What do you think?
Rate this book
Cliff Hardy #27
The Coast Road
Cliff Hardy trades the mean streets of Sydney for the Illawarra escarpment, a rugged undeveloped area of Australia, in this latest hard-boiled detective novel. First hired by the daughter of the late, wealthy Frederick Farmer to investigate his mysterious and fiery death, Hardy is then called in on a second case—the disappearance of the young daughter of Marisha Karatsky, an exotic, dark-eyed interpreter who gets under Hardy's thick skin. Questionable insurance agents and feral bikers round out the colorful cast as Hardy battles through personal turmoil on the road to justice.
240 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2004
About the author
Peter Corris
156 books61 followersPeter 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.
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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 11, 2017
The Coast Road is number 27 of the Cliff Hardy series by Peter Corris. In Coast Road, Cliff Hardy was hired to look into the death of Professor Lucille Harvey's father. One day Cliff Hardy had only returned home after talking to Professor when a woman arrives asking for his help in looking for her daughter. The readers of The Coast Road will follow Cliff Hardy investigation into both cases. Also, the readers of The Coast Road will be surprised with the conclusion of this book.
The Coast Road is another great book by Peter Corris. I love Cliff Hardy and his old fashion way of investigating. Peter Corris always ensure that Cliff Hardy gets into all sort of trouble. I did feel sorry for Cliff Hardy in this book I thought he finally found love. I like the way Peter Corris writes his books, and he makes sure that the readers feel like they are involved with the story. Reading the Coast Road, I learn about being a private detective and the problems they encounter during their work day.
Readers of the Coast Road will learn about how ruthless people who sell and produce drugs are. Also, learn about how law enforcement and private detectives relate to each other. The Coast Road highlights the problems when children are involved when older parents re-marry.
I recommend this book.
The Coast Road is another great book by Peter Corris. I love Cliff Hardy and his old fashion way of investigating. Peter Corris always ensure that Cliff Hardy gets into all sort of trouble. I did feel sorry for Cliff Hardy in this book I thought he finally found love. I like the way Peter Corris writes his books, and he makes sure that the readers feel like they are involved with the story. Reading the Coast Road, I learn about being a private detective and the problems they encounter during their work day.
Readers of the Coast Road will learn about how ruthless people who sell and produce drugs are. Also, learn about how law enforcement and private detectives relate to each other. The Coast Road highlights the problems when children are involved when older parents re-marry.
I recommend this book.
December 21, 2022
The 27th book in the Cliff Hardy Private Investigator series begins with the news that the building in which Cliff’s office sits is being sold. It’s an upheaval that appears to have unsettled the detective somewhat but his grim determination to carry on remains unwavering. In fact, through it all, he manages to pick up two jobs to keep himself out of the office.
The first of these jobs is brought to him by Dr Elizabeth Farmer who believes her father’s death, killed in a house fire, was the work of his much younger second wife. She wants Hardy to investigate the fire, the wife and any insurance that may have been connected to the two. It’s a job that would take him down south of Sydney, along the coast road, to a small township under the Illawarra Escarpment.
The second job, which comes hot on the heels of the first, is for a woman named Marisha Karetsky. She tells Hardy that her 15 year old daughter is missing and she’s concerned for her welfare. She wants him to track her down and bring her back home.
Both cases appear, on the surface, to be relatively simple jobs so he has no qualms about being able to put time into both of them.
As with so many PI stories, the seemingly straightforward cases are always the most convoluted and dangerous. It doesn’t take terribly long for Hardy to discover that the girl he’s looking for is no angel. Drugs, prostitution and familiarity with some of the seedier parts of Sydney soon leaves Hardy with a concussion that would linger for the majority of the book.
Equally, just a brief visit to the burnt out cottage of the late Frederick Farmer puts Hardy on the radar of a bunch of dangerous lowlifes. Not to be deterred, in true obstinate style (and one of the trademark plays of Cliff Hardy, the reason why he’s worth following) he pushes back hard on all attempts to dissuade him from investigating.
The result? One of the more compelling games of cat and mouse Hardy has ever played putting both his life and that of his client’s well and truly on the line.
