The Dark Side
Crime Fiction
Adult mysteries, layered characters, and stories where every clue has consequences.
Browse crime titlesLatest Release
Old Games
Writer of crimes. Maker of stories. Friendly neighbour (usually).
An unsettling mystery where history, memory, and survival all keep score.
Two Worlds, One Author
Dark at night. Sunny by day.
Yes, Fiona wrote a crime novel. No, children need not be alarmed. Her middle-grade work is still here, still joyful, and still full of curious adventures.
The Sunny Side
Kids' Fiction
Middle-grade stories, school-friendly events, and safe reads for younger audiences.
Browse kids titlesCrime books are written for adults. Children's books remain age-appropriate and clearly marked.
The Library
Backlist, split by audience
Crime
Old Games
An unsettling mystery where history, memory, and survival all keep score.
A buried incident from the past drags a close-knit group back into dangerous territory, where old alliances crack and the real rules of the game are finally exposed.
Crime
Unbury the Dead
Debut crime novel. A tense Melbourne noir with old debts, hidden motives, and one impossible body.
A decades-old disappearance resurfaces when a body is found in suburban Melbourne. As secrets unravel, loyalties fracture and every answer comes with a cost.
Kids
How to Tackle Your Dreams
Bold, funny middle-grade fiction for readers discovering who they are.
Dreams, doubts, and school chaos collide as one determined kid learns that bravery is less about being fearless and more about showing up anyway.
Kids
How to Write the Soundtrack to Your Life
Music, friendship, and identity collide in a warm, witty middle-grade read.
When life gets loud, one kid turns to music to make sense of family, friendship, and the pressure to be exactly who everyone expects.
Kids
How to Make a Movie in 12 Days
Fast-paced adventures for curious readers who like humor with heart.
Armed with big ideas and very limited time, a young crew sets out to make a movie before everything falls apart, including their friendship.
Kids
The Prank Sisters
A fun, educational school reader for years 3-6.
Twins Abby and Zoe love watching their favourite show, Pranking Superstars, together. They get lots of good ideas to fill up their secret prank kits and play funny pranks on each other. Until one day, their pranks go too far...
Kids
The Best Seats in the House
A footy-filled educational school reader for years 3-6.
Jade and Mitch have worked hard to make the Holberry Community Football Day a success. As a reward, Coach Craighill gives them the best seats in the stand to watch their favourite player. But what should be the perfect view is not quite what Jade and Mitch expect. Will they still get to watch the game?
Kids
The Blackout
An educational school reader for years 3-6 about facing your fears.
Everyone at school is desperate to go to Up & Down, the exciting new indoor climbing and caving experience. Well – everyone except for Mason. But don’t tell his friends or his parents! When Mason’s mum scores tickets to Up & Down for his birthday, and for the exclusive Dark Forest Caves attraction, Mason will have to face his fears. What could go wrong?
About Fiona
Melbourne-based. Genre-flexible. Slightly suspicious.
Fiona Hardy is an author, bookseller, reviewer, and all-round storyteller from Melbourne. She writes crime novels for adults and middle-grade books for younger readers, all with a dry sense of humor and a soft spot for people who make questionable decisions.
Her first book for kids, How to Make a Movie in 12 Days, was a CBCA Notable Book; her first book for adults, Unbury the Dead, was shortlisted for the 2025 Ned Kelly Awards. Her completely hypothetical book for both kids AND adults, How to Bury the Undead, has yet to win any prizes.
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