The University's Dr Alistair Rolls' latest publication presents a collection of essays by Australian academics on French detective fiction.

Dr Rolls said Mostly French: French (in) Detective Fiction touched on a rapidly growing research area in French studies internationally.

"The work involves exploring and defining a literary genre popularly believed to be little more than a series of translations of detective fiction novels," Dr Rolls said.

"This book aims to challenge assumptions about French detective fiction, its influence on other national fictions and its explicit and implicit presence in all detective fiction."

The Hartley Bequest, designed to advance the study of French at the University of Newcastle, funded the printing of the book.

The Hartley Bequest was made possible by a generous gift from the late Emeritus Professor Kelver Hartley, the University's foundation Professor of French.