For a quarter of a century, Sisters in Crime Australia has been shining a spotlight on the incredible achievements of women crime writers – fiction and non-fiction. From the first year with its seven entries to the present day where around 180 books are entered, it’s been an astonishing journey, filled with inspiring talent and unforgettable stories.

The Davitt Awards have always been about more than just recognising great writing; they’re about celebrating the voices that shine a light on society as a whole, push boundaries, and keep readers on the edge of their seats. From debut novels to well-established voices, the Davitts honour the diversity and power of Australian women writers in the worlds of crime fiction and true crime.

This spans adult, young adult, and children’s novels, as well as non-fiction.

Sisters in Crime has announced the longlists for the 2026 Davitt Awards for the best crime books by Australian women:

Adult novels

• At Cafe 64 (Shaeden Barry)
• Lyrebird (Jane Caro)
• Unfinished Business (Shankari Chandran)
• Skull River (Pip Fioretti)
• When She Was Gone (Sara Foster)
• Revelation Beach (Susan Francis)
• Learned Behaviours (Zeynab Gamieldien)
• Unbury The Dead (Fiona Hardy)
• Mad Mabel (Sally Hepworth)
• The Canvas Killings (Elise Janes)
• The Bluff (Joanna Jenkins)
• Melaleuca (Angie Faye Martin)
• The Wolf Tree (Laura McCluskey)
• The Prospect (Fleur McDonald)
• Stillwater (Tanya Scott)
• Nemesis (Patricia Wolf)

Nonfiction

• Groomed (Sonia Orchard)
• Outrageous Fortunes: The Adventures of Mary Fortune, Crime-writer, and Her Criminal Son George (Lucy Sussex & Megan Brown)
• The Red House (Kate Wild)

YA

• What Have They done to Liza McLean? (Amy Doak)
• A Murder Is Going Down (Kate Emery)
• We Saw What You Started (Carla Salmon)

Children’s

• Run (Sarah Armstrong)
• True South (Gisela Ervin-Ward)
• The Girl and the Ghost (Jacqueline Harvey)
• Silverborn: The Mystery of Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor #4) (Jessica Townsend)
• Promises and Other Lies (Sue Whiting)
• The Wicked Ship (Oceanforged #1) (Amelia Mellor)

Shortlists will be announced in July.