The Australian Crime Writers Association has announced the 2016 shortlists for the Ned Kelly Awards for the best in Australian crime writing.

Here are the shortlists in each category:

Best Fiction

• R&R by Mark Dapin
• The Heat by Garry Disher
• Fall by Candice Fox
• Rain Dogs by Adrian McKinty
• Ash Island by Barry Maitland
• Before it Breaks by Dave Warner

Best true crime

• Certain Admissions by Gideon Haigh
• The Sting by Kate Kyriacou
• A Murder Without Motive by Martin McKenzie-Murray
• Killing Love by Rebecca Poulson
• Kidnapped by Mark Tedeschi

Best first fiction

• Please Don’t Leave Me Here by Tania Chandler
• Good Money by J M Green
• Amplify by Mark Hollands
• Skin Deep by Gary Kemble
• Four Days by Iain Ryan
• Resurrection Bay by Emma Viskic

Lifetime Achievement Award

This year the Australian Crimewriters Association will honour Carmel Shute with a Lifetime Achievement Award. As a founder and national co-convener of Sisters in Crime Australia, Carmel has spent 25 years supporting and nurturing Australian women crime writers.

The winners of the Ned Kelly Awards will be announced at a free event at Melbourne Writers Festival on Sunday, 28 August 28. Find out more here.