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Old Games
A pacey, off-beat Aussie crime story about two best female friends and investigators unravelling the private lives of Melbourne's celebrity sportspeople.
Morally flexible best mates and private investigators Alice and Teddy pride themselves on fixing every kind of mess imaginable, no questions asked. So, when they're tasked with locating the recently-stolen ashes of long-dead celebrity tennis player Ashley “Perry” Perrineau, it should be a routine job.
But it quickly becomes clear that everyone who knew Perry is keeping his accountant despises Perry's widower; the sculptor of his statue is hiding something in her studio; his ex-doubles partner is a compulsive liar; and his mother is obsessed with preserving his legacy and her image at all costs.
Alice and Teddy will need to travel up and down Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula – all while avoiding more than one person on their tail – to uncover the truth and keep the body count from rising. But will they and the people they love survive what they find?
Morally flexible best mates and private investigators Alice and Teddy pride themselves on fixing every kind of mess imaginable, no questions asked. So, when they're tasked with locating the recently-stolen ashes of long-dead celebrity tennis player Ashley “Perry” Perrineau, it should be a routine job.
But it quickly becomes clear that everyone who knew Perry is keeping his accountant despises Perry's widower; the sculptor of his statue is hiding something in her studio; his ex-doubles partner is a compulsive liar; and his mother is obsessed with preserving his legacy and her image at all costs.
Alice and Teddy will need to travel up and down Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula – all while avoiding more than one person on their tail – to uncover the truth and keep the body count from rising. But will they and the people they love survive what they find?
356 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 24, 2026
About the author
Fiona Hardy
6 books38 followersFiona Hardy is a bookseller (and was in fact shortlisted for ABA Young Bookseller of the Year in 2017). She is a reviewer published in Books+Publishing, The Big Issue, and Readings Monthly, and was a committee member of the Australian Crime Writers Association, which organises the Ned Kelly Awards. Her short fiction has been published in The Big Issue Fiction Edition 2017, Gargouille, and other journals; her short story 'Green Thumbs' won the 2024 Scarlet Stiletto HQ Best Thriller Prize.
Her first book, 'How to Make a Movie in Twelve Days', was longlisted for the ABIA and Indie Book Awards, and was a CBCA Notable Book for 2020. Her second book, 'How to Write the Soundtrack to Your Life', won the 2021 Children's Peace Literature Award.
Her first book, 'How to Make a Movie in Twelve Days', was longlisted for the ABIA and Indie Book Awards, and was a CBCA Notable Book for 2020. Her second book, 'How to Write the Soundtrack to Your Life', won the 2021 Children's Peace Literature Award.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 17, 2026
I enjoyed the return of Teddy and Alice in this uniquely Australian crime thriller.
January 6, 2026
A perfect summer crime novel! Loved being in Melbourne, loved the tennis, love love loved hanging out with morally flexible best mates Alice and Teddy as they solve who stole the Perry’s ashes. This is part of a series, but absolutely could be read as a stand-alone…I loved the cosy elements SO much! I can’t wait to be able to chat about this one, it’s out late Feb, thanks for my arc affirm!!!
March 13, 2026
Old Games is a fun, fast-paced Australian crime novel with a refreshing twist - TWO FMCs, and they're shady.
Alice and Teddy are private investigators who specialise in cleaning up messy situations, so when they’re hired to locate the stolen ashes of a famous tennis player it seems like a strange but manageable case. Of course, nothing is ever that simple. As they begin digging into the lives of the people connected to the deceased sports star, secrets start to surface and the case becomes far more complicated, and dangerous, than they expected.
One of the highlights of this book is the dynamic between Alice and Teddy. Their friendship feels real, funny, and slightly chaotic, and it’s refreshing to see two female characters leading a crime story without fitting the usual detective mould. They’re clever, flawed, and occasionally make questionable choices - which makes them all the more interesting to follow.
The story also has a strong sense of place, with Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula providing a vivid backdrop to the investigation.
If you enjoy Australian crime fiction with humour, sharp dialogue, and unconventional characters, Old Games is a great read.
Much thanks to Fiona Hardy for joining us on the podcast - Episode 71 is out June 8th and you can listen here: https://www.betweenthelinesaustralia....
Alice and Teddy are private investigators who specialise in cleaning up messy situations, so when they’re hired to locate the stolen ashes of a famous tennis player it seems like a strange but manageable case. Of course, nothing is ever that simple. As they begin digging into the lives of the people connected to the deceased sports star, secrets start to surface and the case becomes far more complicated, and dangerous, than they expected.
