Order of Cliff Hardy Books

Cliff Hardy serves as the central character in Peter Corris's acclaimed hardboiled detective series set in Australia. This Sydney-based private investigator cuts an imposing figure—tall and physically fit, drawing from a diverse background that includes stints as a boxer, soldier, lumberjack, and insurance investigator. Hardy's arsenal typically includes a Smith & Wesson .38, though he occasionally carries a Colt .45.

Peter Corris launched the Cliff Hardy series in 1980 with The Dying Trade, and the series continues to captivate readers today. The books are published in chronological sequence, making it easy for fans to follow Hardy's adventures in order.

The series opener, The Dying Trade, establishes Hardy as a compelling anti-hero—a private eye who smokes, drinks, and brings his boxing experience to his investigative work. Corris crafted Hardy into an iconic figure within Australian crime fiction, using this inaugural novel to guide readers through Sydney's darker underbelly alongside his unforgettable protagonist.