Jon Cleary was a highly successful Australian author, known for his numerous books that were adapted for film and television. Born in Sydney, New South Wales, Cleary was the eldest of seven children in a working-class family. His father, Matthew, was imprisoned for six months when Cleary was only ten years old, an experience that had a profound impact on him. Cleary's mother, Ida, was a fourth-generation Australian, and from his parents, he inherited a strong sense of justice and a belief in family values.
Cleary was educated at the Marist Brothers school in Randwick, New South Wales. After leaving school at the age of fourteen, he spent the next eight years out of work or in odd jobs, such as a commercial traveler and bush worker. It was during this time that Cleary discovered his love of reading, which was sparked when he began to help his friend, who had a traveling library. Cleary's favorite writers included P.G. Wodehouse, and he eventually became interested in the career of commercial artists. However, he also wrote for amateur revues and joined the Australian Army in 1940, serving in the Middle East and New Guinea. During these years, Cleary started to write seriously, and by the war's end, he had published several short stories in magazines.
Cleary's first book, "You Can’t See Round Corners," was published in 1947 and won the second prize in The Sydney Morning Herald’s novel contest. The book was later made into a television serial and then into a feature film. Cleary's skill at describing his home city, its bars, and people living on the margin of society was evident in his writing. He went on to publish over 60 books, many of which were set in exotic locations all over the world or in interesting historical scenes of the 20th century. Cleary also wrote perhaps the longest-running homicide detective series of Australia, featuring the sympathetic protagonist, Inspector Scobie Malone. Over his 60-year career, Cleary's books have sold some 8 million copies, making him one of the most popular Australian authors of all time.