One of the highlights of this book is the dynamic between Alice and Teddy. Their friendship feels real, funny, and slightly chaotic, and it’s refreshing to see two female characters leading a crime story without fitting the usual detective mould. They’re clever, flawed, and occasionally make questionable choices - which makes them all the more interesting to follow.
The story also has a strong sense of place, with Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula providing a vivid backdrop to the investigation.
If you enjoy Australian crime fiction with humour, sharp dialogue, and unconventional characters, Old Games is a great read.
Much thanks to Fiona Hardy for joining us on the podcast - Episode 71 is out June 8th and you can listen here: https://www.betweenthelinesaustralia....
May 5, 2026
I wish there were a dozen more like this, the kind of investigative crime story that isn’t a grim psychological thriller about several grizzly murders, but is actually about a pair of female private dicks/standover women who work for a criminal enterprise masquerading as a legitimate business. And the crime they’re investigating is the missing ashes of a sporting celebrity, with nary a murder in sight. I love it!
Their crime company has a garage, a gym, a physio, a psychiatrist, and a hacker. The boss knows everything and makes sure he keeps up to date on Alice’s daughter’s favourite lollies so he can be her favourite. Alice and Teddy, whom we meet tazing a man and shoving him into the boot of a car, are just regular people with their own morals and worries and emotional issues, and the job they do is fascinating, because it’s so similar to reading a police procedural without the advantages (or the drawbacks) of having the force of the law behind them.
Hardy manages to make it feel like we know all about the chequered pasts of our heroines without a huge amount of infodumping, to the point where I didn’t actually realise this was the second in a series because I thought she was just skilfully inserting backstory in amongst the plot.
More Alice and Teddy!
Their crime company has a garage, a gym, a physio, a psychiatrist, and a hacker. The boss knows everything and makes sure he keeps up to date on Alice’s daughter’s favourite lollies so he can be her favourite. Alice and Teddy, whom we meet tazing a man and shoving him into the boot of a car, are just regular people with their own morals and worries and emotional issues, and the job they do is fascinating, because it’s so similar to reading a police procedural without the advantages (or the drawbacks) of having the force of the law behind them.
Hardy manages to make it feel like we know all about the chequered pasts of our heroines without a huge amount of infodumping, to the point where I didn’t actually realise this was the second in a series because I thought she was just skilfully inserting backstory in amongst the plot.
More Alice and Teddy!
March 15, 2026
Quirky
March 2, 2026
Fiona Hardy burst into the Australian crime fiction scene with her first book for adults, Unbury the Dead, which was shortlisted for the 2025 Ned Kelly Award for best Crime Fiction. That book introduced readers to Teddy and Alice, two fixers who live in a moral grey zone and do vaguely criminal jobs for a man called Choker. Hardy brings the pair back to the streets of Melbourne in her follow up Old Games.
The opening of Old Games finds Teddy and Alice preparing to spend a ‘carefully curated’ day essentially torturing someone. Their plans are changed when Choker brings them in and asks them to investigate the theft of an urn of ashes. The ashes in question belonged to famous Australian tennis player Ashley ‘Perry’ Perineau. The case is further complicated when they learn that Alice’s former junkie sister is also working for Choker as security at Perineau’s house.
As with Unbury the Dead, Alice and Teddy move through a world of compromised and unsavoury characters. Everyone they meet is either lying to them or is compromised in some way. Whether it is Perry’s former double partner, the woman who was his biggest fan and is still somehow in the picture, the sculptor who is creating a statue of Perry or Perry’s nephew, a policeman on suspension. Even their client, Perry’s husband Suneet, is keeping secrets from them. This creates a rogues gallery of suspects for Alice and Teddy to bounce between.
While the main investigation sometimes feels a little slight, Old Games is the crime fiction equivalent of a ‘good hang’. The draw here is just spending time with Alice and Teddy, no matter what they are doing. Whether it is trying to balance their criminal and personal lives, or questioning suspects, or getting beaten up (or doing the beating) or still trying to come to terms with the questionably but lucrative decisions they made at the end of Unbury the Dead. They deal with all of these with quick wit, camaraderie and mordant humour.
With Old Games, Hardy continues a current move to bring Australian crime fiction back to the city. Teddy and Alice are urban creatures and in Old Games Hardy once again brings their murky milieu to darkly delightful life.
