O'Fear - Softcover

Corris, Peter

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0947189734 ISBN 13: 9780947189730

Publisher: Bantam Books, 1990

Synopsis

How did a simple car accident suddenly become a murder? The answer will bring Cliff Hardy into contact with some of the seediest men in Sydney, in his 12th case.

Everybody liked Barnes Todd: ex-Korean War veteran, slightly dishonest businessman, good drinking buddy. When he was wiped out in a car south of Sydney, people were lining up to say how sorry they were. Head of the line was Todd's widow Felicia, closely followed by his business and army cronies. So how did a simple car accident suddenly become a murder? Cliff Hardy hadn't a clue, but business in the private eye game was slow, so he agreed to try and find out. And quickly came into contact with a lot of less-than-lovely people—especially the enigmatic Kevin O'Fearna, known as O'Fear.

About this title

About the Author:

Peter Corris is best known as the godfather of Australian crime fiction and the author of Cliff Hardy detective stories. He is also the author of A Round of Golf: 18 Holes with Peter Corris and the coauthor of Fred Hollows: An Autobiography.

From Kirkus Reviews:

The American debut of a long-running series (a dozen titles) starring Aussie p.i. Cliff Hardy, a 40-ish tough-honed six-footer with an eye for the ladies. The one in sight here is widow Felicia Todd, whose late husband Barnes left a note asking Cliff to look into his murder--if it happened. The last word on the Barnes's lips before his fatal car ``accident'' was ``O'Fear''--partial name of a jailed reprobate whom Cliff consults, leading to an attempt on the con's life. What's up? Both O'Fearna and Mulholland at Barnes's trucking enterprise recount Barnes-in-Korea suspect activities and a possible vendetta mounted by an American captain over a Malaya campaign. Meanwhile: Stanley Riley, Barnes's trucking business competitor, is trying to strongarm Mulholland; Athena Security vans are tailing Felicia and Cliff; and Eleni Marinos, head of Athena, may have been having an affair with Barnes, of which Felicia (now sleeping with Cliff) was well aware. Moreover, the question arises as to what was in the bags Barnes left at his beach house. Frame- ups, set-ups, two more deaths, and a deft bit of scheming and forgery by Barnes's lawyer occur before Cliff realizes he has been a pawn in a master plan, and the widow and the lawyer thank him nicely and leave. So-so, with odd quirks of syntax and less rush-of-adrenalin heroics than in recent Aussie imports, such as those from Charles West. -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

About this edition

• Publisher: Bantam Books
• Publication date: 1990
• ISBN 10: 0947189734
• ISBN 13: 9780947189730
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 218