AUSSIE CRIME 2025: Recent Australian Crime Novels To Read This Australia Day!

Looking back over the past twelve months since last Australia Day, it has been another good year for Australian crime fiction.

Once again the overall quality of the books greatly impressed, especially given that some outstanding newer authors, such as Michelle Prak and Shelley Burr, did not produce books in 2024, and keenly awaited books from Jane Harper and Kyle Perry also did not eventuate. I did not read every Australian crime novel released over the past twelve months or so, but I did read a fair swag, around 60, and was impressed by the breadth and variety of the books released. I was also privileged to be a judge for the Ned Kelly Awards for Best Debut Crime Novel, which meant that I got to read a lot of new fiction by some very promising first time Australian authors.

Of course, not every Australian crime book I read in 2024, and early this year, has been to my liking, but I have to say that overall the quality was extremely good and included some real stand-out books.

The growth of rural crime or bush/outback noir has been a major trend in recent years, and it was again very evident in the books produced in 2024, although it tended towards semi rural locations rather than the dust and the desert of the real outback. Of the twelve books listed below, two certainly fall into the category of real outback noir, while another four have a strong rural or small town regional tinge to them. In addition to these, there were also several other notable examples of outback noir, such as Patricia Wolf’s Opal and Candice Fox’s High Wire, which are worthwhile reading. All of them, including the usual rural romance crime books by Fleur McDonald and others, featured very attractive scenic covers, which undoubtedly helped their appeal overseas and in Australia. Few though matched the subtle attention grabbing pull of Dave Warner’s When It Rains.

Pleasingly there seemed to be an increase last year in the number of crime novels set in cities and dealing realistically with urban crime. Natalie Conyer’s Sydney and South African based Shadow City led the way here, but it was also joined by Sherryl Clark’s Woman, Missing and Iain Ryan’s 1980s crime epic Dream, among others. There was also increasing number of historical crime novels, including Lainie Anderson’s The Death Of Dora Black, Laraine Stephens’ Lies And Deception and Ronni Salt’s Gunnawah.

As usual, there was a good mix of themes and concerns, including the rise of misogyny, international crime effects on Australia and institutional racism and prejudice. A number of books tackled business corruption, including Sarah Bailey’s Body Of Lies, Alan Carter’s Prize Catch and David Whish-Wilson’s explosive exposé of the deep sea fishing industry, Cutter. There were also the usual serial killers, cold cases becoming warmer, and dangers in the outback. Additionally, there was a good selection of lighter novels with crime elements, such as Amanda Hampson’s The Cryptic Clue, and the usual collection of domestic suspense and ‘family dramas with crime’ books, including Fiona Lowe’s The Accident, Petronella McGovern’s The Last Trace and Rebecca Heath’s recent The Wedding Party.

The local crime fiction community was again bolstered and supported by the presence of several successful Australian authors who set their novels overseas, such as Dervla McTiernan, Michael Robotham, and Tony Park. All of whom helped to draw international attention to Australian crime writing.

Set out below in a rough order of preference are twelve outstanding crime fiction books, with an Australian setting, which have appeared in the past year or so. It is very much a personal selection of the books I enjoyed reading, and is not a definitive list of all the good local crime novels from 2024. A host of books by writers such as Hayley Scrivenor, Simon Rowell, Alan Carter, Christian White and many others, could have also easily found their way onto the list, and are certainly worthwhile reading. I have also added at the end of the list an excellent collection of Australian and New Zealand short stories by Craig Sisterson.

I have included links to my original reviews of the books (no spoilers) for those who want to read more. And links to previous Australia Day lists are at the end of the article.

Finally, I acknowledge that Australia Day is nowadays a fraught occasion, but thought that it was still a good opportunity to celebrate and promote the quality of our local crime writers, many of whom tackle issues around diversity, displacement, culture, historical wrongs, and discrimination in their books.

My favourite crime fiction novel of 2024, by a thin margin, was veteran Garry Disher’s Sanctuary, (Text, April 2024).

More of a slow burn than his usual books, Sanctuary focuses on two very different woman. Grace is a thief, a good one, with very few qualms. When a job goes wrong in Brisbane, and she encounters a dangerous old associate with a grudge, Grace hits the road looking for new opportunities. While scouting out jobs in the Adelaide Hills she walks into Erin Mandel’s rural antiques shop and sees a chance for something different. A normal life. But Erin also has her secrets, and she too is on the run from someone, and that person is getting closer.

