Dave Warner Books in Order

Where to Start with Dave Warner

For readers diving into Dave Warner's crime fiction, your best entry point depends on the tone you prefer. If you want hard-boiled, award-winning police procedurals, begin with his signature series featuring Dan Clement and Snowy Lane. If you prefer lighthearted, music-infused detective capers, start with the Andrew “Lizard” Zirk trilogy. For historical crime with international flavor, his duologies and standalones offer excellent self-contained experiences.

1. Dan Clement & Snowy Lane Series

This is Warner's flagship crime series. It begins in Perth with private investigator Snowy Lane in the 1990s, shifts focus to Detective Inspector Dan Clement in Broome, and eventually merges their paths in subsequent books. The novels explore the vast, gritty landscapes of Western Australia, dealing with local history, family secrets, and police corruption.

Publication and Recommended Reading Order:

• City of Light (1995) – Set in Perth, this landmark novel introduces private investigator Snowy Lane tracking a serial killer. (Won the WA Premier's Book Award).
• Before It Breaks (2015) – Moves the setting to Broome and shifts the focus to Detective Inspector Dan Clement. (Won the Ned Kelly Award).
• Clear to the Horizon (2018) – A crossover novel that brings Snowy Lane and Dan Clement together to solve a cold case.
• After the Flood (2022) – Clement investigates a series of murders in the wake of severe flooding in the Kimberley region.
• When It Rains (2024) – The fifth installment, following DI Dan Clement as he deals with a string of violent crimes around Broome.

2. The Andrew “Lizard” Zirk Trilogy

Drawing on Warner's own experiences as a musician, this trilogy stars Andrew “Lizard” Zirk, a reclusive former rock star who uses his unique perspectives to solve mysteries. It is faster-paced and features a heavy dose of dark humor and music-industry satire.

Recommended Reading Order:

1. Murder in the Groove (1998)
2. Murder in the Frame (1999)
3. Murder in the Off-Season (2000)

3. John Gordon & Ray Shearer Duology

This duology follows Sydney homicide detective John Gordon and arson investigator Ray Shearer. Heavily inspired by classic American noir, the books track the pair across the changing cultural landscapes of the late 1960s.

Recommended Reading Order:

• Big Bad Blood (1997 / re-released 2017) – Set in Sydney in 1965, dealing with Kings Cross vice and institutional corruption.
• Summer of Blood (2023) – Set during the 1967 “Summer of Love,” sending the duo to San Francisco and Los Angeles to track a politician's missing son.

4. Standalone Crime, Capers, and Historical Mysteries

Warner has written several standalone books that showcase his genre versatility, ranging from comedic heists to Sherlockian fantasy.

• eXXXpresso (2000) – A comedic crime caper following Rick Boski, an ex-con attempting to open a prison-themed café. Note that a long-awaited sequel, Double Exxxpresso, was published in 2025.
• River of Salt (2019) – Set in the 1960s, this thriller follows an ex-mob hitman who hides out in a quiet Australian coastal town, only to be dragged into a local murder investigation.
• Over My Dead Body (2020) – A high-concept mystery where a cryogenicist accidentally revives Sherlock Holmes in modern-day New York.
• Sound Mind Dead Body (2026) – A classic “cluedunnit” style mystery set in Devon, England, in 1929.

5. Charlotte and the Starlet (Children's Series)

For younger readers, Warner penned a charming trilogy focusing on Charlotte, an outback girl, and her talking Hollywood horse, Starlet.

1. Charlotte and the Starlet (2009)
2. A Friend in Need (2009)
3. Hooray for Hollywood (2010)

6. Non-Fiction and Sports Trivia

In addition to his fiction, Warner has compiled lighthearted collections of sports trivia and humor:

• Footy's Hall of Shame (1996)
• Great Australian Bites (1997)
• Cricket's Hall of Shame (1998)