Open File

Cliff Hardy #33

by Peter Corris

Cliff Hardy, with his PI license cancelled and his career in Sydney at an end, is preparing for a trip overseas. Cleaning out his office, he comes across an open file—an unresolved case from the 1980s. As he starts reading he’s thrown back to his investigation of the disappearance of Justin Hampshire. At first glance this investigation was a straightforward missing person matter, but the investigation took on twists and turns involving military history, Sydney criminals, and corruption at high levels that caused it to remain unsolved. The Hampshire case took Cliff from the south coast to the Blue Mountains and posed some unresolved questions which have preyed on his mind continuously since it opened. Now, 20 years later, will he finally be able to put the case to rest?

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Australia

205 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

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

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot recall reading 42 Cliff Hardy books but I read many. I love the character and his entire "oeuvre" - I suspect I could start again and figure out when I ran out - but there are a couple I want to read that are new(2015,1016).

[Robert Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished 06/14/2010. This is the one Derek didn't like. I thought it was pretty good. A rehash of an old open case by Cliff as he is closing up his office after his license is suspended preparing to head out to USA.

[Bd · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the only Peter Corris book I’ve read. The story was ok, but the depiction of Australia in the 1980s was absolutely spot on. The thing that hit home was all the smoking (and the half carafe of Riesling). I just instantly relived my youth, haha!

[Gary Vassallo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Cliff Hardy mystery. Here Cliff is going through his files before travelling overseas for an indeterminate amount of time and comes across an open file. The book then details the case which is spot on in showing Sydney at the time. A great story.

[H (no longer expecting notifications) Balikov · Rating 3 out of 5]

Among the things that Peter Corris does well are:
Keeping Cliff Hardy real; keeping an excellent sense of time and place; populating his plot with interesting characters of all classes and occupations.

For those not already familiar with Hardy, he is a P.E.A., the Australian equivalent of a private investigator (It stands for private enquiry agent.). Hardy is a tough guy with a fondness for a good book and a good glass of red wine, though he will compromise on either when under stress. What he won't compromise on is his mission (once accepted). He is a cross between Spenser and Philip Marlowe.

As I said, Corris knows the changes that Sydney and Australia have undergone and does his best to remain consistent. The time, for this novel is about 2007, and Hardy has had his "licence" taken away. As he is cleaning up his office, he comes across a file from the late 1980s and we are immediately immersed in a disappearance and, subsequent murder. I made the mistake of thinking that Hardy was going to take up the case to fill his now vacant time, but no, we are back in the 1980s for the duration of the book.

Hardy encounters his fill of con men, toughs, drug dealers, uppity rich folk, uncooperative cops and devious reporters. He finds himself bruised and at gunpoint on several occasions. He visits some of the exotic shore and mountain areas within a day or so drive from Sydney, and he comes away with a fee that he certainly earns.

All in all, a quick and enjoyable summer read.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wondered where Peter Corris would take Cliff after the loss of his PI licence (which, it seems, he's unlikely to ever get back), but I didn't really expect it to be the 1970's. Once you're back in that old case with a few well chosen "commentaries" Corris places you firmly in the 1970's very adeptly - from the opening observations of the Ananda Marga compensation case; the shock and concern that early AIDS cases raised; the death of Bob Trimboli and even the simple lack of mobile telephones, there's a clear sense of the time.

OPEN FILE takes you right back through that 1970's investigation - the disappearance of Justin Hampshire - his mother and father (separated and not getting on at all), his younger sister (very troubled), the police that get themselves involved, the politician and his son and Frank and Hilde.

Does Cliff finally get to close the file? You'll have to read the book to find out. Where is Cliff going from here - I guess he's off on his travels, but then at the end of OPEN FILE he's only on his way to the airport. A lot can happen between Glebe and Sydney airport.

[Sunnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

OPEN FILE is a look back at how Cliff did his job twenty years ago. It is remarkable to note just how much technology has changed our lives in the twenty years since that landmark year in Australia's history. It was an era before the common use of mobile phones - when you could still find a public phone booth and put a coin in the slot. There was no internet to use as a reference to find people and information. These things have become so much a part of our daily lives that we forget what life was like before we had them.

Peter Corris' writing style is to the point. He gets straight to the story and doesn't waste words. He also manages to evoke a very strong sense of Sydney. Corris knows these streets, he's had a beer at the pubs and a cup of coffee at the coffee shops. There is a reason why Corris is referred to as the "godfather of Australian crime fiction" and if you are wondering why, then one of his Cliff Hardy books will answer the question.

[Bruce McNair · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 33rd Cliff Hardy PI book. Hardy is a knockabout character who grows on you. He lost his PI licence and is packing up his office before going overseas on a much needed break. In the process he discovers a file from 20 years ago that was never closed. The ensuing story is the recollection of how that case unfolded. It started with a teenage boy who goes missing on the verge of his final year exams. The case becomes complicated by murder, a conman, and a crooked government minister. He follows the trail through a lot of familiar settings in Sydney and elsewhere in the state. But he never manages to find the boy. I give the story 4 stars.

[Darren Bloomfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not his best, nor worst in the series. Perhaps I'm being picky, but what let it down for me was the continuity errors - always a risk for a series that has run so long when writing sequentially, much less jumping back in time, like this instalment does. But the glaring mistakes - like how in 1988 Cy Sackville was his lawyer, not Viv Garner detract from the nostaglic feel and distracted from what was good about the story - I was looking forward to 'revisiting' with beloved lost characters like Cy again.

[Mumbler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not among the best of the series, but perfectly serviceable.


(first read from July 14-16 2012. have to save that here, cause goodreads is going to overwrite it, with the current dates when I mark that I'm reading it.)

[Anna Ciddor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio murder mystery

[Cher · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this but would've loved a resolution on Justin's story