This is a finely constructed novel that unfolds with precision and care, as the tension mounts and the various characters move towards the bloody climax. The alternating points of view between Erin, Grace and some very unpleasant crooks, keeps the suspense high and the ending is unexpected and exciting. As with all of Disher’s novels, the characters are well sketched and convincing, and the setting is vividly captured. A well written and highly enjoyable read.

Link to original review: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/looking-forward-new-2024-aussie-crime-by-garry-disher-and-candice-fox/

Natalie Conyer drew considerable praise, and a Ned Kelly Award, for her excellent first novel, Present Tense, which dived convincingly into the maelstrom of modern South Africa. With Shadow City (Echo Publishing, September 2024), she continued her examination of the complexity of politics and policing in that country, and Australia, while also addressing the broader issue of modern day slavery.

Shadow City reintroduces us to veteran South African detective Schalk Lourens, and a new character in the form of Sydney Homicide Detective, Jackie Rose. The discovery of the battered body of a young woman in Sydney’s Chinatown sets Jackie off on an investigation with international implications, until she is ordered to hand the case over to the AFP.  Meanwhile the disgraced Cape Town detective, Schalk Lourens, is sent to Australia to help find a missing girl who came here to study. Together Rosie and Lourens find themselves chasing a deadly gang of international crooks.

Moving seamlessly from Cape Town to the Sydney foreshore to the picturesque Blue Mountains, Shadow City quickly draws the reader in and keeps them engaged all the way to the final revelation. The plot and the characters are well done, and underpinning the story are seemingly astute observations on the political and social situation in South Africa, and the hidden trade in people smuggling and modern day slavery. A first class read.

Link to original review: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/australian-crime-fiction-2024-new-books-by-natalie-conyer-and-david-whish-wilson/

In 2024 Dinuka McKenzie confidently confirmed the promise of her first two novels, Torrent and Taken, with the equally impressive Tipping Point, (Harper Collins, February 2024).

Tipping Point returns the reader to the rural town of Esserton in northern New South Wales, and to local police detective Kate Miles, who has to deal with pressures at home and work when her brother becomes a ‘person of interest’ in a local murder. Accused of a conflict of interest, Kate is forced to watch from the sidelines as secrets, old and new, are revealed and the killings increase.

Clever plotting, vivid locations and some nicely formed characters made this an outstanding read in my eyes. The story is interesting throughout and some nicely timed flashes of violence and action keep the tension high and the blood pounding. More pacier than her Taken, it has also a wider spread of themes; including addiction, parentage and misogyny; all of which are smoothly melded in. Dinuka also skilfully weaves Kate’s mixed heritage into the story, in subtle ways, and Kate continues to develop into a character of real substance and originality.

An engaging and compelling story that combines the best parts of a detective novel with the tense drama of a thriller.

Link to the original review: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/women-on-the-ledge-new-2024-crime-fiction-by-dinuka-mckenzie-ruth-mancini-and-kylie-orr/

Iain Ryan’s The Dream, (Ultimo Press, December 2024), finished 2024 off in fine style with its gritty trip through the tawdry underbelly of the Gold Coast in the 1980s.

The Dream is the second in a proposed quartet of novels by Ryan about the seedy side of Queensland in the 1980s, and follows three desperate characters on a path to probable destruction. Detective Bruno Karras, haunted by past secrets, receives mysterious photos of a bloodstained house that lead him into a dangerous investigation. Meanwhile Amy Owens, a reluctant investigator entangled with the underworld, does some dirty jobs for the female owner of a string of brothels and finds herself digging into the very dark dealings of a wealthy businessman. While Mike Nichols, a backroom player and ministerial adviser with big dreams, finds himself caught in the crossfire. With the dollars flowing and the body count rising, the three find themselves heading towards a bloody collision.

The Dream is maybe too reminiscent of some American crime novels, but it is far different from anything else being done in Australia and is a terrific slice of urban noir.

Link to the original review: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/downunder-crime-round-up-december-2024-iain-ryan-riley-james-natalie-conyer-and-fin-j-ross/

I was particularly pleased by Margaret Hickey’s The Creeper, (Penguin, July 2024). I enjoyed her three books about South Australian detective DS Mark Ariti, but thought that The Creeper was a real step up for her.

Set in Victoria’s high country, The Creeper is a carefully plotted novel that introduces a new character for Margaret in the form of Detective Constable Sally White. The only officer at a small rural town, Sally becomes caught up in old and new crimes as the anniversary of an infamous local shooting draws near.

This is a very accomplished novel that makes good use of its ‘past’ and ‘present’ timelines, and moves smoothly to a taut and surprising conclusion on a lonely mountain track. There is also a neat sting in the tail that increased my assessment of the book.

