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Scobie Malone #11
Autumn Maze
When the Sydney police minister's son falls twenty floors to his death, the politics of murder ripple the city like a boulder into a pool. Caught in the wash is Detective Inspector Scobie Malone, as he uncovers an elaborate financial scheme, a series of cold-blooded precision killings, and layers of political intrigue. Scobie thinks he is immune to politics, but he is soon engulfed in its The police minister applies pressure; a millionaire banker becomes less than his public image; a hit man goes about his grisly work; and three of Sydney's most powerful (and libidinous) women give Scobie a glimpse of how life in Sydney really operates. Finally, when he is forced to accept aid from his onetime enemy, top criminal Jack Aldwych, now retired but still ruthless, Malone learns once again that when politics and money are arrayed against him, the odds are never even.
296 pages, Paperback
First published December 13, 1994
11 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Jon Cleary
128 books24 followersAustralian popular novelist, a natural storyteller, whose career as a writer extended over 60 years. Jon Cleary's books have sold some 8 million copies. Often the stories are set in exotic locations all over the world or in some interesting historical scene of the 20th century, such as the Nazi Berlin of 1936. Cleary also wrote perhaps the longest running homicide detective series of Australia. Its sympathetic protagonist, Inspector Scobie Malone, was introduced in The High Commissioner (1966). Degrees of Connection, published in 2003, was Scobie's 20th appearance. Although Cleary's books can be read as efficiently plotted entertainment, he occasionally touched psychological, social, and moral dilemmas inside the frame of high adventure.
Jon Stephen Cleary was born in Sydney, New South Wales, into a working class family as the eldest of seven children. When Clearly was only 10, his father Matthew was condemned to six months' imprisonment for stealing £5 from his baker's delivery bag, in an attempt have money to feed his family. Cleary's mother, Ida, was a fourth-generation Australian. From his parents Cleary inherited a strong sense of just and unjust and his belief in family values.
Cleary was educated at the Marist Brothers school in Randwick, New South Wales. After leaving school in 1932, at the age of fourteen, he spent the following 8 years out of work or in odd jobs, such as a commercial traveler and bush worker – "I had more jobs than I can now remember," he later said of the Depression years. Cleary's love of reading was sparked when he began to help his friend, who had a travelling library. His favorite writers included P.G. Wodehouse. Before the war Clearly became interested in the career of commercial artists, but he also wrote for amateur revues. In 1940 he joined the Australian Army and served in the Middle East and New Guinea. During these years Cleary started to write seriously, and by the war's end he had published several short stories in magazines. His radio play, Safe Horizon (1944), received a broadcasting award.
Cleary's These Small Glories (1945), a collection of short stories, was based on his experiences as a soldier in the Middle East. In 1946 Cleary married Joy Lucas, a Melbourne nurse, whom he had met on a sea voyage to England; they had two daughters. His first novel, You Can’t See Round Corners (1947), won the second prize in The Sydney Morning Herald’s novel contest. It was later made into a television serial and then into a feature film. The Graham Greene-ish story of a deserter who returns to Sydney showed Cleary's skill at describing his home city, its bars, and people living on the margin of society. Noteworthy, the book was edited by Greene himself, who worked for the publishing firm Eyre & Spottiswoode and who gave Cleary two advices: "One, never forget there are two people in a book; the writer and the reader. And the second one was he said, 'Write a thriller because it will teach you the art of narrative and it will teach you the uses of brevity.'" (In an interview by Ramona Koval, ABC Radio program, February 2006)
Jon Stephen Cleary was born in Sydney, New South Wales, into a working class family as the eldest of seven children. When Clearly was only 10, his father Matthew was condemned to six months' imprisonment for stealing £5 from his baker's delivery bag, in an attempt have money to feed his family. Cleary's mother, Ida, was a fourth-generation Australian. From his parents Cleary inherited a strong sense of just and unjust and his belief in family values.
