Bestselling Crime Fiction Author
Craving authentic, fast-paced crime thrillers grounded in the gritty reality of frontline policing?
Drawing on more than four decades of experience as a cop, paramedic, and tactical medic, Clayden’s stories bring the adrenaline, danger, and moral complexity of law enforcement to life.
Each book plunges readers into the heart of the investigation—where every decision counts, and survival depends on instinct. With cinematic pacing, sharply drawn characters, and realism earned through experience, Dwayne’s thrillers blur the line between fiction and lived truth.
The Brad Coulter Series
From biker wars to sniper hunts, Calgary’s streets have never been deadlier.
Set in Calgary, Alberta through the turbulent 1970s and 80s, the Brad Coulter Series follows one cop’s evolution from rookie patrol officer to seasoned detective. Each book captures a defining moment in Coulter's storied career—from biker wars and prison breaks to sniper attacks and high-stakes hijackings. Inspired by real-world policing, these novels combine authenticity, action, and emotional depth as Coulter confronts both the criminals on the street and the demons that come with the badge. Gritty, propulsive, and steeped in the realism of the era, this is Bestselling Canadian Crime Fiction at its finest. Ideal for fans of Michael Connelly's Bosch, Blue Bloods, and Chicago PD.
- #1: Crisis Point (2018, Arthur Ellis Award Finalist!)
- #2: Outlaw MC (2019)
- #3: Wolfman Is Back (2019)
- #4: 13 Days of Terror (2020)
- #5: Goddess of Justice (2021)
- #6: Royal Flight (2024)
- Prequel: Partners (Coming in 2026!)
- More cases. More chaos. Coming soon.
The Speargrass Series
The wild west meets the war on drugs in this raw, modern crime thriller.
Set against the rugged plains of Montana, the two-book Speargrass Series delivers a raw, emotional look at the opioid crisis through the eyes of Sheriff Franklyn Eaglechild, a wounded ex-rodeo champion turned tribal lawman. When the justice system fails his people, Eaglechild and his adopted brother—DEA Agent Riley Briggs—join forces to battle corruption, cartel violence, and the human cost of addiction. These tense, character-driven thrillers blend small-town politics, frontier justice, and unflinching realism into a story of courage and consequence. Speargrass is where law enforcement meets the edge of survival—and justice comes with a price. Perfect for fans of Craig Johnson's Longmire, Justified, and Yellowstone.
#1: Speargrass Opioid (2020)
#2: Speargrass Vengeance (2023)
Now Complete!
The Bryce Pedley Series
Old-school grit. Modern crime. One relentless private eye.
Meet Bryce Pedley—a 1940s private eye living in modern-day New York, complete with fedora, trench coat, and revolver. In The Laughing Dog, Pedley is hired to find a cache of rare books stolen by the Nazis in 1939. What begins as a simple missing-property case turns into a deadly hunt through history, deception, and obsession. Between crooked collectors, brutal thugs, and ghosts of the past, Pedley discovers that the truth is never as tidy as the case file. Sharp, stylish, and darkly funny, the Bryce Pedley Series brings classic noir swagger to the modern crime scene. A killer choice for fans of Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe novels, Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon, or Robert B. Parker’s Spenser series.
#1: The Laughing Dog (2023)
More misadventures to come!
Last Shot: A Canadian Crime Fiction Anthology
Last Shot brings together four acclaimed Canadian crime writers—Alice Bienia, Dwayne Clayden, Winona Kent, and Peter Kingsmill—in a gripping collection where ordinary people face extraordinary choices. From the streets of Calgary to the London Underground, these stories explore how far we’ll go when fear, justice, and desperation collide. Each tale hits with authenticity, tension, and heart—the final shot that lingers long after the last page.
Anthology: The Last Shot (2021)
The After Midnight Series
Coming in 2026!
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