Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte series
by Arthur W. Upfield

Detective-Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte is the Australian half-caste hero of Arthur Upfield's superb mystery series: adventures of detection mostly set in the Australian Outback. Below is a simple checklist to the twenty-nine Bony novels, in order published. Titles vary among Australian, British, and American publishers; first publication date is followed by the original title, then alternate titles if any.

The Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte novels need not be read in order — the plots are almost entirely independent — but generally it's better to read earlier ones first as they develop more character and background about Bony himself. The Bone Is Pointed often is rated the very best and illuminates much of Bony's mind and character; another of my favorites, Death of a Lake, also has the distinctive dry wind of the Outback.

The Murchison Murders [and other essays] provides some interesting background material about camels and rabbits as well as murders.
  

Bill Klock's
Unoffical Arthur W. Upfield site

© 2004 Robert Wilfred Franson