The Ned Kelly Awards (named for bushranger Ned Kelly) are Australia's leading literary awards for crime writing in both the crime fiction and true crime genres. They were established in 1996 by the Crime Writers Association of Australia to reward excellence in the field of crime writing within Australia.
The genre of crime writing has long been popular, but it was not until the early 1990s that a local growth of writing within the genre occurred in Australia. By the middle of the decade support for the field had grown sufficiently that it was decided to establish the Ned Kelly Awards.
The awards are affectionately referred to as 'The Neddies' within the community.
Categories Best First Novel Best True Crime Best Novel Best Teenage/Young Adult Readers Vote Best Non-Fiction Lifetime Achievement Awards
Winners
1990s +1990s Ned Kelly Award winners Year Best Novel Best First Novel Best Non-Fiction Lifetime AchievementRef.1996The Malcontenta by Barry Maitland Dark Angel by John Dale—Jon ClearyInside Dope by Paul Thomas1997The Brush-Off by Shane MaloneyBad Debts by Peter TempleHow to Write Crime edited by Marele DayAlan Yates (aka Carter Brown)Get Rich Quick by Peter Doyle1998—————1999Amaze Your Friends by Peter DoyleThe Last Days by Andrew Masterson—Peter Corris
2000s +2000s Ned Kelly Award winners Year Best Novel Best First Novel Best True Crime Best Teenage /Young Adult Reader's Vote Lifetime Achievement Ref.2000Shooting Star by Peter TempleThe Wooden Leg of Inspector Anders by Marshall Browne(tie) Huckstepp: A Dangerous Life by John Dale Underbelly 3 by Andrew Rule and John Silvester———2001(tie) Dead Point by Peter TempleThe Second Coming by Andrew MastersonLast Drinks by Andrew McGahanBroken Lives by Estelle Blackburn—Bleeding Hearts by Lindy CameronStephen Knight2002Death Delights by Gabrielle Lord(tie) Apartment 255 by Bunty Avieson Who Killed Angelique? by Emma Darcy(tie) Razor by Larry Writer The Hanged Man by Mike RichardsBlue Murder by Ken CatranApartment 255 by Bunty AviesonPatrick Gallagher 2003 White Dog by Peter Temple Blood Redemption by Alex Palmer Blood Stain by Peter Lalor — — Kerry Greenwood2004Degrees of Connection by Jon Cleary(tie) The Walker by Jane R. GoodallJunkie Pilgrim by Wayne GroganKilling Juanita by Peter Rees——Bob Bottom2005Lost by Michael RobothamA Private Man by Malcolm Knox(tie) Joe Cinque's Consolation by Helen Garner Mr Big by Tony Reeves——Stuart Coupe2006(tie) Crook as Rookwood by Chris Nyst The Broken Shore by Peter TempleOut of the Silence by Wendy JamesPacking Death by Lauchlin McCulloch——Andrew Rule and John Silvester2007Chain of Evidence by Garry DisherDiamond Dove by Adrian Hyland(tie) Written On The Skin by Liz Porter Killing For Pleasure: The Definitive Story of the Snowtown Murders by Debi Marshall——Sandra Harvey and Lindsay Simpson2008Shatter by Michael RobothamThe Low Road by Chris WomersleyRed Centre, Dark Heart by Evan McHugh——Marele Day2009Deep Water by Peter Corrisand Smoke and Mirrors by Kel RobertsonGhostlines by Nick GaddThe Tall Man by Chloe Hooper ——Shane Maloney
