10 Best Arthur Upfield Books: Bonaparte & More

As one of the most productive Australian authors of the 20th century, there’s no shortage of the best Arthur Upfield books. We’ve listed the best ones to get you started.

Arthur W. Upfield was a prolific author, with 29 books in his Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte series alone, so where do you even begin when searching for the best Arthur Upfield books? We’ve gathered his best standalone and Inspector Bonaparte books to kick off your reading journey.

The renowned author had a career spanning over three decades and always infused his Australian heritage into his work.

In his own words: “In me was born a passionate love for the Australian bush which will burn until the end, a love stronger than love of family, so strong that even now it threatens to claim me.”

Upfield’s gift for weaving intriguing mysteries, along with his elaborate character development, has earned his books immense acclaim and an enduring fan base. 

Whether you’re an avid fan or a newcomer to his work, the books listed below provide a fascinating journey into the world of crime fiction set in the Australian outback.

You might also be interested in our guide on the best Australian authors of all time.

Arthur Upfield Best Standalone Books 

1. The House of Cain

The House of Cain was Upfield’s first novel and set the precedent for his later books. It centers on Austilene Thorpe, who is accused of murder. She vanishes for a period of time, only to turn up in a refuge in New South Wales. Her fiance’s brother, Monty, is determined to find her and prove her innocence.

Although Upfield’s language and characterizations seem outdated at times, his engaging writing style and tangible descriptions of the Australian landscape are why readers return to this work.

“To see Monty Sherwood once was to remember him for life. To remember him was to remember power, cleanness, dependability, all compacted into one human form.”

Arthur Upfield

2. Gripped by Drought 

Gripped By Drought is a harrowing tale about the hardship of living through natural disasters. It follows newlywed Frank Mayne after he and his wife return to Australia to run a sheep farm.

Their honeymoon phase quickly turns sour as Australia is suffering a drought and his marriage grows strained due to the stress. The detailed descriptions of the arid landscape allow readers to paint an image of the farm in their mind’s eye.

Although Upfield typically focuses on crime fiction and mystery novels, Gripped By Drought is a refreshing change. Readers who prefer stories more grounded in reality will love this tale.

“The track presently led him to the river bank at one of its sharp bends. That morning stream was low, trickling from deep hole to deep hole-the inevitable hole washed out at every sharp elbow.”

Arthur Upfield

3. The Beach of Atonement

The Beach of Atonement is another of Upfields more tragic reads. 

After Arnold Dudley discovers his wife’s affair, he kills her lover. Wracked by guilt, he escapes to a remote Australian beach and lives as a recluse. He’s driven mad by his conscience and loneliness, but things take a turn when he meets two women.

The Beach of Atonement is a harrowing read that’s difficult to put down. Readers who enjoy stories in which the protagonist’s mind is the main driving force of the narrative will love this book.

“It was the Judas kiss which had shocked Arnold Dudley far more than the woman’s betrayal of her husband’s honor.”

Arthur Upfield

4. The Great Melbourne Cup Mystery

The Great Melbourne Cup Mystery is crime fiction at its best. 

It’s set in Great Depression-era Melbourne, where a horse that should have come first place in the Melbourne Cup is killed. Its owner, Tom Pink, who has a seedy background of his own, is determined to find out what happened. The mystery is much bigger than Pink expected, revealing just how deep the corruption goes.

While Upfield is best known for his tales that highlight the vast Australian outback, the author does a great job of portraying city life in this book. Readers who enjoy classic crime stories will enjoy this novel.

“History is full of cases of two friends loving the same woman with disastrous results to their friendship.”

Arthur Upfield

5. A Royal Abduction

As the title suggests, A Royal Abduction sees Her Royal Highness Natalie, a princess from Rolanida, kidnapped during a tour of Australia. Her captors stow her in a cave with two other prisoners while attempting to negotiate a hefty ransom. However, the princess isn’t as placid as they expect.

A Royal Abduction is another must-read for crime fans. It’s full of unexpected twists and is still thrilling for modern readers.

“It is said that Austalia either makes or breaks the man who emigrates there.”

Arthur Upfield

Best Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte Books

6. The Barrakee Mystery

In The Barrakee Mystery, the first novel in the Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte series, Bony investigates the mysterious death of an indigenous station manager in New South Wales, going by the name King Henry.

It paints a vivid picture of what life was like in the Australian outback in the early 1900s. The mystery is also just as engaging as the landscape it’s set against.

With that said, The Barrakee Mystery, like Upfield’s other works, is very much a product of its time. Although Upfield’s work was considered progressive in the day, it’s a testament to how societal attitudes towards indigenous people have changed.

As this is the first of the Bony series, it’s the perfect place for new readers to become acquainted with the detective.

“The birds perched on the up-thrusting snags, were taking their evening drink; the galah, the cockatoo, and the kookaburra mingling their screeches, chatterings, and maniacal laugher with the funeral caw-cawing of the sinister crows.”

Arthur Upfield

7. Bushranger Of The Skies

Bushranger of the Skies kickstarts the action when Bony witnesses a police car being airbombed, killing the driver instantly. Wasting no time, Bony gets right on the case but soon learns it isn’t as straightforward as he’d hoped. Meanwhile, he’s not just tested by the mental load of the case but also the physical endurance required to survive the Australian wilderness. 

Fans of action-packed stories will enjoy this exciting book. It also paints a great picture of how wild the Australian outback is.

“One of Nature’s oddities was the grove of six cabbage trees in the dense shade of which Detective-Inspector Bonaparte had made his noonday camp.”

Arthur Upfield

8. Mr. Jelly’s Business

In Mr Jelly’s Business, Bony’s time off from the Queensland Police Force comes to an abrupt end after the disappearance of a local farmer in Burracoppin. Meanwhile, another resident, Mr. Jelly, routinely goes missing and returns acting out of character. Bony must go undercover to get to the bottom of both mysteries.

This book is a great read for seasoned Upfield fans as the dual plot points keep readers on their toes.

“Day was breaking when the express pulled out of Burracoppin, leaving Bony on a small platform with a grip in one hand and a rolled swap of blankets and necessaries slung over a shoulder.”

Arthur Upfield

9. Bony Buys A Woman

Bony Buys A Woman entails Bony solving a murder after a woman is killed and her daughter vanishes. All signs point to Ole Fren Yorky being the culprit but once Bony gets on the case, the list of suspects seems to grow and grow.

Our beloved detective must use all his intelligence and compassion to unravel the mystery and bring justice to those who need it most. Anyone who loves classic murder mysteries will enjoy this book.

“Of course, the sun was blazing hot at six in the morning, another morning when the wind sprang up long before six and was a half-gale when the sun rose.”

Arthur Upfield

10. Man Of Two Tribes

Man of Two Tribes showcases Bony’s unique ability to bridge the gap between indigenous and European cultures.

Bony finds himself in a remote town called Chifley, to track down a woman who vanished from a passenger train as she was traveling through the desert. While trying to solve the mystery, he’s confronted with a murder where all the suspects are already killers.

It’s a perfect blend of a classic whodunit with prominent themes of survival – not just having to survive the harsh environment but the people, too. It’s perfect for mystery and suspense fans while the vibrant setting helps it stand out among other books in its genre.

“His second cup of tea he took to the east veranda, and now light, neither false nor of the true dawn, arched above the edge of the world until it became a long blaze of white magnificence.”

Arthur Upfield

If you liked this post, you might also be interested in our round-up of the best detective novel series.