Ned Cases

The shortlist of nominees for the 2009 Ned Kelly Awards--given out annually by the Crime Writers Association of Australia and named in honor of that country’s most notorious bushranger--has just been announced. Added to the commendation categories is a new one honoring the late journalist S.D. (Sandra) Harvey. Here’s the full list of this year’s contenders:

Best First Fiction:
• Ghostlines, by Nick Gadd (Scribe)
• Crooked, by Camilla Nelson (Transworld)
• The Build Up, by Phillip Gwynee (Pan Macmillan Australia)

Best Fiction:
• Bright Air, by Barry Maitland (Allen & Unwin)
• Deep Water, by Peter Corris (Allen & Unwin)
• Smoke & Mirrors, by Kel Robertson (Ginninderra Press)

Best True Crime:
• The Killing of Caroline Byrne: A Journey for Justice,
by Robert Wainwrights (Allen & Unwin)
• The Tall Man: Death and Life on Palm Island,
by Chloe Hooper (Penguin)
• A Question of Power: The Geoff Clark Case,
by Michelle Schwarz (Black Ink)

The S.D. Harvey Short Story:
• “Fidget’s Farewell,” by Scott McDermott
• “Farewell My Lovelies,” by Chris Womersley
• “Fern’s Farwell,” by Bronwyn Mehan
• “Farewell to the Shade,” by Cheryl Rogers

You can expect the announcement of winners on Friday, August 28, during the Melbourne Writers’ Festival.