If you’re like us and find yourself regularly throwing out treasured possessions to make space in the cupboards for more books, then you’re going to love devouring the treasures on the Australian Independent Booksellers’ shortlist for The Indie Awards 2014. The annual battle of the books has been running since 2008, pointing readers to 16 of the best new releases each year and saving us from the task of flicking through the shop shelves.

This year’s selection sees Tim Winton’s Eyrie, Christos Tsiolkas’ Barracuda, Alex Miller’s Coal Creek and Richard Flanagan’s The Narrow Road to the Deep North on the fiction shortlist, while John Safran’s Murder in Mississippi, David Hunt’s Girt, Kerry-Anne Walsh’s The Stalking of Julia Gillard and Hugh Mackay’s The Good Life earned accolades for non-fiction knowhow. Four fresh voices were also applauded, with Hannah Kent’s Burial Rites, Inga Simpson’s Mr Wigg, Graeme Simsion’s The Rosie Project and Fiona McFarlane’s The Night Guest shortlisted in the debut fiction category. The section winners as well as the overall Book of the Year victor will be announced on Wednesday March 26.