oz.

Under the Big Top
A selection of my reading for the last 3 years giving you authors and titles to look out for.

Sydney Bauer, UNDERTOW
Marshall Browne, INSPECTOR ANDERS and THE SHIP OF FOOLS, INSPECTOR ANDERS and THE BLOOD VENDETTA
Patricia Carlon, THE WHISPERING WALL
Caroline Carver, BLOOD JUNCTION, BENEATH THE SNOW
Lauren Crow, BYE BYE BABY
Sandy Curtis, DANGEROUS DECEPTION
Garry Disher, CHAIN OF EVIDENCE
Kathryn Fox, MALICIOUS INTENT
Leah Giarratano, VODKA DOESN’T FREEZE
Jane R. Goodall, THE VISITOR, THE CALLING
Robert Gott, GOOD MURDER
Kerry Greenwood, MURDER IN MONTPARNASSE, DEATH BY WATER, MURDER IN THE DARK
Katherine Howell, FRANTIC
Fergus Hume, THE MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB
Adrian Hyland, DIAMOND DOVE (aka MOONLIGHT DOWNS)
Nicholas Jose, ORIGINAL FACE
Brian Kavanagh, THE EMBROIDERED CORPSE
Gabrielle Lord, DEATH DELIGHTS, BABY DID A BAD BAD THING, DIRTY WEEKEND, SHATTERED
Barry Maitland, ALL MY ENEMIES, NO TRACE, SPIDER TRAP
PD Martin, BODY COUNT, THE MURDERERS' CLUB, FAN MAIL
John Misto, THE DEVIL'S COMPANION
Kate Morton, THE SHIFTING FOG (aka THE HOUSE AT RIVERTON)
Kel Robertson, DEAD SET
Michael Robotham, SUSPECT, LOST, THE NIGHT FERRY, SHATTER
Jennifer Rowe, THE MAKEOVER MURDERS
Angela Savage, BEHIND THE NIGHT BAZAAR
Caroline Shaw, CATCH CATCHER
Peter Temple, THE BROKEN SHORE
Felicity Young, A CERTAIN MALICE, AN EASEFUL DEATH, HARUM SCARUM

Spectacular Grand Parade: The Ned Kelly 2008 Long List

These Australian awards, presented by the Crimewriters Association of Australia will be announced during Melbourne Writers' Festival in late August, and at some stage before that a short list will be announced. (Who was Ned Kelly anyway? More)

The following list is linked, where possible, to reviews on Aust Crime Fiction to which a coven of friends contribute.

Best First Fiction:
GOLDEN SERPENT, Mark Abernethy
SHADOW MAKER, Robert Sims
A FRACTION OF THE WHOLE, Steve Toltz
THE LOW ROAD, Chris Womersley
THE BUTCHERBIRD, Geoffrey Cousins
BYE BYE BABY, Lauren Crow - my review here (rating 4.2)
BROKEN SWALLOW, JJ Burn Green
VELVET SHOES, Christina Ann Alexander
FRANTIC, Katherine Howell - among my best reads in 2007
VODKA DOESN'T FREEZE, Leah Giarratano - a good read in 2007
IRAQUI ICICLE, Bernie Dowling
MAELSTROM, Michael MacConnell

Best Fiction:
TRICK OR TREAT, Kerry Greenwood - my review here (rating 4.3)
CHERRY PIE, Leigh Redhead - in mount TBR somewhere
ENDANGERED LIST, Brian Westlake
HARUM SCARUM, Felicity Young - my review here (rating 4.4)
SENSITIVE NEW AGE SPY, Geoffrey McGeachin
SUCKED IN, Shane Maloney - in mount TBR somewhere
THE NIGHT HAS A THOUSAND EYES, Mandy Sayer
ORPHEUS LOST, Janette Turner Hospital
AMONGST THE DEAD, Robert Gott
APPEAL DENIED, Peter Corris
OPEN FILE, Peter Corris
GOSPEL, Sydney Bauer
BROKEN, Ilsa Evans
SKIN & BONE, Kathryn Fox - in mount TBR somewhere
FAN MAIL, PD Martin - 5.0 from me
EL DORADO, Dorothy Porter
SHATTERED, Gabrielle Lord - 4.6 from me last year
THE CALLING, Jane Goodall - 4.8 from me last year
SHATTER, Michael Robotham - 5.0 from me
GAME AS NED, Tim Pegler
THE TATTOED MAN, Alex Palmer - in mount TBR somewhere
BLOOD SUNSET, Jarad Henry
REDBACK, Lindy Cameron - in mount TBR somewhere

