Our 2025 Penguin Noir events have wrapped up for another year – featuring four cities, four days, seven authors and a whole lot of crime!
From Sydney to Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne, our talented Penguin Random House (PRH) crime authors brought sharp insights, vibrant conversation and plenty of laughs to readers around the country during the 2025 Penguin Noir tour.
With a stellar lineup of authors from across Australia and New Zealand, the week was a resounding success.
It was a true celebration of crime fiction in all forms and a testament to the authors' generosity, warmth, and ability to connect with audiences wherever they went.
Sydney
In Sydney, Gareth and Louise Ward, Amanda Hampson, and Darcy Tindale kicked off the tour in style at the Hayden Orpheum.
The conversation took the audience on a journey through the crime spectrum, from cosy crime to dark rural noir.
Darcy even brought a prop: a Halloween skull decoration, which she discovered through forensic research, was alarmingly anatomically correct.
Being a part of Penguin Noir seriously is a 'core memory’ and author highlight for us all. – Darcy Tindale
There was a spirited conversation – which continued throughout the week – about which type of crime is most high-stakes for a crime novel.
Brisbane
After a quick flight north, the four authors spent Tuesday visiting Brisbane bookstores and signing copies at the QBD Head Office before braving the rain for their second event at Avid Reader. The panel explored the eternal ‘plotting vs pantsing’ debate.
Do crime writers always know whodunnit? Or do they plant red herrings in retrospect?
Gareth Ward offered a charming insight into co-writing with Louise – taking turns writing chapters means he gets to write and read the book at the same time.
Adelaide
After saying goodbye to Darcy and welcoming Margaret Hickey, Wednesday's event in the Adelaide Hills took the tour to new heights, exploring the beauty and terror of the bush in outback noir.
A full house of 170 guests resulted in an electric atmosphere.
Amanda shared vivid tales from her research, including an interview with a self-confessed corrupt policeman from the 1960s, and the lightbulb moment for her Tea Ladies series: a nostalgic Facebook photo of a 1960s tea lady and the comment below: ‘The tea ladies knew where the bodies were buried.’
Melbourne
The final day saw the authors trip across to Melbourne, leaving behind Margaret Hickey and picking up Candice Fox and Kerryn Mayne for an event at the City of Melbourne Bowls Club.
Kerryn and the Wards discussed how their careers in policing have influenced their writing, while Amanda offered her perspectives on the cosy crime genre.
Candice shared her experiences working with New York firefighters for her book, Devil's Kitchen, and Geoff Parkes also made an appearance, signing copies of his debut novel, When the Deep Dark Bush Swallows You Whole.
Once again, the event received great feedback, marking a fantastic conclusion to an exceptional week.
Overall, the 2025 Penguin Noir events were a hit! The week-long journey not only highlighted the remarkable talent within PRH’s crime fiction genre but also strengthened the bond between writers and readers.
The enthusiastic participation and feedback from authors, booksellers, and attendees emphasised the significance of such events in uniting and nurturing our vibrant reading community.
'Thank you so much for including me in this amazing tour! Penguin Noir has become a real entity, and the Penguin crime authors a real community.' – Amanda Hampson
With the success of this tour, it’s fair to say we’re already looking forward to Penguin Noir 2026!
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