Crime In Print: A Rare Collection of Murder Mysteries

Seasoned sleuth? Excited amateur? Explore some of the exciting first edition Murder Mystery books from our collection during Rare Books Week

Step into the world of intrigue and suspense during Sydney Rare Book Week when the SMSA showcases a collection of first edition murder mystery books.

With over 13,000 mystery and crime novels in the SMSA Library collection, you could say we are a little obsessed with the genre, and we are so excited to share the iconic and unusual titles that have shaped the genre for generations, each with its own quirks and charm.

Whether you’re a seasoned sleuth or new to the genre, join us on Monday 21 October from 4pm to take a glimpse into the golden age of crime fiction.

SPECIAL GUEST

We are thrilled to announce that Rachel Franks will be joining us to officially open the exhibition!

Rachel is the Coordinator of Scholarship at the State Library of New South Wales and holds doctorates in both Australian Crime Fiction (Central Queensland University) and True Crime Texts (University of Sydney).

A qualified educator and librarian, Rachel’s extensive work on crime fiction, true crime, popular culture, and information science has been widely presented at conferences and featured on radio and television.

If that weren’t impressive enough, Rachel is also an award-winning writer. Her research is published across a range of books, journals, magazines, and online resources. She is the author of An Uncommon Hangman: The Life and Deaths of Robert ‘Nosey Bob’ Howard (2022).