Small towns, deadly secrets: Sisters in Crime at St Kilda Library

It’s no surprise that Claire Sutherland’s debut novel, The Crag (Affirm Press), is literally a cliff-hanger. Claire, a journalist at the Herald Sun for 20 years, and now a free-lancer, is a keen climber and hiker.

The Crag is set in Horsham and much of the action happens in the nearby Arapiles.

While walking on an isolated, Skye, a rock-climber (and local ambo) discovers the body of a young woman – the injuries suggest a rock-climbing accident, but the body has been found more than 5km from the nearest cliffs. Police ask Skye to help them navigate the perilous world of rock climbing as they try to unravel what happened. Read more about the book here.

In Erina Reddan’s fourth book Deep in the Forest (Pantera Press), Charli Trenthan plans to leave her hometown of Stone Lake. But when she receives a cryptic message from a member of the Sanctuary, a conservative closed community nestled in the forest, she is determined to find answers. A gruesome discovery soon lands Charli in hot water with the police, but how is the Sanctuary connected? As she digs deeper, dark secrets are uncovered and the fight to prove her innocence turns into a fight for her life.

Erina started out as a journalist, working in radio and television and was awarded the prestigious Walkley Award for her work as a foreign correspondent at the ABC. She has a Master’s Degree in Professional Writing (University of Technology Sydney) and a PhD in Creative Writing (La Trobe University) on girl warriors and ball gowns. Read more about the book here.

The opening scenes in The Chasm, Bronwyn Hall’s second thriller, are riveting as Andy King, a vet locum, puts her hand up the rear ends of 106 cows. Andy knew she should never return to Stonefield. Ten years ago, her boyfriend Will Hoffman disappeared without a trace and most people in the town thought she was to blame. Technically she is not going back there, only to Taplin, a small town in the neighbouring valley. But Andy didn't bargain on running into those who are still looking for Will, the ones who have the most to lose if he is ever found. Finding the truth – and evading those who want to kill her – culminates in a thrilling pursuit on horseback over the mountains to rival The Man from Snowy River.

Bronwyn Hall didn’t intend on being a writer. Her career has been spent working in health and community services, spanning aged care, disability and mental health. Born and bred in Australia, Bronwyn has a love for new cultures and environments, having lived for several years in both Papua New Guinea and Brazil. Read more about the book here.

Ruth Wykes is a writer and editor who has co-authored two true crime books. She lives on the Mornington Peninsula and is an active member of her local writing community. She is passionate about human rights and has a long history of political activism. And books are her sanctuary. She has always loved reading and more than six decades on can be found every week with her head buried in a book. Ruth is a convenor of Sisters in Crime Australia (and past winner of the Scarlet Stiletto Award for best crime short story). She has the role of National Book Review Editor and works with a team of volunteers to showcase our homegrown talent. This year she is also the Judging Coordinator for the Davitt Awards, which honour the best books by Australian women crime writers each year.

And somewhere in there she is slowly chipping away at the crime novel she has been writing for the last eight months.