December 2025 …
I’ve recently had the pleasure of reading The Creeper by Margaret Hickey (Penguin Random House, 2024). The novel is notable as it was the winner of the 2025 Ned Kelly Award for Australian Crime Fiction presented by the Australian Crime Writers Association (ACWA).
The Creeper is a police procedural novel set in Victoria’s High Country in the fictional town of Edenville. Written in 3rd person, it follows Senior Constable Sally White as she reviews a ten year old murder case prior to its anniversary. Sally is a young constable on her first station assignment and is attempting to settle into her new community – balancing being sociable with being the local law enforcement officer.
The case involved five hikers who were murdered by a local bush loner, before he took his own life. As Sally questions details and inconsistencies about the case, and re-interviews relatives of the victims, doubt is thrown on the conclusion of a case long assumed to be closed.
The story unfolds at a steady pace, with a slow rising tension. During the final fifteen chapters, evidence and events converge as old memories are stirred and people start to take matters into their own hands.
The novel is a good crime story. The ending scenes are appropriately suspenseful, encouraging a page-turning effect and leading to a dramatic reveal. Margaret Hickey’s portrayal of the Victorian High Country is vivid and majestic.
For me as an author, part of the enjoyment was noticing the techniques used to quietly introduce the real murderer early in the story without the character being front and centre of the investigation.
I had the privilege of meeting Margaret Hickey at the ACWA awards, and had a great conversation with her about the challenges of writing novels and getting published. She was very supportive of my work and impressed with the path I have taken so far.
I enjoyed the novel and appreciated the opportunity to absorb the qualities and style of contemporary Australian crime fiction. Highly recommended.