2010s +2010s Ned Kelly Award winners Year Best Novel Best First Novel Best True Crime Lifetime Achievement Ref.2010Wyatt by Garry DisherKing of the Cross by Mark Dapin Pitcairn: Paradise Lost by Kathy Marks Peter Doyle2011The Diggers Rest Hotel by Geoffrey McGeachinPrime Cut by Alan CarterAbandoned - The Sad Death of Dianne Brimble by Geesche JacobsenNA2012Pig Boy by J. C. BurkeThe Cartographer by Peter TwohigSins of the Father: The Untold Story Behind Schapelle Corby's Ill-Fated Drug Run by Eamonn DuffGabrielle Lord2013Blackwattle Creek by Geoffrey McGeachinThe Midnight Promise by Zane LovittThe People Smuggler by Robin de CrespignyNA2014In the Morning I'll Be Gone by Adrian McKintyHades by Candice FoxMurder in Mississippi by John SafranNA2015Eden by Candice FoxQuota by Jock SerongThis House of Grief: The Story of a Murder Trial by Helen GarnerNA2016Before It Breaks by Dave WarnerResurrection Bay by Emma ViskicCertain Admissions by Gideon HaighNA2017Police at the Station and They Don't Look Friendly by Adrian McKintyThe Dry by Jane Harper(tie) Getting Away With Murder by Duncan McNab The Drowned Man by Brendan James MurrayNA 2018 Crossing the Lines by Sulari Gentill The Dark Lake by Sarah Bailey Unmaking a Murder: The Mysterious Death of Anna-Jane Cheney by Graham ArcherGarry Disher2019The Lost Man by Jane HarperThe Rúin by Dervla McTiernanEggshell Skull by Bri LeeBob Bottom
2020s +2020s Ned Kelly Award winners Year Best Novel Best First Novel Best True Crime Best International Crime Ref.2020The Wife and the Widow by Christian WhitePresent Tense by Natalie ConyerBowraville by Dan BoxThe Chain by Adrian McKinty2021Consolation by Garry DisherThe Second Son by Loraine PeckStalking Claremont by Bret ChristianWe Begin at the End by Chris Whittaker2022The Chase by Candice Fox Banjawarn by Josh KempBanquet: The Untold Story of Adelaide's Family Murders by Debi MarshallThe Maid by Nita Prose2023Exiles by Jane Harper Wake by Shelley Burr Betrayed by Sandi LoganThe Lemon Man by Keith Bruton2024Darling Girls by Sally HepworthMurder in the Pacific: Ifira Point by Matt FrancisCrossing the Line by Nick McKenzieThe Only Suspect by Louise Candlish2025The Creeper by Margaret HickeyAll You Took From Me by Lisa KenwayA Thousand Miles from Care by Steve JohnsonA Case of Matricide by Graeme Macrae Burnet2026Mad Mabel by Sally HepworthIn Bloom by Liz AllanDuty to Warn by Charlotte GrieveThe Death of Us by Abigail Dean
Shortlists
Best Crime Novel
2000s +2000s Best Crime Novel winners and finalists Year Author Title Result Ref.2003Peter TempleWhite DogWinner Bunty Avieson The AffairFinalist Carmel Bird Open For inspection Marshall Browne The Eye of the Abyss Peter Corris Salt and Blood Sandy Curtis Deadly Tide Emma Darcy Who Killed Bianca? Garry Disher Kittyhawk Down Kerry Greenwood Murder in Montparnasse Fred Guilhaus The Analyst Michael Herrmann Breakfast in Fur Gabrielle Lord Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing Barry Maitland Babel Shane Maloney Something Fishy Andy Shea The Chance Paul Thomas The Empty Bed Emma Tom Evidence2005Michael RobothamLostWinner Gabrielle Lord Spiking the GirlFinalist Kirsty Brooks The Happiness Punch Tara Moss Covet Steve J. Spears Murder by Manuscript Kerry Greenwood Heavenly Pleasures Barry Maitland No Trace Kerry Greenwood Queen of the Flowers Wilson Greg The Domino Game Sandy Curtis Dangerous Deception Randall Longmire Static Jane Clifton A Hand in the Bush2006Chris NystCrook as RookwoodWinnerPeter TempleThe Broken Shore Marshall Browne Rendezvous at Kamakura InnFinalist Peter Corris Saving Billie Leigh Redhead Rubdown Graham Reilly Five Oranges2007Garry DisherChain of EvidenceWinner Paul Cleave The CleanerFinalist Peter Corris The Undertow Richard Flanagan The Unknown Terrorist Barry Maitland Spider Trap Michael Robotham The Night Ferry
