[1]Mark Abernethy is an Australian novelist, journalist and ghost-writer[2]. He is the author of six thriller novels and four non-fiction titles, and is a regular contributor to the Australian Financial Review. He was born in New Zealand and has lived most of his adult life in Australia.[3]

His 'Alan McQueen' spy-thriller series first appeared in 2008, published by Allen & Unwin Arena. The series stars Australian SIS spy, Alan McQueen, who deals with high-stakes political and terror threats across South East Asia. The series consists of four novels:

  • Golden Serpent (Allen & Unwin Arena) 2008
  • Second Strike (Allen & Unwin Arena) 2009
  • Double Back (Allen & Unwin Arena) 2010
  • Counter Attack (Allen & Unwin Arena) 2012[4]

Three of the 'Alan McQueen' series were translated into Italian and published by Mondadori's Supersegretissimo imprint:

  • Golden Serpent: Le giungle della morte (Mondadori Supersegretissimo N.37) December 2008 (originally Golden Serpent)
  • Guerre Dell'Uranio: Tropici al neutrone (Mondadori Supersegretissimo N.41) March 2010 (originally Second Strike)
  • La Pista Della Morte: Indonesia di sangue (Mondadori Supersegretissimo N.44) December 2010 (originally Double Back)[5]


Abernethy uses his pseudonym, 'Mark Aitken', when writing his military-thriller novels that star retired US Marines Force Recon captain, Gerry Gallen. Gallen wants the quiet life in Wyoming but is forced into private military gigs by unavoidable forces. The 'Gallen' novels are also published by Allen & Unwin Arena:

  • Arctic Floor (Allen & Unwin Arena) 2012
  • Strikeforce Lightning (Allen & Unwin Arena) 2014[6]

His non-fiction 'Contractor' series features private intelligence operator, Mike Daly. Daly is a Melbourne carpenter who still takes private intelligence gigs when paid to do so. Pan Macmillan Australia publishes the Contractor series:

  • The Contractor (Pan Macmillan Australia) 2017
  • At Hell's Gate (Pan Macmillan Australia) 2017[7]

He co-wrote The Shot (HarperCollins 2016) with Gary Ramage[8]

  1. ^ "Summer Reading - Counter Attack, by Mark Abernethy". The Adelaide Advertiser. December 27, 2010. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  2. ^ "Our Authors - Mark Abernethy". Pan Macmillan Australia. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  3. ^ "Our Authors - Mark Abernethy". Pan Macmillan Australia. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  4. ^ "Authors". Allen and Unwin - Australia. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  5. ^ "Collane: SuperSegretissimo (Mondadori)". Archivi di Uruk. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  6. ^ "Authors". Allen and Unwin - Australia. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  7. ^ "Our Authors". Pan Macmillan Australia. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  8. ^ "The Shot / Gary Ramage with Mark Abernethy". National Library of Australia Catalogue. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)