Bad Debts

Bad Debts is the first book by Peter Temple featuring Jack Irish, a former criminal lawyer who had taken a break from the law courts after the murder of his wife, Isabelle, some years previously. When he is contacted by Danny McKillop, a former client, who wants to talk with him, Jack's life becomes complicated as he tries to unravel what really happened all those years ago. That there has been a cover-up there can be no denial, but who is actually telling the truth and who can he trust. 

During the investigation he teams up with a journalist, Linda Hillier, and while they work on the case it becomes obvious that their lives are in danger, especially as possible witnesses are ending up dead. It soon becomes obvious that corruption has and is still occuring within the police and parts of government, 

Bad Debts is set in Melbourne and surrounding areas in the state. Fitzroy, Collingwood and Clifton Hill are some of the suburbs where action takes place. Jack also assists race horse enthusiast and friend, Harry Strang, with some of his racing ventures and in his spare time works with Charlie Taub who crafts fine furniture. He also frequents the Prince of Prussia Hotel, keeping in contact with three elderly gentlemen, great fans of the Fitzroy Football Club - a team in a bit of a slump.

 This book is a really good read.

'Hard boiled hero, Jack Irish, lives and drinks in a shadowy Melbourne' - NPR July 1, 2014

Jack Irish

Jack Irish, created by Peter Temple (1946-2018), has become a popular character in Australian crime fiction. Jack, a former criminal lawyer, now spends much of his time drinking and or betting on the races. He lives in Fitzroy, an inner suburb of Melbourne, and as he attempts to get his life back on track helps a friend make high quality furniture. Jack tries to stay on the right side of the law but this is not always easy as his life often becomes entangled in sorting out or solving a crime, at times involving former associates and / or horse racing.

Born in South Africa Peter Temple moved to Australia in 1980. Initially he worked as a journalist and a lecturer before turning to writing novels. He is perhaps best known for the four titles in the Jack Irish series - Bad Debts (1996), Black Tide (1999), Dead Point (2000) and White Dog (2003) but has also written other books including An Iron Rose (1998), Shooting Star (1999), In the Evil Day / Identity Theory (2002), The Broken Shore (2005) and its sequel Truth (2009). The Red Hand (a collection of mostly unpublished writing) was published in 2019. Awards won for his work include The Ned Kelly award, a Miles Franklin award and a Colin Roderick award. In 2007, The Broken Shore was also awarded the UK Crime Writers’ Association’s Duncan Lawrie Gold Dagger.

The Jack Irish books have also been adapted for television. Bad Debts, Black Point and Dead Tide were shown as telemovies on ABC TV between 2012 and 2014. Since then two six part series, entitled Jack Irish, based on the characters created by Peter Temple were shown on ABC TV in 2016 and 2018. The final four part Jack Irish series will air on ABC TV from mid-June 2021. Guy Pearce plays Jack Irish.

Acclaimed crime writer Peter Temple Dies, aged 71  Sydney Morning Herald, March 11 2018

The Red Hand: stories, relections and the last appearance of Jack Irish

One of Australia's most celebrated authors of crime fiction was Peter Temple (1946-2018). His books include titles in the Jack Irish series plus Truth and Broken Shore. The Red Hand includes a selection of Peter Temple's (mostly unpublished) writing.

High Art was to be another Jack Irish novel but it was not completed.  The 100 pages provided in this book reintroduce familiar characters including Charlie Taub, Cameron Delroy plus Norm, Eric and Wilbur (permanent patrons of the Prince of Prussia Pub).  Jack had been asked to investigate the disappearance of a staff member from a university college who had been evaluating the college art collection. The reader will have to create their own ending for this story. As usual Melbourne, especially the inner suburbs, features prominently.

A number of Peter Temple's books have been filmed for television. Included in this volume is the script for a telemovie about a country football team - Ben Valentine.

This volume also includes a section containing book reviews written by Peter Temple plus short articles. One article concerned the inclusion of avid supporters of the Fitzroy Football Club in his Jack Irish novels while another is about the Melbourne Cup (horse racing is also usually a feature in Jack Irish novels). In 2011 Peter Temple gave the Miles Franklin Oration entitled "Reading the Country" which discussed the importance of setting in his work. A copy of the talk is included. Six short stories complete this compilation which is a tribute to the memory of Peter Temple - an important contributor to Australian fiction.

Truth

In the sequel to The Broken Shore Peter Temple examines the role of Truth when compared with the need for preservation of reputation and personal survival. The Homicide Squad's investigation into the death of a prostitue found in a new expensive apartment is curtailed by the owners of the building as they have friends in high places. The investigation of subsequent murders involving torture, relationships and disintegration of families, corruption plus bushfires threatening the family property are interwoven with Stephen Vanelli and his team's investigation of the fate of the murdered girl.