Set in beachside Sydney in the 1950s, this pulp-fiction style detective series follows the life and adventures of Clyde Smith, a man in his mid-30s. War veteran, ex-cop, and tough guy. After retiring from the police force, he’d hoped for a peaceful life, with a small private investigation business, working small cases and writing newspaper articles. However, trouble loves Clyde Smith—it just seems to keep knocking at his door. Hard-way Smith, his dad called him. Clyde never minded—the name suits him just fine.

The Clyde Smith Mysteries

Series Order
Newest Title Rating
The Cricketer's Arms: A Clyde Smith Mystery by
Series: The Clyde Smith Mysteries. Price: $3.99 USD. Words: 134,700. Language: English. Published: July 18, 2019 by Tellwell Talent. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Hard-Boiled, Fiction » LGBTQ+ » Gay
(4.00 from 2 reviews)
The Cricketer's Arms is an old-fashioned, pulp fiction detective novel, set in beachside Sydney in 1956. It follows the intricacies of a complex murder case, involving a tight-knit group of queer men, sports match-fixing, and a criminal drug cartel.
The Gilded Madonna: A Clyde Smith Mystery by
Series: The Clyde Smith Mysteries. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 145,330. Language: English. Published: April 2, 2021 by Tellwell Talent. Categories: Fiction » LGBTQ+ » Gay, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Historical
(4.00 from 1 review)
The urgent plea for help by a friend and ex-colleague, now toiling under the man who replaced him as detective sergeant at his old lockup, has Clyde Smith reluctantly helping the local police once more—this time with a clear threat against his life.
The Grocers' Son: A Clyde Smith Mystery by
Series: The Clyde Smith Mysteries. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 140,590. Language: English. Published: September 22, 2022 by Tellwell Talent. Categories: Fiction » Mystery & detective » Historical, Fiction » LGBTQ+ » Gay
(4.00 from 1 review)
Wheels within wheels, lies, extortion, and coverups. The apparition of a man long dead leads Clyde Smith to a bloody confrontation on a deserted beach in the tropics. This time, it’s not only his own life at risk but also that of one of his most valued and closest friends.
Bridge at the Beach by
Series: The Clyde Smith Mysteries. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 133,460. Language: English. Published: March 26, 2024 by Tellwell Talent. Categories: Fiction » LGBTQ+ » General
Clyde's idyllic afternoon in the surf with his mates is interrupted by the news that there's been a quadruple suicide in an apartment overlooking the beach. Two of the deceased are the parents of Barry Wilkinson, one of Clyde's childhood friends, a man he hasn't seen since Clyde donned the khaki and left for war.