The finalist titles in this year’s Ngaio Marsh Awards, which celebrate New Zealand crime writing, have been announced. In 2024, awards will be made in three categories: Best Novel, Best Children’s or Young Adult Book, and Best First Novel.

Take a look at our reading list setting out the books longlisted for Best Novel here.

Best Novel finalists:

Devil's Breath by Jill Johnson (Black & White/Bonnier)
Dice by Claire Baylis (Allen & Unwin)
Expectant by Vanda Symon (Orenda Books)
The Caretaker by Gabriel Bergmoser (HarperCollins)
Going Zero by Anthony McCarten (Macmillan)
Pet by Catherine Chidgey (Te Herenga Waka University Press)
Ritual of Fire by DV Bishop (Macmillan)

Best Children's Book or Young Adult Book finalists:

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)

Best First Novel finalists:

A Better Class of Criminal by Christian Kelly (Christian Kelly)
Devil's Breath by Jill Johnson (Black & White/Bonnier)
Dice by Claire Baylis (Allen & Unwin)
El Flamingo by Nick Davies (YBK Publishers)
Mami Suzuki Private Eye by Simon Rowe (Penguin Random House)

The winners will be announced at a special event held at WORD Christchurch later this month.