Thom-Jones takes out top Scarlet Stiletto Award
Author Sandra Thom-Jones has won first prize in Sisters in Crime’s 32nd Scarlet Stiletto Awards for her short story “Der Hölle Rache”.
Thom-Jones, who identifies as neurodivergent, said, “I’m still shaking. Winning prizes in the 2023 Scarlet Stilettos was instrumental in convincing me that I could write crime stories people wanted to read, and motivated me to start work on my first novel. I was excited to make the shortlist again this year, but never dreamt I would actually win the coveted shoe.”
As well as $2000, each year’s main prize-winner receives a trophy in the shape of a red stilettoed shoe.
“I write stories with quirky, and often neurodivergent, characters who don’t see the world like everyone else does,” said Thom-Jones. “The characters in my stories share my passion for justice and equity, although I use a keyboard to vent my frustration where [in my story] Alice used a gun.”
Victoria writer, Thom-Jones is author of Growing in to Autism (MUP, 2022), Autistics in Academia (CUP, 2025) and Autistics at Work (MUP, 2022). She is currently undertaking a second doctorate, this time exploring the experiences of autistic parents.
Thom-Jones was one of 31 shortlisted authors honoured at last Friday’s dinner. This year, 231 short stories competed for $13,050 in prize money. Other award-winners were:
The Simon & Schuster Second Prize ($1000)
- Nette Hilton for “Without A Word”
The Sun Bookshop & Fremantle Press Third Prize ($800)
- Jacqui Horwood for “Rebel Girl”
The Echo Publishing Award for Best Young Writer ($1000)
- Amber Woodburne for “A Midnight Murder”
The Melbourne Athenaeum Body-in-the-Library Library Award ($1250)
- Julia Harris for “Return or Die”
The Melbourne Athenaeum Body-in-the-Library Library Runner-Up Award ($750)
- Natalie Conyer (Mosman, NSW) for “The Ghost Detective”
The HQ Fiction Award for Best Thriller ($1000)
- Tegan Huntley for “Vanish”
Clan Destine Press Award for Cross Genre ($750)
- Alyssa Mackay for “Nan and Lila Investigate a Murder”
The Kerry Greenwood Malice Domestic Award ($750)
- January Gilchrist for “The Art of Letting Go”
The ScriptWorks Great Film Idea Award ($500)
- Sally Ross for “Reasonable Doubt”
The Bolton Clarke Award for Best Art and Crime Story ($1000)
- Linda Brandon for “The Spanish Connection”
Every Cloud Productions’s Phryne Mystery with History Award ($1000)
- Liz Filleul for “A Time for Crime”
The Cate Kennedy Award for Best Story Inspired by a Forensic Clue ($500)
- Sarah Mayo Tighe for “Franklin Has Questions”
The Writers’ Victoria Crime and Punishment Award for the most satisfying retribution (Online course and membership)
- Laree Chapman for “Capeweed”.
The awards were presented by Sydney-based crime writer Dinuka McKenzie.
Final judging session coordinator Christina Lee said that the range and variety of stories this year was outstanding. “There were bodies in all manner of libraries, retributions fast and slow, mysteries in historical settings and faraway places. There were stories set in cities and deserts, the future and the past, worlds real and imagined. The protagonists were women, children, animals and fantasy creatures.
“The authors’ tones ranged from light and hilarious to spooky and terrifying. There are stories from this year that will live forever in my head, stories in styles that I might never have chosen to read, but devoured with pleasure when they were assigned. Judging was, as always, a great joy, an education, and a chance to reflect on one’s own limited range of preferences and experiences.”
Highly commended framed certificates went to a number of writers, whose names can be found on the awards website.
Last year’s winner was Nikki Lee Taylor for “Lilly Pilly, Don’t Be Silly”.
More information is available on the Sisters in Crime website.
Pictured from left to right: Dinuka McKenzie and Sandra Thom-Jones.
Category: Awards Local news
