Gary Disher: Bitter Wash Road, Soho Press, NY, 9781616955397, paperback,

German Edition: Gary Disher: Bitter Wash Road, Unionsverlag, gebunden, 21,95 € , 9783293005006

I came across author Gary Disher reading about nominations for the German „Krimipreis“ in the category „International“, liked the title,  read the blurb, saw that he had won the Ned Kelly Award for previous work, Australia’s award for mysteries/suspense,  and downloaded “Bitter Wash Road” on my e-reader.

Since reading and writing this review I have read other books but “Bitter Wash Road” is still with me, a sure sign for an unusual crime novel. At first I had to get used to Disher’s clipped, reduced sentences creating a very poignant way of telling his story but found the writing perfectly fitting the mood of the novel. Not a word too much just like the main character, demoted detective Paul Hirschhausen. He is a stubborn likeable character reposted as punishment to Tiverton, a bush town in South Australia about as pleasant as tumbleweed.

Hirsch, as he is known, reports to Sergeant Kropp who has surrounded himself with corrupt policemen, turning a blind eye on investigations his mates might be involved in. They are running the show abusing their position for sex and dirty deals, mocking Hirsch and making his professional and private life miserable. As if this were not enough, Hirsch also has the internal investigations bureau breathing down on him trying to get him on obscure grounds for previously spilling the beans on other corrupt cops. When a local girl is found dead dumped along the highway and Hirsch’s neighbor who is married to an abusive farmer goes missing as well, Hirsch has enough and quietly starts digging finding himself quickly surrounded by enemies.

The atmosphere of desolate life in Australian bush towns breathes through the pages of this unusual crime novel, a perfect portray with a great plot.