The opening of Old Games finds Teddy and Alice preparing to spend a ‘carefully curated’ day essentially torturing someone. Their plans are changed when Choker brings them in and asks them to investigate the theft of an urn of ashes. The ashes in question belonged to famous Australian tennis player Ashley ‘Perry’ Perineau. The case is further complicated when they learn that Alice’s former junkie sister is also working for Choker as security at Perineau’s house.
As with Unbury the Dead, Alice and Teddy move through a world of compromised and unsavoury characters. Everyone they meet is either lying to them or is compromised in some way. Whether it is Perry’s former double partner, the woman who was his biggest fan and is still somehow in the picture, the sculptor who is creating a statue of Perry or Perry’s nephew, a policeman on suspension. Even their client, Perry’s husband Suneet, is keeping secrets from them. This creates a rogues gallery of suspects for Alice and Teddy to bounce between.
While the main investigation sometimes feels a little slight, Old Games is the crime fiction equivalent of a ‘good hang’. The draw here is just spending time with Alice and Teddy, no matter what they are doing. Whether it is trying to balance their criminal and personal lives, or questioning suspects, or getting beaten up (or doing the beating) or still trying to come to terms with the questionably but lucrative decisions they made at the end of Unbury the Dead. They deal with all of these with quick wit, camaraderie and mordant humour.
With Old Games, Hardy continues a current move to bring Australian crime fiction back to the city. Teddy and Alice are urban creatures and in Old Games Hardy once again brings their murky milieu to darkly delightful life.
May 4, 2026
Oh, silly me, I did not realise this was actually a sequel in the Alice and Teddy series. But if I am being honest, not reading the first instalment did not really affect my experience all that much. The story here feels quite self-contained, just with recurring characters, so I do not think you would be completely lost if you accidentally picked this one up first like I did.
The premise of someone stealing a famous tennis player’s ashes definitely piqued my interest, and honestly, that was what drew me in straight away. It sounded bizarre enough to make me curious. But overall, I thought the story itself was just alright.
One of my main issues was that I felt quite disconnected from the characters. Perhaps the first book gives more background and development, but in this one, it was constantly mentioned how quirky and edgy both Alice and Teddy are. The problem is, I did not really feel it. It came across more like the book was telling me about their personalities rather than actually showing it through their actions or interactions. That was disappointing because I genuinely wanted to like this duo and their friendship dynamic.
The pacing also felt quite slow for me, and at some point I realised I was not particularly invested anymore. The mystery, the characters, and even the red herrings all felt a little mediocre. And when the reason behind stealing the ashes was finally revealed, I was honestly a bit flabbergasted. The culprit was not even truly after the ashes themselves, but what contains it. Really? All of that for that? It just did not feel as impactful as I had hoped.
I think the main thing that kept me reading was actually the setting. Since the story takes place in Melbourne, a city I have never visited before, I enjoyed the atmosphere and little details woven into the backdrop. That part probably interested me more than the mystery itself.
The premise of someone stealing a famous tennis player’s ashes definitely piqued my interest, and honestly, that was what drew me in straight away. It sounded bizarre enough to make me curious. But overall, I thought the story itself was just alright.
One of my main issues was that I felt quite disconnected from the characters. Perhaps the first book gives more background and development, but in this one, it was constantly mentioned how quirky and edgy both Alice and Teddy are. The problem is, I did not really feel it. It came across more like the book was telling me about their personalities rather than actually showing it through their actions or interactions. That was disappointing because I genuinely wanted to like this duo and their friendship dynamic.
The pacing also felt quite slow for me, and at some point I realised I was not particularly invested anymore. The mystery, the characters, and even the red herrings all felt a little mediocre. And when the reason behind stealing the ashes was finally revealed, I was honestly a bit flabbergasted. The culprit was not even truly after the ashes themselves, but what contains it. Really? All of that for that? It just did not feel as impactful as I had hoped.
I think the main thing that kept me reading was actually the setting. Since the story takes place in Melbourne, a city I have never visited before, I enjoyed the atmosphere and little details woven into the backdrop. That part probably interested me more than the mystery itself.
April 1, 2026
Old Games by Fiona Hardy
I read and enjoyed Fiona Hardy's adult crime fiction debut, Unbury the Dead, this time last year. When I saw the second book in the series was being released, I pre-ordered it.