Cleary was educated at the Marist Brothers school in Randwick, New South Wales. After leaving school in 1932, at the age of fourteen, he spent the following 8 years out of work or in odd jobs, such as a commercial traveler and bush worker – "I had more jobs than I can now remember," he later said of the Depression years. Cleary's love of reading was sparked when he began to help his friend, who had a travelling library. His favorite writers included P.G. Wodehouse. Before the war Clearly became interested in the career of commercial artists, but he also wrote for amateur revues. In 1940 he joined the Australian Army and served in the Middle East and New Guinea. During these years Cleary started to write seriously, and by the war's end he had published several short stories in magazines. His radio play, Safe Horizon (1944), received a broadcasting award.
Cleary's These Small Glories (1945), a collection of short stories, was based on his experiences as a soldier in the Middle East. In 1946 Cleary married Joy Lucas, a Melbourne nurse, whom he had met on a sea voyage to England; they had two daughters. His first novel, You Can’t See Round Corners (1947), won the second prize in The Sydney Morning Herald’s novel contest. It was later made into a television serial and then into a feature film. The Graham Greene-ish story of a deserter who returns to Sydney showed Cleary's skill at describing his home city, its bars, and people living on the margin of society. Noteworthy, the book was edited by Greene himself, who worked for the publishing firm Eyre & Spottiswoode and who gave Cleary two advices: "One, never forget there are two people in a book; the writer and the reader. And the second one was he said, 'Write a thriller because it will teach you the art of narrative and it will teach you the uses of brevity.'" (In an interview by Ramona Koval, ABC Radio program, February 2006)
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 6, 2018
I liked this Australian crime/mystery book. The narrator sounded wonderful with the accent. The book jacket mentioned the word "elaborate" when describing the story. I completely agree with the use of that word. The plot was elaborate...sometimes it felt a little too elaborate. There was a lot of spinning in circles with the plot, but it was creative (so extra points for that).
I liked the MC. This is the 11th book in the series so I'm sure there is some back story I was missing. I felt like I wanted more personality and emotion. Overall, I liked this one. I have another book from this series so maybe I can glean more character info. from that one.
I liked the MC. This is the 11th book in the series so I'm sure there is some back story I was missing. I felt like I wanted more personality and emotion. Overall, I liked this one. I have another book from this series so maybe I can glean more character info. from that one.
January 3, 2022
Unfortunately, I did not get very far into this book. Just didn't grab me.
Maybe I am tired of all the old stories of police and political corruption, yes that must be it.
As well the story began as a rather complicated one, too many characters and plots in the opening pages.
Not really recommended.
Maybe I am tired of all the old stories of police and political corruption, yes that must be it.
As well the story began as a rather complicated one, too many characters and plots in the opening pages.
Not really recommended.
December 28, 2017
Great to read something with an Australian flavour. Jon Cleary still spins a good yarn.
June 4, 2018
Good writing style - as an entry to Malone, I'll read more.
October 1, 2021
Detective series based in Sydney Australia.
July 13, 2013
The best book of Jon Cleary in his Scobie Malone series thus far! His writing has such fluidity & charm that you smile at the old world satires which he effortlessly pines. This is such a thriller and edge of the seat book that you can't keep it down till you have read it all. Scobie Molone and Russ Clements again are in the middle of multiple homicides, this time the son of the Police minister has been murdered and that makes the murder mystery all the more exciting. The plot unravels only in the last few pages of the book, but it leaves you feeling good and content. Great novel and now onto the next Cleary/Malone series!
March 11, 2013
enjoyable as are all of the Scobie Malone booke - but hardly up to Rankin's Ransom novels
April 26, 2013
Another great Jon Cleary/Scobie Malone detective tale ; set in Sydney.
Perhaps the ending was a little rushed/convoluted, but thats being 'picky' :)
Perhaps the ending was a little rushed/convoluted, but thats being 'picky' :)
September 16, 2020
Sydney police detective Scobie Malone draws a case that has both banking and political interests. A well done plot and I always enjoy the look at Australian culture that the author weaves in.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews