Books On Board
series Reading Order

Cliff Hardy Books in Order

42 Books
2 Reading orders
1980 – 2015 Published
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Reading order

Where to Start: The Recommended Reading Order

For the best experience, you should read the Cliff Hardy series in publication order. Because the books follow Cliff as he ages and watch Sydney evolve from the late 1970s to the 2010s, reading them in the order they were published matches their chronological timeline.

The ideal starting point is the very first novel, The Dying Trade (1980). This book introduces Hardy's background as an ex-soldier and former boxer, setting the tone for the entire series. Alternatively, if you want a taste of his most famous case, you can jump to The Empty Beach, which solidifies the series' transition from classic American noir homage to a uniquely Australian masterpiece.

Cliff Hardy Novels in Publication Order

Written entirely by Peter Corris, the main novel series consists of 35 books in the database, charting Cliff's career over nearly four decades:

  • The Dying Trade (1980)
  • White Meat (1981)
  • The Marvellous Boy (1982)
  • Make Me Rich (1985)
  • The Empty Beach (1985)
  • The Greenwich Apartments (1986)
  • Deal Me Out (1986)
  • The January Zone (1987)
  • O'Fear (1990)
  • Wet Graves (1991)
  • Aftershock (1991)
  • Beware of the Dog (1992)
  • Matrimonial Causes (1993)
  • Casino (1994)
  • The Reward (1997)
  • Washington Club (1997)
  • The Black Prince (1998)
  • Other Side of Sorrow (1999)
  • Lugarno (2001)
  • Salt and Blood (2002)
  • Master's Mates (2003)
  • The Coast Road (2004)
  • Saving Billie (2005)
  • The Undertow (2006)
  • Appeal Denied (2007)
  • Open File (2008)
  • Deep Water (2009)
  • Torn Apart (2010)
  • Follow The Money (2011)
  • Comeback (2012)
  • The Dunbar Case (2013)
  • Silent Kill (2014)
  • Gun Control (2015)
  • That Empty Feeling (2015)
  • Win, Lose or Draw (2017)

Short Story Collections

In addition to the novels, Peter Corris published several short story collections. These can be read between the novels to expand on Hardy's files and investigate shorter, standalone cases:

  • Heroin Annie and Other Cliff Hardy Stories (1984)
  • Man in the Shadows (1988)
  • The Big Drop (1988)
  • Burn, and Other Stories (1993)
  • Taking Care Of Business (2004)
  • Forget Me If You Can (2014)
  • The Big Score: Cliff Hardy Cases (2015)

On-Screen Adaptation

In 1985, Cliff Hardy made his way to the big screen in the film adaptation of The Empty Beach, starring Bryan Brown as the rugged detective. The movie captures the sun-drenched, gritty atmosphere of Sydney that Corris described so vividly in his writing.

Frequently Asked

QWhat is the best book to start the Cliff Hardy series?

You should start with the first novel, The Dying Trade (1980), to introduce yourself to Cliff Hardy, his Sydney office, and the beginning of his detective career.

QIs the chronological order different from the publication order?

No, the chronological order matches the publication order. As you read the books in order of publication, Cliff Hardy ages and the city of Sydney evolves around him.

QHow many Cliff Hardy books are there?

According to the database, there are 35 novels and 7 short story collections, making a total of 42 books featuring the detective.

QWas there a movie based on Cliff Hardy?

Yes, the novel The Empty Beach was adapted into a feature film in 1985 starring Australian actor Bryan Brown as Cliff Hardy.

QWho wrote the Cliff Hardy books?

The series was written entirely by Peter Corris, who is often called the "Godfather of Australian crime-writing."

QWhat is the final Cliff Hardy book?

The final novel in the series is Win, Lose or Draw, published in 2017 before Corris retired the character.