 In 2014 "The Kensington Reptilarium" was shortlisted for an Australian Book Industry Award in the category of Book of the Year for Older Children.In 1999 "Cleave" was shortlisted in the Fiction category of the Queensland Premier's Literary Awards.Four books by Gemmell, "Shiver", "Cleave", "The Bride Stripped Bare" and "The Book of Rapture", made the longlist of "Favourite Australian Novels" as chosen by readers of the "Australian Book Review".