The shortlist for the Ned Kelly Awards 2015 was announced last Saturday at the Byron Bay Writers Festival, by bestselling Australian author Michael Robotham. It’s the 20th anniversary of the prestigious award, with the winners being announced at the Bella Union on Saturday August 22, as part of Melbourne Writers Festival.

Congratulations to all the shortlisted authors, listed here in full.

Best Crime

• Sweet One by Peter Docker
• Eden by Candice Fox
• A Murder Unmentioned by Sulari Gentill
• Gun Street Girl by Adrian McKinty
• Crucifixion Creek by Barry Maitland
• Present Darkness by Malla Nunn

Best First Crime

• King of the Road by Nigel Bartlett
• What Came Before by Anna George
• Chasing the Ace by Nicholas J Johnson
• Quota by Jock Serong

Best True Crime

• This House of Grief by Helen Garner
• He Who Must Be Obeid by Kate McClymont and Linton Besser
• The Feel-Good Hit of the Year by Liam Pieper
• The Fall by Amy Dale
• The Family Court Murders by Debi Marshall
• The Murder of Allison Baden-Clay by David Murray

The SD Harvey Short Story Award

This year, Kill Your Darlings has joined the Australian Crime Writers Association in supporting this award, with the winner to be published in their literary journal.

• ‘A Watched Pot’ by Aoife Clifford
• ‘Daddy Played the Trumpet’ by Adriane Howell
• ‘Prisoner’s Dilemma’ by Stephen Gray
• ‘Roux’s Sister’ by Darcy-Lee Tindale
• ‘Short Term People’ by Andrea Gillum
• ‘Sweetie’ by Grace Heyer