2010s +2010s Best Crime Novel winners and finalists Year Author Title Result Ref.2010WyattWinnerFinalistBleed For Me2011WinnerFinalistBereft2012Pig BoyWinnerFinalistChelsea Mansions2013Blackwattle CreekWinnerFinalistWeb of DeceitI Hear The Sirens In The StreetSilent Valley2014In The Morning I'll Be GoneWinnerBitter Wash RoadFinalistFatal ImpactBeams FallingOne Boy Missing2015EdenWinnerSweet OneFinalistCrucifixion CreekGun Street GirlPresent Darkness2016 Dave Warner Before It BreaksWinnerR&RFinalistFallAsh IslandRain Dogs2017Police at the Station and They Don't Look FriendlyWinnerCrimson LakeFinalistThe Rules of Backyard Cricket Ann Turner Out of the Ice2018Crossing the LinesWinnerMarlborough ManFinalistUnder Cold Bright LightsRedemption Point2019WinnerKill Shot: A Wyatt ThrillerFinalistGone by MidnightLive and Let Fry
2020s +2020s Best Crime Novel winners and finalists Year Author Title Result Ref.2020Christian WhiteThe Wife and the WidowWinnerFinalistDeath of a TypographerThe Scholar Dave Warner River of SaltTrue West2021ConsolationWinnerGathering DarkFinalistTell Me LiesWhen She Was GoodWhite Throat2022WinnerFinalistYou Had it ComingKill Your Brother2023ExilesWinnerWhen We FallFinalistSoulmateSeven SistersLying Beside YouThose Who Perish2024Darling GirlsWinnerKiller Traitor SpyFinalist Dark ModeRipperDark CornersThe Seven The Tea LadiesEveryone On This Train is a Suspect2025 Margaret Hickey The Creeper Winner Natalie ConyerShadow CityFinalist Garry Disher Sanctuary Fiona Hardy Unbury the Dead Ashley Kalagian Blunt Cold Truth Fiona McFarlane Highway 13 J P Pomare17 Years Later Michael Robotham Storm Child2026 Sally Hepworth Mad MabelWinner Jack Beaumont Liar's GameFinalist Jane CaroLyrebird Susi Fox The Other Child Karen Herbert The Ghost Walk Daniel OakmanFire in the Head Michael Robotham The White Crow Iain Ryan The Casino
Best Debut Crime Novel 2010s +2010s Best Debut Crime Novel winners and finalists Year Author Title Result Ref.2010King of the CrossWinnerDeath and the Running PattererFinalistDocument Z2011Prime CutWinnerFinalistLine of Sight2012WinnerWhen We Have WingsFinalist2013WinnerFinalist and Chris UhlmannMurder with the Lot2014HadesWinnerDead Cat BounceFinalistBlood WitnessEvery Breath2015QuotaWinnerKing of the RoadFinalistWhat Came BeforeChasing the Ace2016Resurrection BayWinnerPlease Don't Leave Me HereFinalistGood MoneyAmplifySkin DeepFour Days2017WinnerBurn PatternsFinalistSomething for NothingOnly DaughterGoodwoodThe Love of a Bad Man2018WinnerWimmeraFinalistSee What I Have Done2019The RúinWinnerFinalistGreenlight
2020s +2020s Best Debut Crime Novel winners and finalists Year Author Title Result Ref.2020Present TenseWinnerEight LivesFinalistWhere the Truth LiesSix MinutesLapse2021WinnerFinalist2022BanjawarnWinnerSweet JimmyFinalistShadow Over Edmund StreetCutters End2023WakeWinnerFinalistHow to Kill a ClientLenny Marks Gets Away with MurderDirt TownBlack RiverNo Country for GirlsDenizen2024Murder in the Pacific: Ifira PointWinnerViolet Kelly and the Jade OwlFinalistLowbridgeFour Dogs MissingGus and the Missing BoyThe Fall BetweenThe Beacon2025All You Took from MeWinnerDown the Rabbit HoleFinalistThe ChillingA Town Called TreacheryEverywhere We LookThe Crag2026In BloomWinnerThe Butterfly WomenFinalistThe PeakMelaleucaThe Wolf TreeThe Wykehamist
Best International Crime Novel +Best International Crime Novel winners and finalists Year Author Title Result Ref.2020Winner2021We Begin at the EndWinnerFinalistTake Me ApartBroken2022WinnerCase StudyFinalistCry Wolf2023WinnerPaper CageFinalist2024The Only SuspectWinnerDiceFinalistBirnam WoodResurrection WalkThe Search PartyZero Days2025A Case of MatricideWinnerReturn to BloodFinalistLeave the Girls BehindThe WaitingMoscow XHome Truths2026The Death of UsWinnerTom BaragwanathLucky ThingFinalistBenbeculaThe Proving Ground
Best True Crime