BOOK: The Broken Shore by Peter Temple

The Broken Shore by Peter Temple, 445 pages

Book Award Challenge (CWA Gold Dagger 2007 and Ned Kelly Award for Crime Writing); Aussie Author Challenge; 2nds Challenge (read Truth)

Temple has a writing style that takes getting used to, but I quite enjoy it. There are no big descriptions, but the atmosphere is felt. The Australian slang takes getting used to, and I still miss the meaning of tons of words, but I get the idea. It makes me feel like I am in Australia, real Australia. It's rough, and the crime side underbelly, but it feels very real and gritty.

Cashin thought that he knew the answer, delivered to him by some process in the brain that endlessly sifted, sorted and shuffled things heard and read, seen and felt, bits and pieces with no obvious use, just clutter, litter, until the moment when two of them touched, spun and found each other, fitted like hands locking. p 288

This quote is what reading the book was to me - not all clear all the time, but then it coalesces and was a great description of how good detectives figure things out.

Joe Cashin is recovering from a bad incident (eventually somewhat revealed) and sent to a small town, the small town where he grew up. He ends up in the middle of a murder investigation of a local philanthropist. He is in contact with Villani from Victoria (and main character of Truth.) Cashin is hurting, and finding his way in the new locale with his new life. The plot twists and turns (police procedural, so the reader only knows what Cashin discovers) and is a great read. A little violent, and graphic in parts, but gritty and great character development. Plus, Dove, the aboriginal detective from Truth also makes an appearance. I'd love a book with more Dove.