Much like Unbury the Dead, Old Games ticks so many of the boxes for things I like in a book; you'll find it in the crime fiction section, it's set in Australia (specifically in and around Melbourne), and the 'good guys' are feisty female besties who'll literally help each other bury a body (or two). Fiona Hardy's books are fast-paced Australian crime noir; they are funny, intelligent, and compelling. And I would have said all of that before I won a free copy of her book.
Alice and Teddy are best friends who work together as 'fixers' in the mob sense of the word. If you have money and a problem, they'll be sent to help fix it. In Old Games, they are tasked with locating the recently stolen ashes of long-dead celebrity tennis player Ashley "Perry" Perrineau, but it turns out that everybody who knew Perry is keeping a secret.
If you enjoy fun, twisty, crimey books like Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth, The Midnight Taxi by Yosha Gunasekera, or The Body Next Door by Zane Lovitt, then you'll like this one.
#BigThumbsup
#2026bookshelf #DesignNerd #booksdeevaareads
@affirmpress @fionathehardy #affirmpress
I read and enjoyed Fiona Hardy's adult crime fiction debut, Unbury the Dead, this time last year. When I saw the second book in the series was being released, I pre-ordered it.
Much like Unbury the Dead, Old Games ticks so many of the boxes for things I like in a book; you'll find it in the crime fiction section, it's set in Australia (specifically in and around Melbourne), and the 'good guys' are feisty female besties who'll literally help each other bury a body (or two). Fiona Hardy's books are fast-paced Australian crime noir; they are funny, intelligent, and compelling. And I would have said all of that before I won a free copy of her book.
Alice and Teddy are best friends who work together as 'fixers' in the mob sense of the word. If you have money and a problem, they'll be sent to help fix it. In Old Games, they are tasked with locating the recently stolen ashes of long-dead celebrity tennis player Ashley "Perry" Perrineau, but it turns out that everybody who knew Perry is keeping a secret.
If you enjoy fun, twisty, crimey books like Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth, The Midnight Taxi by Yosha Gunasekera, or The Body Next Door by Zane Lovitt, then you'll like this one.
#BigThumbsup
#2026bookshelf #DesignNerd #booksdeevaareads
@affirmpress @fionathehardy #affirmpress
April 6, 2026
Fiona Hardy does it again, Old Games delivers the same sharp, character-driven crime fiction with flexible morality but absolute loyalty.
At the centre are Alice and Teddy, two women who exist in between what's legal and moral. They’re loyal and not trying to be good or right. Their friendship overrides the lies, the schemes, the constant closeness to trouble and they choose each other, no matter what.
The mystery itself, centred around the theft of a dead tennis star’s ashes, is almost understated, but the suspense builds slowly, and everyone involved is hiding something. The truth is hidden in plain sight among people you’re already watching.
Hardy’s tone stands out in the constant interplay between humour and darkness and then there’s the emotional undercurrent: family, legacy, and ownership. The ashes become symbolic, of control, legacy, and who gets to own someone’s story after they’re gone.
Overall, Old Games doesn't shock you but it understands its characters really well. A story where everyone is a little guilty, the lines are always blurred, and the only certainty being the bond between two women navigating it all together.
At the centre are Alice and Teddy, two women who exist in between what's legal and moral. They’re loyal and not trying to be good or right. Their friendship overrides the lies, the schemes, the constant closeness to trouble and they choose each other, no matter what.
The mystery itself, centred around the theft of a dead tennis star’s ashes, is almost understated, but the suspense builds slowly, and everyone involved is hiding something. The truth is hidden in plain sight among people you’re already watching.
Hardy’s tone stands out in the constant interplay between humour and darkness and then there’s the emotional undercurrent: family, legacy, and ownership. The ashes become symbolic, of control, legacy, and who gets to own someone’s story after they’re gone.
Overall, Old Games doesn't shock you but it understands its characters really well. A story where everyone is a little guilty, the lines are always blurred, and the only certainty being the bond between two women navigating it all together.
April 19, 2026
2.5⭐️
Im not sure what i think of this one.
This is a sequal and I really enjoyed the first book. I had hoped for more character development, which is possibly wishful thinking for two PIs who work the wrong side of the law.
I do worry for Alice. I suspect Jun is having an affair, but I have nothing to base that on. It just seems a logical narrative arc. Teddy also worries me for different reasons. Too much of a chip?
