Stiff

‘Stiff is hilarious. Shane Maloney has a wicked tongue…He has a fine talent for observation and an excellent sense of taste…This book is tightly plotted and the ending is a surprise. It is a witty, controversial, intelligent book, both genuinely frightening and genuinely funny. A rare combination.’ – Kerry Greenwood * Herald Sun *
‘Stiff is a murder mystery within a gritty political thriller, disguised as light comedy, all told with a remarkably deft touch…The dialogue is snappy throughout.’ * Melbourne Weekly *
‘Action packed…reminiscent of the best of Hammond Innes…Read it, you’ll love it. We want more from Maloney.’ * Courier Mail *
‘A deft comedy…Murray Whelan steers a clapped-out Renault and a wonderful naivete…Maloney, like his hero, has a nice gruff way with language and an open and rapidly moving eye.’ – Graeme Blundell * Australian *
‘Shane Maloney’s debut novel Stiff…juxtaposes bursts of high drama against the hyper-normality of suburban life. Funny and gripping…’ * Rolling Stone *
‘Maloney is terrific, a writer who brings to the prose of pulp fiction the stateliness and beserkness of the best Australian comedy…he could be the Australian Chandler…[Stiff] may well become a cult book.’ – Peter Craven * Age *
‘Deep and subtle verities…Maloney is a writer who seems to have been sitting on a thousand observations now unleashed.’ * Sunday Age *
‘The pure pleasure of Maloney’s book lies in being plunged so thoroughly into the complicated byways of Australian politics…a fast-paced, fresh, unerringly funny book…Murray is a great creation, one that takes the wisecracking wise guy into a whole new realm.’ * Houston Chronicle *
‘Whelan is a born politico: a breezy, know-it-all wiseacre with a glad hand and a seductively confiding tone of voice.’ * Seattle Times *
‘Maloney pokes fun at almost everything, revelling in words that showcase ludicrous events and behaviour. And Murray as a caring but totally unhandy and terminally horny single (almost) parent only broadens the satire. A rewarding and entertaining read.’
* Library Journal *

Born in Hamilton in western Victoria, in 1953, Shane Maloney is one of Australia’s most popular novelists. His award-winning and much-loved Murray Whelan series—Stiff, The Brush-Off, Nice Try, The Big Ask, Something Fishy and Sucked In—has been published around the world.

Before becoming a writer, Shane Maloney booked rock bands, promoted public radio, conducted public relations for the Boy Scouts Association, ran the Melbourne Comedy Festival and became a swimming pool lifeguard. There is no evidence that anyone drowned on his watch.

In 1996 The Brush-Off won the Ned Kelly Prize for Crime Fiction. In 2004 Stiff and The Brush-Off were made into telemovies, starring David Wenham as Murray Whelan. In 2009 Shane Maloney was presented with the Crime Writers’ Association of Australia Lifetime Achievement Award.

He lives in Melbourne.

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