The Australian Crime Writers Association (ACWA) has announced the shortlists for this year’s Ned Kelly Awards for Australian crime writing.

The shortlisted works in each category are:

Best crime fiction

• Marlborough Man (Alan Carter, Fremantle Press)
• Under Cold Bright Lights (Garry Disher, Text)
• Redemption Point (Candice Fox, Bantam)
• Crossing the Lines (Sulari Gentill, Pantera)
• The Lone Child (Anna George, Viking)
• The Student (Iain Ryan, Echo)

Best true crime

• The Contractor (Mark Abernethy, Pan Macmillan)
• Unmaking A Murder: The Mysterious Death of Anna Jane Cheney (Graham Archer, Ebury)
• The Suitcase Baby (Tanya Bretherton, Hachette)
• The Fatalist (Campbell McConachie, Hachette)
• Whiteley on Trial (Gabriella Coslovich, MUP)

Best first fiction

• Wimmera (Mark Brandi, Hachette)
• The Dark Lake (Sarah Bailey, A&U)
• The Girl in Keller’s Way (Megan Goldin, Michael Joseph)
• See What I Have Done (Sarah Schmidt, Hachette).

The winners will be announced on 26 August during the Melbourne Writers Festival.