Saving Billie

Cliff Hardy #29

by Peter Corris

Private investigator Cliff Hardy tackles one of his most difficult cases yet in this gripping detective novel that finds him in the far southwestern suburbs of Sydney. When a journalist hires him to find Billie Merchant, a woman with incriminating information about media-giant Joanas Clement and who is being tracked by both Clement and Clement's rival, Barclay Greaves, Hardy must work hard to stay one step ahead. After Hardy tracks her down, he must juggle her self-destructive behaviors while negotiating his escape from Clement and Greaves. Set against the backdrop of a federal election campaign, all outcomes are uncertain in this gritty, action-packed story full of colorful characters and close calls

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Australia

221 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2005

About the author

Peter Corris was an Australian academic, historian, journalist and a novelist of historical and crime fiction. His first novel was published in 1980. Corris is credited with reviving the fully-fledged Australian crime novel with local settings and reference points and with a series character firmly rooted in Australian culture, Sydney PI Cliff Hardy. As crime fiction writer, he was described as "the Godfather of contemporary Australian crime-writing".

He won the Lifetime Achievement award at the Ned Kelly Awards for Crime Writing in 1999 and was shortlisted for best novel in 2006 for Saving Billy and in 2007 for The Undertow.

Reviews

[Dillwynia Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Cliff Hardy are a fun series of light detective books & worth investigating on a summer holiday, or that dreary Sunday.

As with any book that is heavily engulfed with a place, these books are far more enjoyable if you know your Sydney. I do, so I can easily envisage the places Cliff visited & the people he met. The regular incidents were all there - friends doing favours for Cliff, getting coshed over the head, the smart one liners, the girl that gets away and even a little twist, altho not as strong as in much earlier books I have read. Even Corris' favourite hobby of boxing makes a pleasant appearance & being a tight writer, nothing is wasted in the narrative.

It was all very plausible and fun and I enjoyed every page of it.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four stars is a tiny bit generous for Saving Billie but I gave and extra star because the book is based in my home town and its fun reading about places I know well. I read so many books based in other parts of the world that it is a real treat to read about Sydney.

This is my second Cliff Hardy novel and unlike the first book I read this book was left with some loose ends. This was oddly refreshing. I usually like to see everything in its right place by the end of the book.

The Cliff Hardy books are great for a light read; fast paced and full of action with believable characters.

[Brett Bydairk · Rating 3 out of 5]

#29 in the series, but my first, this is a well-constructed, well-written, easy reading mystery set in and around Sydney, Australia. If not for the occasional Aussie word or phrase, this could take place in any large city. Cliff is an aging, worn Private Enquiry Agent who is contacted by a journalist looking for a source for a book she has contracted to write. He takes the job, but things quickly go wrong, and no-one is telling the truth, including the client.
My first Cliff Hardy, but not the last.

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I have read all the Cliff Hardy series up to this one, and am a big fan of the series. This is the first one, though, that I have read since Corris died.

The story moves along pretty well, with the usual somewhat formulaic approach. Most of it is present, but some is not (and it would be a spoiler to mention what). The upside here is Hardy's connection to the non-European populations in Australia and the dignity he allows them. It's the crooks who are white. I can also understand how people who know Sydney well enjoy this series.

But somehow the plot this time is a bit diffuse and the characters less vivid than usual. It is also not like Corris to have a somewhat trick ending.

Anyway, not Corris' best but anything he writes is worth reading.

[Sandy Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a mature and experienced Peter Corris telling another Cliff Hardy PI tale - and a classic. Explores Sydney as usual; reflects its time.

Here’s a quote that sums up the more mature Cliff!

'Don't spend much time kicking down doors and shooting people, do you, Cliff?'
'As little as possible.'
She tapped the side of her head, Poirot-style. 'The little grey cells?'
'Not much of that either. More patience and persistence.'

I’d add it’s actually also lots of connections and relationships - who he knows!

[Lynne Benton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pleased to find a Cliff Hardy I hadn’t read in the Library - perhaps not quite as good as some but still easy reading, great location descriptions, clarity of characters, solid story; Cliff is such a flawed but likeable PI ..

[Gary Vassallo · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entertaining fast read from the Cliff Hardy series.

[H (trying to keep up with GR friends) Balikov · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this Aussie P.I. and his adventures around Sidney. This one's focus is on extrordinary power and greed. But it has some nice touches with the Australian subcultures and Cliff Hardy is still Australia's Philip Marlowe

[Lorraine Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book by an Australian

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like PI stories and this one took me outside the US and into a familiar yet strange world.

I was unable to get a copy of the first in the series, so I jumped in with the earliest in the series that my public library had on the shelves.

I had no problem following the plot and understanding the characters. There were references to earlier contact with some of the characters, but it was well explained.

This plot involves a reporter needing to reinterview a person who has gone missing and the people surrounding the client, not to mention the client herself, all appear to be lying. This causes trouble of the fisticuffs variety when our PI Cliff Hardy tries to find answers.

I look forward to reading more in this series.