Track Temple down

Apr 11 2008 by Val Javin, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

JACK Irish is an Australian lawyer, private investigator, cabinet maker, follower of the Sport of Kings, enthusiastic footie fan and unlucky in love. Again.

An off-course gambling coup goes wrong leaving a member of the team badly beaten, his girl friend calls from America to tell him she’s fallen for someone else, his legal business is just about ticking over, and when he investigates the supposed suicide of a barman from an upmarket Melbourne pub, he finds nothing but subterfuge, threats and danger. Oh yes, and his footie team lost again.

This is the third Jack Irish novel from award-winning Australian crime writer Peter Temple. It’s clever, funny, exciting and exceedingly well written. The author weaves multi layers of plot, life, characters and emotions into an exceedingly satisfying narrative that grips from first to last page.

If you haven’t yet discovered Temple, track down his books. He’s premier class.

DENIS KILCOMMONS