The fact is, Cliff Hardy is not without his weaknesses and they are brought to stark light in the course of The Coast Road. But it’s the way in which he overcomes them or just plain works his way around them that makes this such an enjoyable PI thriller.
I’m a Cliff Hardy fan who lives in Sydney so the familiar way in which he operates and the location in which he travels always resonates. While the action is fierce I had a sense of lost momentum towards the back end which affected my enjoyment just a tad leaving it just below a 4 star rating.
The first of these jobs is brought to him by Dr Elizabeth Farmer who believes her father’s death, killed in a house fire, was the work of his much younger second wife. She wants Hardy to investigate the fire, the wife and any insurance that may have been connected to the two. It’s a job that would take him down south of Sydney, along the coast road, to a small township under the Illawarra Escarpment.
The second job, which comes hot on the heels of the first, is for a woman named Marisha Karetsky. She tells Hardy that her 15 year old daughter is missing and she’s concerned for her welfare. She wants him to track her down and bring her back home.
Both cases appear, on the surface, to be relatively simple jobs so he has no qualms about being able to put time into both of them.
As with so many PI stories, the seemingly straightforward cases are always the most convoluted and dangerous. It doesn’t take terribly long for Hardy to discover that the girl he’s looking for is no angel. Drugs, prostitution and familiarity with some of the seedier parts of Sydney soon leaves Hardy with a concussion that would linger for the majority of the book.
Equally, just a brief visit to the burnt out cottage of the late Frederick Farmer puts Hardy on the radar of a bunch of dangerous lowlifes. Not to be deterred, in true obstinate style (and one of the trademark plays of Cliff Hardy, the reason why he’s worth following) he pushes back hard on all attempts to dissuade him from investigating.
The result? One of the more compelling games of cat and mouse Hardy has ever played putting both his life and that of his client’s well and truly on the line.
The fact is, Cliff Hardy is not without his weaknesses and they are brought to stark light in the course of The Coast Road. But it’s the way in which he overcomes them or just plain works his way around them that makes this such an enjoyable PI thriller.
I’m a Cliff Hardy fan who lives in Sydney so the familiar way in which he operates and the location in which he travels always resonates. While the action is fierce I had a sense of lost momentum towards the back end which affected my enjoyment just a tad leaving it just below a 4 star rating.
December 28, 2025
‘It had to happen sooner or later. The building in St Peters Lane where I’ve had my office for longer than I like to think about has come up for ‘restoration’.
Cliff Hardy is unsettled by the news that the lease is up on his office. Working from home is not his preferred choice so perhaps it is good fortune that two jobs arrive in quick succession, and both involve investigations that will take him out of his office.
Dr Elizabeth Farmer provides him with the first of these jobs: she is convinced that her father’s death in a house fire at Wombarra under the Illawarra escarpment was no accident. In fact, Dr Farmer is convinced that her father’s (much younger) second wife is responsible. And, as Cliff is making notes about his interview with Dr Farmer, his phone rings again. Marisha Karetsky’s fifteen-year-old daughter is missing.
Two relatively straightforward jobs should not present a problem, right? Wrong. There are plenty of twists as Cliff starts investigating. The missing fifteen-year-old provides Cliff with more than just a headache and the Farmer case is full of danger.
But Cliff persists and survives … mostly unscathed.
I enjoyed this.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Cliff Hardy is unsettled by the news that the lease is up on his office. Working from home is not his preferred choice so perhaps it is good fortune that two jobs arrive in quick succession, and both involve investigations that will take him out of his office.
Dr Elizabeth Farmer provides him with the first of these jobs: she is convinced that her father’s death in a house fire at Wombarra under the Illawarra escarpment was no accident. In fact, Dr Farmer is convinced that her father’s (much younger) second wife is responsible. And, as Cliff is making notes about his interview with Dr Farmer, his phone rings again. Marisha Karetsky’s fifteen-year-old daughter is missing.
Two relatively straightforward jobs should not present a problem, right? Wrong. There are plenty of twists as Cliff starts investigating. The missing fifteen-year-old provides Cliff with more than just a headache and the Farmer case is full of danger.
