The January Zone

Cliff Hardy #10

by Peter Corris

Politician Peter January is having trouble staying alive so he hires Cliff Hardy to help him. Hardy dislikes the role of politician's 'security consultant' but he dislikes bombers, hit men and hatemailers even more. Protecting January leads to protecting his assistant, Trudi Bell, which is a more enjoyable assignment. It also takes Hardy to Washington DC where the threats are real and the rules are different. To stand close to January is to stand close to danger and corruption, but there are even greater evils and Hardy cannot back away . . .

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Fiction

205 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1987

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

[Sandy Grant · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 rounded down to 3 stars. Not my favourite Cliff Hardy. Plot a bit disjointed and motives not all really clear especially in the trip to America. Not really any of the favourite side characters either. Still it’s the series I love in my city!

[Gary Vassallo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another enjoyable Cliff Hardy novel. I really liked the fast paced action of this one.

[Gavan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nope. I love the Cliff Hardy series, but this is a clunker. Slow, not gripping, not credible and just a bit boring.

[Robert Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Upon a referral from ex-lover Helen Broadway, Cliff is hired as security consultant (bodyguard) for an Australian minister who is anti-nuclear. He goes with January to Washington DC with his entourage to appear before congressional committees. Although he is ignored in the committees, attempts are still made on the minister's life.

[Mumbler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Least favorite Hardy I've read in a while. Probably first 'didn't like' since I turned to the beginning if the series.

[Mike Taverner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have always like Cliff. This one however had a slightly disjointed story-line