Here is the link to my fuller review: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/australian-outback-noir-2024-new-books-by-margaret-hickey-and-gabriel-bergmoser/

 When It Rains, (Fremantle Press, 1 October 2024), is the fourth book by Dave Warner to feature Broome detective Dan Clement, and finds the ageing detective trying to balance a much younger love interest and a sudden deluge of crime. When his sergeant is beaten up, and a woman is brutally assaulted, it seems like the same two suspects are behind both incidents. Clement quickly mounts a search for the two across a great expanse of the outback, but things take a macabre turn when a woman’s hand is discovered tied to a post in crocodile-infested waters. It seems like someone is working their way through a list of victims, but Clement has no idea who is next.

Warner’s novels about Dan Clements are some of the most authentic outback noir books around, and When It Rains is one of his best. The details of policing in such a remote area are smoothly woven into the story, and the book moves along at a decent pace. There are several good twists, and the tension really mounts in the final stages. As usual, the mixture of solid plotting, believable characters and graphic descriptions of Broome and the surrounding outback makes When It Rains one of the year’s best outback crime novels.

It also has the best Australian crime novel cover of the year.

Link to the original review: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/australian-outback-noir-2024-new-books-by-candice-fox-dave-warner-and-alan-carter/

Gabriel Bergmoser’s The Hitchhiker, (Harper Collins, July 2024), started life as an Audible Original story, before being being released as a short novel.

The book opens with Paul, pushing fifty and reeling from an ugly divorce, deciding it’s time for an adventure. With the Bee Gees on the car stereo and the open road ahead, he sets out into the middle of the Australian outback, ready for whatever comes. But things take a sinister turn when he impulsively decides to pick up a hitchhiker, Jesse. Clutching a ragged backpack and with his eyes locked on the
rearview mirror, Jesse is clearly running from something. But what? And when the truth is revealed, how far will he, and Paul, go to survive?

This is a twisted cat-and-mouse thriller set in the harsh Australian outback. The tension is well established from the beginning, as Bergmoser carefully fleshes out Paul and Jesse, revealing their various secrets and making it clear that both are potentially dangerous people.  Their trek through the desolate bushland bristles with suspense, especially when they encounter other people. The arrival of Bergmoser’s nomadic regular hero, Maggie, in the final third of the book amps up the action, and the plot quickly powers to a bloody and exciting ending.

Adding depth to the novel is Bergmoser’s depiction of the vastness of the Australian outback, and his description of the small communities and pubs scattered along the solitary main road. He also paints a poignant picture of what it is like to be a young person in a remote outback town, especially the lack of opportunity and the despair. An exciting and thought provoking thriller.

Here is the link to the original review: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/australian-outback-noir-2024-new-books-by-margaret-hickey-and-gabriel-bergmoser/

After the success of her critically acclaimed The Housemate, Sarah Bailey returned in 2024 to her series about DS Gemma Woodstock with Body Of Lies, (Allen & Unwin).

Body Of Lies is the fourth book in the series and opens in an intriguing manner with a fatal car crash, the theft of a body from a morgue and a brutal murder. At the start of the book, Gemma is on maternity leave and back in her small hometown of Smithson. At loose ends, and undecided about her future, she is happy enough to be dragged back into work to help with an unexpected increase in workload following the bizarre disappearance of an unidentified corpse from the local hospital, and the subsequent murder of a senior figure in the town. Very quickly, however, the mysteries start hitting very close to home for Gemma.

This is a very accomplished novel. Well written and tightly plotted, the book moves at a good pace, and produces a couple of dazzling surprises along the way to the very taut climax. The characters are well crafted and interesting and Gemma’s personal dilemmas are smoothly woven into the story. There are several good twists, and the conclusion is both unexpected and exciting. Probably the best of the Woodstock series, and a damn fine read.

Here is the link to the original review: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/friday-forecast-body-of-lies-by-sarah-bailey/

Chris Hammer has become a leading figure in Australian crime writing and his books are always a highlight of any reading year.

His latest, The Valley (Allen & Unwin, 1 October 2024), sticks pretty much to the successful pattern of his previous books, but moves the action north from the Murrumbidgee irrigation zone to a small village community between Canberra and the south coast of New South Wales. His popular detective pairing of Detective Sergeant Ivan Lucic and Detective Senior Constable Nell Buchanan of the rural homicide team are called in to investigate the death of a controversial entrepreneur in a remote mountain valley not far from Canberra. Despite the peaceful surroundings, they soon find themselves contending with a range of potential suspects, including cowboy lawyers, conmen and bullion thieves. As well, Nell discovers a disturbing personal connection to the victim.