But Cliff persists and survives … mostly unscathed.
I enjoyed this.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
March 24, 2024
I read this out of curiosity, but don't think this story has stood the test of time. It felt dated, and quite pedestrian in places. The godfather of Australia crime fiction is not my cup of tea, which is a shame as he is prolific.
I also think the story suffered from an excess of characters, some of whom were surplus to requirements.
I also think the story suffered from an excess of characters, some of whom were surplus to requirements.
April 20, 2023
Number 27! I have never read Peter Corris before & I found this story quite entertaining, believable & easy to read. I can see why readers have taken to Private Investigator Cliff Hardy. What a character. Now to find the first Cliff Hardy book.
November 17, 2022
Another compelling Cliff Hardy mystery. Really enjoyed it and as usual flew through it. Highly recommended.
December 31, 2022
A classic Cliff, running his luck.
October 5, 2024
Ebook. Kept me interested but not taken by any of the characters including Hardy. Sydney, Wollongong settings. Two cases that finally come together.
January 3, 2017
A good book
February 4, 2013
My favorite Aussie, Cliff Hardy P.I., catches two cases and tries to juggle them unsuccessfully. I like Hardy because his virtues are the classic P.I.'s and his shortcomings are all too real. Corris always invests enough in his venues to make it very interesting to the tourist in his readers. And then there is the Aussie slang which tickles me with its musicality and play with words. This time Hardy isn't in Sydney for long before he is off to the rugged Illawarra Escarpment where dead bodies seems to be a feature of the local terrain. Lots of action and some of the studies in human nature that makes this series a satisfying read.
Though, perhaps, not Corris at the peak of his prowess, this book was very entertaining and, as Nero Wolfe once said to Archie Goodwin, "Satisfactory."
Though, perhaps, not Corris at the peak of his prowess, this book was very entertaining and, as Nero Wolfe once said to Archie Goodwin, "Satisfactory."
February 1, 2009
This was good a little of the world with a few offensive things you either need to overlook or not read the book. The story was entertaining and interesting.
March 10, 2012
I would highly recommend this one to anyone who likes murder mysteries. One of his best ones. Also very Australian.
July 30, 2012
Great book. based in Australia, sydney but found myself putting the book down a lot. i was expecting something more interesting
March 5, 2014
Enjoyed this Peter Corris book. He really is the master of the detective novel.
April 22, 2014
Love a good Cliff Hardy novel. Great holiday reading.
April 21, 2014
Once again Cliff is on the case... two in fact. You are immersed in criminal activity in and around Glebe and Newtown and some ventures further afield. Enjoyable.
October 16, 2014
A classic detective thriller set in Sydney and the Illawara district.
May 18, 2013
Good light aussie read
May 1, 2017
Not the best Cliff Hardy, but still a ripping good yarn with some effective dramatic moments.
Yeah, you have the predictable Corris plot elements. Hardy seems to get beaten up even more than usual in this one. The question of property acquisition in greater Sydney has been done at least once before. But Corris continues to modernize the the sex and romance content as the series progresses. Here we see a committed lesbian relationship, but also elsewhere pedophilia (pretty much from a distance, and not graphic).
The women in this story are far mor varied and nuanced than in earlier episodes. Marisha Karatsky is certainly one of a kind, as is Wendy Jones, and even client Dr. Farmer's step-mother is pretty unusual.
I suppose I would not seek this one out, but if you are a Corris fan, it's an enjoyable journey.
Yeah, you have the predictable Corris plot elements. Hardy seems to get beaten up even more than usual in this one. The question of property acquisition in greater Sydney has been done at least once before. But Corris continues to modernize the the sex and romance content as the series progresses. Here we see a committed lesbian relationship, but also elsewhere pedophilia (pretty much from a distance, and not graphic).
The women in this story are far mor varied and nuanced than in earlier episodes. Marisha Karatsky is certainly one of a kind, as is Wendy Jones, and even client Dr. Farmer's step-mother is pretty unusual.
I suppose I would not seek this one out, but if you are a Corris fan, it's an enjoyable journey.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews