Order of Arthur Upfield Books

Arthur William Upfield (1890-1964) was a British-born Australian writer who specialized in detective fiction and thrillers, best known for creating the beloved Inspector Bonaparte series. After immigrating to Australia as a young man, Upfield served with Australian forces in World War I before embarking on extensive travels throughout the continent. These journeys allowed him to develop a deep understanding of Aboriginal culture, which would later enrich his literary work. Beyond his writing career, Upfield pursued scientific interests as a member of the Australian Geological Society, participating in various research expeditions.

Upfield launched his writing career in 1928 with his debut novel The House of Cain. His literary legacy endured well beyond his lifetime, with his works gaining renewed popularity through the 1970s Australian television adaptation "Boney."

Many of Upfield's novels were published under alternative titles: The Barrakee Mystery appeared as The Lure of the Bush; Mr. Jelly's Business was released as Murder Down Under; Bushranger of the Skies became No Footprints in the Bush; The New Shoe was retitled The Clue of the New Shoe; Cake in the Hatbox was known as Sinister Stones; Bony Buys a Woman was published as The Bushman Who Came Back; Bony and the Black Virgin appeared as The Torn Branch; Bony and the Mouse was released as Journey to the Hangman; Bony and the Kelly Gang carried the alternate title Valley of Smugglers; and Madman's Bend was also published as The Body at Madman's Bend. Notably, The Lake Frome Monster was a collaborative effort with co-authors J.L. Price and Dorothy Strange.

In his inaugural work, The House of Cain, Upfield tells the story of Austilene Thorpe, who vanishes from jail after being charged with murder. When her fiancé Martin Sherwood loses his sight from the trauma, his adventurous brother Monty discovers Austilene's whereabouts in a remote South Australian sanctuary for criminals, leading the brothers on a mission to bring her back to Melbourne.