Kirsten Tranter’s “The Passenger” has been nominated for the Edgar Award for Best Short Story, presented by the Mystery Writers of America.

Sydney Noir has been shortlisted for the 2019 Danger Award presented by BAD: Sydney Crime Writers Festival!

“At a time when a significant swathe of Australian crime fiction has relocated to the regions and the drought-stricken interior . . . it’s good to get back to the grime of the city . . . Edited by John Dale, Sydney Noir brings together 14 compelling short stories by established and emerging Australian authors, each offering a startling glimpse into the dark heart of Sydney and its sprawling suburbs.
—Sydney Morning Herald, review for the Australian edition

“Akashic delivers another impeccable anthology with Sydney Noir, a deep dive into the mean streets, artistic outlets, and sultry demimonde of Australia’s largest (and liveliest) city.”
—CrimeReads, one of 10 Crime Books You Should Read in January

One of CrimeReads‘s Most Anticipated Crime Books of 2019

“This long-time fan of the series breathed a sigh of relief upon discovering that not only is Sydney Noir very good indeed, it is one of the best in Akashic’s canon for some time . . . As a snapshot of contemporary Australia, this collection delivers in ways that most middlebrow literary fiction cannot seem to get its head around, even though much literary fiction flirts with the noir genre without fully committing. Here is a touch but tender vision of multicultural working-class Australia, with all its warts and anxieties.”
—Australian Book Review

“The writing is fantastic across the board. It’s evocative and engaging . . . If you have any interest in noir, crime novels, or just excellent writing, you can’t go wrong with this collection.”
—Tails from the Dog-Side

“Overall I really enjoyed this collection . . . I’ve definitely got the taste for more Australian crime fiction this year.”
—Col’s Criminal Library

“The former British penal colony provides fertile ground for dark doings, as these 14 tales demonstrate . . . The stories [Dale’s] assembled offer ample variety in this cavalcade of crime Down Under.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“Sydney is a good choice for Akashic’s first noir anthology set in Australia . . . The 14 uniformly strong selections feature familiar subgenre figures: gangsters, ethically compromised cops, and people bent on revenge for the loss of a loved one . . . Fans of dark crime fiction will want to seek out other works by these contributors, most of whom will be unfamiliar to American readers.”
—Publishers Weekly

“In The Court of the Lion King” by Mark Dapin and “The Passenger” by Kirsten Tranter have been selected as two of the Best Mystery Stories of 2019 by Robert Lopresti of SleuthSayers!

“In The Court of the Lion King” by Mark Dapin and “The Passenger” by Kirsten Tranter selected as Robert Lopresti’s Best Mystery Story of the Week