Well written and powerful, The Valley confirms Hammer’s place as a master of bush crime.

The Wrong Man, (Simon & Schuster, July 2024), is the fifth novel in Tim Ayliffe’s series about international journalist John Bailey.

In a slight shift from the earlier books, The Wrong Man is more focused on local crime than spying and terrorism. Bailey also shares the spotlight this time with another character, Detective Holly Sutton who has been seconded to work with the New South Wales Homicide Squad to investigate the murder of Sydney socialite Tottie Evans who has been found dead at the Palm Beach home of a millionaire property developer. Bailey is not much interested in the murder until he discovers a link between it and the death of his former girlfriend, police detective Sharon Dexter.

This is an enjoyable, quick moving story that smoothly alternates the perspective between Bailey and Holly Sutton to good effect. The early scenes expertly set up the basic premise of the plot, and the subsequent twists and turns keep you interested all the way to the exciting final shoot-out. The action is well choreographed and gripping, and Ayliffe keeps the violence within the boundaries of credibility.

Bailey’s informed reflections on politics, international affairs, media, and society add to the enjoyment, and the timely themes about online misogyny and the abuse of power give the book some good substance. I think that it is Ayliffe’s best novel so far.

Here is the link to the original review: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/downunder-crime-update-july-2024-news-reviews-and-previews/

Sherryl Clark’s Woman, Missing, (HQ, July 2024), is an interesting change in direction, and a new central character, for an Australian/New Zealand author who has not attracted a lot of attention to date.

Woman, Missing features Lou Alcott, a fledging PI who had to leave the police force under a cloud after attacking a domestic violence perpetrator. Thanks to her grandfather Hamish, a notorious Melbourne crime boss, Lou has a new job with a local private eye agency. On her first day she draws two cases helping at-risk women, and before long she finds herself involved in a dangerous cat-and-mouse-game with a possible killer.

Smoothly written and well paced, Woman, Missing is a nicely balanced story, with the steady progress of Lou’s investigations being spiced up by flashes of violence from her grandfather’s involvement in a bloody gang war with an old nemesis. The domestic violence and perils of online dating aspects add some depth to the story, and the book builds to a good conclusion.

Here is the link to the original review: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/downunder-crime-update-july-2024-news-reviews-and-previews/

Ronni Salt’s Gunnawah, (Hachette, 1 January 2025), has only just been released, but it is already setting a high benchmark for local crime fiction in 2025.

Set in the Riverina in 1974, Gunnawah is an engrossing mixture of crime, historical reflection and a good coming of age story. The story revolves around the extension of the irrigation scheme to the small town of Gunnawah, which brings dangers, as well as opportunities, and casts a new light on some old mysteries.

I have recently reviewed Gunnawah (below). It is a confidently written and highly enjoyable debut novel that provides a good mix of quirky humour and solid crime novel action. I think it will be on the ‘must read list’ for anyone interested in Australian crime fiction in 2025.

The review is here: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/new-outback-australian-crime-fiction-for-2025-gunnawah-by-ronni-salt/

Finally, fans of Australian crime fiction will want to get their hands on Craig Sisterson’s latest collection of Australian and New Zealand short stories, Dark Deeds Down Under 2 (Clan Destine Press, April 2024).

Dark Deeds Down Under 2 contains a smorgasbord of Aussie and Kiwi writers, with a good mix of old stories from legendary authors, such as Peter Corris, new fiction from established stars, including Emma Viskic and Jack Heath, and some fresh new voices. Twenty two stories in total, that will take you from the dark corners of our major cities, to remote coastal communities, to the dusty Outback and a bland Canberran apartment under siege. An outstanding collection.

Here is the link to the original review: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/downunder-crime-round-up-april-2024-news-reviews-and-previews/

So plenty of enjoyable Australian reading. What was your favourite Australian crime novel of the past year?

The good news is that there is still a lot of impressive Australian crime writing to come in 2025, which is shaping up to be a big year with a virtual flood of new books by some of our best writers, including Michael Robotham, Dervla McTiernan, Michelle Prak, Shelley Burr and Garry Disher, to name a few. There is also a very promising looking first novel by Indigenous author Angie Faye Martin, Melaleuca, due out in June.

Here is a link to my column from Australia Day 2024: https://murdermayhemandlongdogs.com/aussie-crime-2024-recent-australian-crime-novels-to-read-this-australia-day/