Picture an Australian storyteller who traded youth work for crafting heart-pounding crime thrillers—meet Rae Cairns! With a knack for weaving suspense and human resilience, Cairns burst onto the scene with her debut novel, The Good Mother, a gripping tale shortlisted for the 2021 Ned Kelly Awards. Her stories, inspired by her time in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, explore ordinary people thrust into extraordinary danger, making her a rising star in crime fiction.
From mentoring disadvantaged youth to penning page-turners, Cairns’s unique journey infuses her work with raw authenticity and emotional depth. Ready to dive into her thrilling world? Let’s explore how this former performer became a master of suspense.
The Making of Rae Cairns
Rae Cairns’s path to writing was anything but conventional. With a degree in Performing Arts, she dabbled in acting, dancing, and singing, even landing a shampoo commercial at 18 months old. In her mid-20s, Cairns ventured to Northern Ireland during the final years of the Troubles, mentoring disadvantaged youth, many of whom were children of paramilitaries like the IRA and UVF. This life-changing experience in a conflict-ridden region shaped her perspective and later inspired her fiction. Back in Australia, she co-managed a crisis refuge for street children and served as Program Director for the Sydney Olympic Youth Camp, honing her understanding of human struggles and resilience.
Writing came later, sparked by a 2014 Sydney Writers’ Festival workshop where her synopsis for The Good Mother caught attention. Under mentorship, Cairns refined her craft, blending her real-world experiences with her storytelling flair. Her fascination with why people do what they do drives her narratives, making her a compelling voice in crime fiction.
Rae Cairns’s Unforgettable Stories
Cairns writes ‘crime with heart,’ crafting thrillers that place everyday characters in high-stakes situations. Her debut, The Good Mother (2020), follows Sarah Calhoun, a Sydney soccer mom haunted by her past as an aid worker in Northern Ireland. When two men—an obsessive policeman and a brutal IRA executioner—hunt her down, Sarah faces an impossible choice: lie at a murder trial or risk her children’s lives. Shortlisted for the 2021 Ned Kelly Awards and longlisted for the Sisters in Crime Davitt Awards, this taut thriller blends suspense with emotional depth, earning praise for its authentic portrayal of the Troubles.
Her second novel, Dying to Know (2023), is a standalone Sydney-based thriller about a woman’s quest to uncover her missing sister’s fate. Cairns’s signature style—fast-paced plots, relatable characters, and moral dilemmas—shines through, cementing her reputation for gripping storytelling. Currently, she’s working on her third novel, promising more twisty tales. Her ability to fuse personal experiences with universal themes like protection and betrayal makes her work resonate with readers who crave both action and heart.
Cairns’s time in Northern Ireland adds a unique layer to her writing. Scenes like the harrowing riot in The Good Mother draw from her own memories, offering a firsthand glimpse into a turbulent era. Her focus on ordinary people, especially mothers, facing extraordinary odds sets her apart in the crime genre, delivering stories that are as thought-provoking as they are thrilling.
Why Rae Cairns Matters
Rae Cairns brings a fresh perspective to crime fiction, blending her global experiences with a deep curiosity about human nature. Her novels don’t just entertain—they illuminate the lingering effects of historical conflicts like the Troubles and celebrate the strength of everyday heroes, particularly women. By exploring themes of courage, sacrifice, and redemption, Cairns connects with readers who see themselves in her flawed, relatable characters.
Her rapid rise—from self-publishing The Good Mother to securing a HarperCollins deal—also inspires aspiring writers. Cairns’s authenticity and dedication to her craft have earned her a loyal following and critical acclaim, positioning her as a promising talent in Australian crime fiction. As she continues to write, her stories remind us that even in the darkest moments, resilience and hope can shine through.
- Key Works: The Good Mother, Dying to Know
- Awards: Shortlisted for 2021 Ned Kelly Awards, Longlisted for 2021 Sisters in Crime Davitt Awards
- Hobbies: Reading, hiking, traveling, singing
Snag The Good Mother and dive into Rae Cairns’s thrilling world of crime with heart—you won’t put it down!