Best Non-Fiction:
BONDI BADLANDS, Greg Callaghan
MR SIN, Tony Reeves
UNDERBELLY THE GANGLAND WAR, John Silvester and Andrew Rule
KILLING JODIE, Janet Fife-Yeomans
RED CENTRE, DARK, Evan McHugh
BIG SHOTS, ADAM SHAND LIVES OF CRIME, Gary Tippett & Ian Munro
FATAL FLAW, Roger Maynard
NED KELLY'S JERILDERIE LETTER, Carole Wilkinson
WILD COLONIAL BOYS, Paula Hunt

Featuring Past Ned Kelly winners

2007:
Best First Fiction: DIAMOND DOVE, Adrian Hyland (Text)
Best Fiction: CHAIN OF EVIDENCE, Gary Disher (Text)

2006:
Best First Novel: OUT OF THE SILENCE Wendy James, Random House
Best Novel (Tie):
CROOK AS ROOKWOOD, Chris Nyst, Harper Collins
and THE BROKEN SHORE, Peter Temple, Text

2005
Best First Novel: A PRIVATE MAN, Malcolm Knox
Best Novel: LOST (aka THE DROWNING MAN), Michael Robotham

2004
Best First Novel (Joint Winners):
THE WALKER, Jane R. Goodall and JUNKIE PILGRIM, Wayne Grogan
Best Novel: Degrees of Connection Jon Cleary

2003
Best First Novel: BLOOD REDEMPTION, Alex Palmer
Best Novel: WHITE DOG, Peter Temple

2002
Best First Novel (Tie):
APARTMENT 255, Bunty Avieson and WHO KILLED ANGELIQUE?, Emma Darcy
Best Novel: DEATH DELIGHTS, Gabrielle Lord

2001
Best First Crime Novel: LAST DRINKS,Andrew McGahan
Best Crime Novel (tie):
DEAD POINT, Peter Temple and THE SECOND COMING, Andrew Masterson

2000
Best First Novel: THE WOODEN LEG OF INSPECTOR ANDERS, Marshall Browne
Best Novel: SHOOTING STAR, Peter Temple

1999
Best First Novel: THE LAST DAYS, Andrew Masterson
Best Novel: AMAZE YOUR FRIENDS, Peter Doyle

1997
Best First Novel (tie):
BAD DEBTS, Peter Temple and GET RICH QUICK, Peter Doyle
Best Novel: BRUSH OFF, Shane Maloney

1996
Best First Novel: DARK ANGEL, John Dale
Best Novel (tie)
THE MALCONTENTA, Barry Maitland and INSIDE DOPE, Paul Thomas

On the High Wire

• Peter Temple
• Gabrielle Lord
• Jane Goodall
• Michael Robotham
• PD Martin
• Katherine Howell
• Kerry Greenwood
• Felicity Young
• Colin Cotterill
• Adrian Hyland
• Brian Kavanagh
• Marshall Browne
• Shane Maloney
• Barry Maitland
  

Other Rings to visit:

Australian blogs or specialising in Australian crime fiction

• Matilda
• It's Criminal
• Crime Down Under
• Aust Crime Fiction
  

For further suggestions, try these links to other pages in my blog.

• Australian author
  
• Australian Crime Fiction Snapshots
  
• Ned Kelly Award see also Ned Kelly Award website
• Australian Crime Fiction Database

Carnival No. 19 will still be in Australia at Crime Down Under, around August 1st.