Davitt Award Winners 2024
Sisters in Crime has announced the winners of the 2024 Davitt Awards for the best crime books by Australian women. The winning titles in each category, chosen from shortlists announced in July, and a full report can be read at the Sisters in Crime website. This report was written by Carmel Shute.
The books entered into the awards were judged by the following judging panel this year:
- Ruth Wykes, author and editor
- Deb Bodinnar, former bookseller
- Emily Gale, author and editor
- Romany Rzechnowicz, author and communications manager
- Emily Webb, author and pocaster
- Lyn Yates, professor of education.
The awards were presented in Melbourne on the 31st of August by superstar creator of Rowland Sinclair, Sulari Gentill. This year’s winners of the award for crime writing by women were mostly debuts, which is an interesting thing to note, and highlights the power and impact that a good debut can have. Congratulations to the winners, listed below.
Adult novels
When One of Us Hurts (Monica Vuu, Macmillan)
Nonfiction books
The Schoolgirl, Her Teacher and His Wife (Rebecca Hazel, Vintage)
Young adult novels
Eleanor Jones Is Not a Murderer (Amy Doak, Penguin)
Children’s novels
The Wolves of Greycoat Hall (Lucinda Gifford, Walker Books)
Best debut crime
The Half Brother (Christine Keighery, Ultimo)
Readers’ choice
The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies (Alison Goodman, HarperCollins).