2024 NGAIO MARSH AWARD FINALISTS

Now in their fifteenth season, the Ngaio Marsh Awards celebrate excellence in mystery,
thriller, crime, and suspense writing from Aotearoa New Zealand storytellers. The 2024
finalists were announced today in Best First Novel, Best Novel, and Best Kids/YA categories.

The finalists for the 2024 Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Kids/YA

• CAGED by Susan Brocker (Scholastic)

• KATIPO JOE: WOLF’S LAIR by Brian Falkner (Scholastic)

• MIRACLE by Jennifer Lane (Cloud Ink Press)

• NIKOLAI’S QUEST by Diane Robinson (Rose & Fern Publishing)

• NOR’EAST SWELL by Aaron Topp (One Tree House)

Finalists for the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best First Novel

• DICE by Claire Baylis (Allen & Unwin)

• EL FLAMINGO by Nick Davies (YBK Publishers)

• DEVIL’S BREATH by Jill Johnson (Black & White/Bonnier)

• A BETTER CLASS OF CRIMINAL by Cristian Kelly

• MAMA SUZUKI: PRIVATE EYE by Simon Rowe (Penguin SEA)

Finalists for the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Novel

• DICE by Claire Baylis (Allen & Unwin)

• THE CARETAKER by Gabriel Bergmoser (HarperCollins)

• RITUAL OF FIRE by DV Bishop (Macmillan)

• PET by Catherine Chidgey (Te Herenga Waka University Press)

• DEVIL’S BREATH by Jill Johnson (Black & White/Bonnier)

• GOING ZERO by Anthony McCarten (Macmillan)

• EXPECTANT by Vanda Symon (Orenda Books)

The 2024 Ngaio Marsh Awards finalists will be celebrated and this year’s winners announced at a special event held at the WORD Christchurch Festival on Wednesday, 28 August.

For more information on any or all of our 2024 Ngaio Marsh Awards finalists, or the Ngaios in general, contact ngaiomarshaward@gmail.com, or founder Craig Sisterson, craigsisterson @ hotmail.com