I found this story incredibly annoying. The plot meandered and didn't really make me care about solving the mystery (the disappearance of a tennis players ashes). The red harrings were also a bit meh.
But I still want to follow up on what happens next for Teddy and Alice. So maybe it's got something going for it.
Im not sure what i think of this one.
This is a sequal and I really enjoyed the first book. I had hoped for more character development, which is possibly wishful thinking for two PIs who work the wrong side of the law.
I do worry for Alice. I suspect Jun is having an affair, but I have nothing to base that on. It just seems a logical narrative arc. Teddy also worries me for different reasons. Too much of a chip?
I found this story incredibly annoying. The plot meandered and didn't really make me care about solving the mystery (the disappearance of a tennis players ashes). The red harrings were also a bit meh.
But I still want to follow up on what happens next for Teddy and Alice. So maybe it's got something going for it.
March 17, 2026
I have been following Fiona Hardy's crime fiction critiques for a while and I can tell she is a huge fan, so I was looking forward to reading her attempt at writing a crime novel. Regrettably, I got little enjoyment out of this book, and perhaps the old adage is correct 'those who can, do; those who can't, criticize". Admittedly, I hadn't read the first instalment of the Alice and Teddy series, but that should be no barrier for me to jump in at book number two. I felt that Hardy failed to establish the right tone for the book, there is a lot of words expended on telling us how tough and dangerous Alice and Teddy are, but this is not borne out in any action or edginess. Hardy seems unable to make up her mind if she is going for cozy or hard-edged in her story. She also tries hard to create interesting support characters, but these do not come off as well drawn; they are little more than shallow outlines. As for our dynamic duo, Alice and Teddy, they certainly have a sweet relationship, but neither is particularly endearing and the whole premise of them being 'criminals' whilst maintaining a straight facade is really stretching things. I'm sorry to keep sticking the boot in, but I must mention the simplistic dialogue, zero suspense or tension and a disappointing ending. One positive was the local Melbourne and Victorian settings, but that is about it and unfortunately I cannot recommend this one. Oh and what's with that terrible title 'Old Games' - just as uninspired as the rest of the book sadly.
May 4, 2026
3 1/2 stars
This return of Alice and Teddy and their questionable careers is as welcome and entertaining as their first appearance in Unbury the Dead.
Fast paced, witty, twisty-turny and filled with interesting characters, Old Games, successfully returns Australian noir to an urban setting ( Melbourne) and, thankfully, leaves the dusty, hot Australian bush and small town stereotypes behind.
Good stuff.
This return of Alice and Teddy and their questionable careers is as welcome and entertaining as their first appearance in Unbury the Dead.
Fast paced, witty, twisty-turny and filled with interesting characters, Old Games, successfully returns Australian noir to an urban setting ( Melbourne) and, thankfully, leaves the dusty, hot Australian bush and small town stereotypes behind.
Good stuff.
May 23, 2026
Glib, breezy toned story about two young women private investigators who are apparently criminals. I struggled to connect with with the main characters, Alice & Teddy, or any of the other characters as they were so thinly drawn. The tone swerved between cosy mystery and edgy while the story meandered without much direction until it finally reached a rather lacklustre ending. The mystery of the stolen ashes and the half hearted red herrings just never gained any momentum. The written style didn't grab me as there was too much 'telling' & little 'showing'. It was an absolute chore to listen to this book because I didn't really care about any of the characters or story. I only finished the book because I kept hoping that it would get better or that there would be some brilliant twist at the end, but none of that happened. Definitely not for me and I would not recommend.
April 21, 2026
fast paced that comes with refreshing twists that you wont see coming. I love how Alice and Teddy are private investigates and love how they one good friendship. I couldn't get enough of the mystery has it did kept me intrigued
audiobooks
April 6, 2026This is a good read - lots of fun too.
April 9, 2026
My first Fiona Hardy listen. It was OK, but far-fetched, some describe it as fun and quirky.
May 15, 2026
Great crime mystery written by an Australian with 2 female leads. Voice actor was perfect.
Looking forward to hearing from all 4 of these interesting ladies again.
Looking forward to hearing from all 4 of these interesting ladies again.
May 18, 2026
This book just didn't do it for me! The plot was confusing and the characters were poorly defined. I kept waiting and hoping it would get better, but it just didn't!
May 18, 2026
A fun read full of interesting characters and a rather bizarre mystery unfortunately I felt the ending fell a bit flat and was rather underwhelming.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews