Prime Crime from Down Under, Part 1

 

The winners of the 2025 Ngaio Marsh Awards were announced last evening at a special event, "The Ngaio Marsh Awards and The Murderous Mystery," held in association with the WORD Christchurch Confrence at Tūranga. Now in their sixteenth season, the awards celebrate excellence in mystery, thriller, crime, and suspense writing from New Zealand authors. Congratulations to the winners and finalists!

BEST NOVEL:  Return To Blood by Michael Bennett (Simon & Schuster)

Other finalists:

• A Divine Fury by DV Bishop (Macmillan)
• Woman, Missing by Sherryl Clark (HarperCollins)
• Home Truths by Charity Norman (Allen & Unwin)
• 17 Years Later by JP Pomare (Hachette)
• The Call by Gavin Strawhan (Allen & Unwin)
• Prey by Vanda Symon (Orenda Books)

BEST FIRST NOVEL:  The Defiance Of Frances Dickinson by Wendy Parkins (Affirm Press)

Other finalists:

• Dark Sky by Marie Connolly (Quentin Wilson Publishing)
• Lie Down With Dogs by Syd Knight (Rusty Hills)
• A Fly Under The Radar by William McCartney 
• The Call by Gavin Strawhan (Allen & Unwin)
• Kiss Of Death by Stephen Tester (Heritage Press)

BEST NONFICTION:  The Crewe Murders by Kirsty Johnstone & James Hollings (Massey Uni Press)

Other finalists:

• The Trials Of Nurse Kerr by Scott Bainbridge (Bateman Books)
• The Survivors by Steve Braunias (HarperCollins)
• The Last Secret Agent by Pippa Latour & Jude Dobson (Allen & Unwin)
• Gangster’s Paradise by Jared Savage (HarperCollins)
• Far North by David White & Angus Gillies (Upstart Press)