Paul Cleave books

Paul Cleave is a New Zealand crime and thriller author known for dark, twisting narratives set in Christchurch. His novels include the Theodore Tate and Cleaner series.

Cleaner Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
The Cleaner 2006 Buy
Joe Victim 2013 Buy

Standalone Novels

Title Published Buy on Amazon
The Killing Hour 2007 Buy
Blood Men 2010 Buy
Five Minutes Alone 2014 Buy
Trust No One 2015 Buy
A Killer Harvest 2017 Buy
Whatever It Takes 2020 Buy
The Quiet People 2021 Buy
The Pain Tourist 2023 Buy
His Favourite Graves 2023 Buy

Theodore Tate Reading Order

Title Published Buy on Amazon
Cemetery Lake 2008 Buy
Collecting Cooper 2011 Buy
The Laughterhouse 2012 Buy

Paul Cleave is a bestselling crime writer from Christchurch, New Zealand. He has been writing dark, psychologically intense thrillers since 2006, when he published his debut The Cleaner. His work has won multiple awards, including the Ngaio Marsh Award and the Saint-Maur Book Festival’s Prix du Novel Noir. His books have been translated into more than twenty languages.

Cleave’s fiction is known for unreliable narrators, grim humor, and plots that twist in unexpected directions. He frequently returns to Christchurch as a setting, using the city almost as a character in its own right. His standalone novels and series books alike tend to explore the minds of both criminals and the people trying to catch them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books has Paul Cleave written?

Paul Cleave has written fourteen books across three series.

What was Paul Cleave's first book?

Paul Cleave’s first book is The Cleaner, published in 2006.

Where are Paul Cleave's novels set?

Most of Paul Cleave’s novels are set in Christchurch, New Zealand. The city’s atmosphere and landscape play a significant role in his stories, giving them a distinctive sense of place compared to typical American or British crime fiction.

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