Hell to Pay

A modern western set in an isolated Australian bush town with a soaring crime rate, where a local constable with a troubled past must investigate the death of a teenage girl whose murder threatens to set the dusty streets ablaze. Constable Paul Hirschhausen Hirsch is a recently demoted detective sent from Adelaide, Australia s southernmost booming metropolis, to Tiverton, a one-road town in rustic, backwater wool and wheat country three hours north. Hirsch isn t just a disgraced cop; the internal investigations bureau is still trying to convict him of something, even if it means planting evidence. When someone leaves a pistol cartridge in his mailbox, Hirsch suspects that his career isn't the only thing on the line. But the tiny town of Tiverton has more crime than one lone cop should have to handle. The stagnant economy, rural isolation, and entrenched racism and misogyny mean every case Hirsch investigates is a new basket of snakes. When the body of a 16-year-old local girl is found on the side of the highway, the situation in Tiverton gets even more sinister, and whether or not he finds her killer, there s going to be hell to pay. Paperback edition found under the title Bitter Wash Road."

About the Author :
Garry Disher is one of Australia s best-known novelists. He s published over forty books in a range of genres, including crime, children s books, and Australian history. His Hal Challis and Wyatt crime series are also published by Soho Crime. He lives on the Mornington Peninsula, southeast of Melbourne."

Review :
Praise for Hell to Pay Shortlisted for the 2014 Ned Kelly Best Novel Award A Deadly Pleasures Best Book of 2014 A Reviewing the Evidence Best Book of 2014 "A perfect introduction to the work of veteran crime novelist Garry Disher . . . Stark descriptions of the sweltering outback will have you reaching for a cool drink. Hirsch is a classic lone wolf or should I say lone dingo? whose laconic stoicism and basic decency will have you longing for a sequel." The Seattle Times "Disher has drawn both a vivid and visceral picture of a backblocks bush town, its inhabitants ground down by the stresses of isolation, hard work and irregular, relentlessly shrinking incomes . . . The story pulls no punches." The Guardian "Disher writes and plots like the smooth old pro he is." Toronto Star "Well worth reading . . .How it all is resolved demonstrates the author's unusual talent." Midwest Book Review "The story is a compelling one and the multiple plot threads, none of which at first seem to have anything to do with the other including Hirsch's exile from Adelaide come together in a cleverly plotted manner." Mysterious Reviews "Striking . . . Writing of this quality does not come along every day." Reviewing the Evidence "Disher is a masterful writer...I can't recommend Hell to Pay highly enough." Fresh Fiction Exceptional crime fiction. Courier-Mail "A fast, gritty story is given texture by its individually crafted characters and thoroughly realised rural setting." The Morning Star (UK) "This noir bush police procedural paints a desolate profile of a hard, lonely life in rural South Australia, where people scratch out a living however they can in a changing economy. The story keeps moving with plenty of surprises as Hirsch makes his discoveries, culminating in a splendid climax. Highly recommended." I Love a Mystery Garry Disher s new novel is a rewarding mix of small-town policing and corruption, parish politics, vested interests and the closing of ranks against an outsider . . . fans of good crime fiction and Australian writing alike should enjoy it. Australian Bookseller & Publisher Garry Disher has been giving us highly intelligent literary thrillers for decades and he gets better and better, even as he wins more prizes for his resonant, poetic novels. Along with Peter Temple, he is the master wordsmith of local crime fiction and, to paraphrase Frederick Barthelme, his seemingly simple words trick us into the drama, and the drama breaks our hearts. Weekend Australian Peter Temple and Garry Disher will be identified as the crime writers who redefined Australian crime fiction in terms of its form, content and style . . . Disher s eye for detail is acute and his poetic analogies precise . . . [Hell to Pay]continues the work of re-imagining the crime genre in a very Australian way, and does it beautifully. Sydney Morning Herald [Hell to Pay] is superb. Weekend Australian Not a word is wasted: here the ancient, bare, distinctive landscape of the hardscrabble country bordering Goyder s Line is conveyed with admirably atmospheric economy. Adelaide Advertiser "Turning the pages, readers can almost feel themselves squinting into the sun while wiping dust and sweat off the back of their necks . . . Hirschhausen is a character I'll remember for a good long time." Kittling Books [Hell to Pay] is crime written in dry tense phrases. Garry Disher tells you everything and nothing making every page an intrigue and leaving you desperate to find out what the hell is going on. The Hoopla [Hell to Pay] moves at a cracking pace and is a great read. Launceston Examiner" Praise for "Hell to Pay" Shortlisted for the 2014 Ned Kelly Best Novel Award A "Deadly Pleasures" Best Book of 2014 A Reviewing the Evidence Best Book of 2014 "A perfect introduction to the work of veteran crime novelist Garry Disher . . . Stark descriptions of the sweltering outback will have you reaching for a cool drink. Hirsch is a classic lone wolf or should I say lone dingo? whose laconic stoicism and basic decency will have you longing for a sequel." " The Seattle Times" "Disher has drawn both a vivid and visceral picture of a backblocks bush town, its inhabitants ground down by the stresses of isolation, hard work and irregular, relentlessly shrinking incomes . . . The story pulls no punches." " The Guardian" "Disher writes and plots like the smooth old pro he is." " Toronto Star" "Well worth reading . . .How it all is resolved demonstrates the author's unusual talent." Midwest Book Review "The story is a compelling one and the multiple plot threads, none of which at first seem to have anything to do with the other including Hirsch's exile from Adelaide come together in a cleverly plotted manner." Mysterious Reviews "Striking . . . Writing of this quality does not come along every day." Reviewing the Evidence "Disher is a masterful writer...I can't recommend "Hell to Pay" highly enough." Fresh Fiction Exceptional crime fiction. "Courier-Mail " "A fast, gritty story is given texture by its individually crafted characters and thoroughly realised rural setting." " The Morning Star (UK)" "This noir bush police procedural paints a desolate profile of a hard, lonely life in rural South Australia, where people scratch out a living however they can in a changing economy. The story keeps moving with plenty of surprises as Hirsch makes his discoveries, culminating in a splendid climax. Highly recommended." I Love a Mystery Garry Disher s new novel is a rewarding mix of small-town policing and corruption, parish politics, vested interests and the closing of ranks against an outsider . . . fans of good crime fiction and Australian writing alike should enjoy it. "Australian Bookseller & Publisher" Garry Disher has been giving us highly intelligent literary thrillers for decades and he gets better and better, even as he wins more prizes for his resonant, poetic novels. Along with Peter Temple, he is the master wordsmith of local crime fiction and, to paraphrase Frederick Barthelme, his seemingly simple words trick us into the drama, and the drama breaks our hearts. "Weekend Australian" Peter Temple and Garry Disher will be identified as the crime writers who redefined Australian crime fiction in terms of its form, content and style . . . Disher s eye for detail is acute and his poetic analogies precise . . . ["Hell to Pay"]continues the work of re-imagining the crime genre in a very Australian way, and does it beautifully. "Sydney Morning Herald" ["Hell to Pay"] is superb. "Weekend Australian" Not a word is wasted: here the ancient, bare, distinctive landscape of the hardscrabble country bordering Goyder s Line is conveyed with admirably atmospheric economy. "Adelaide Advertiser" "Turning the pages, readers can almost feel themselves squinting into the sun while wiping dust and sweat off the back of their necks . . . Hirschhausen is a character I'll remember for a good long time." Kittling Books " "["Hell to Pay"] is crime written in dry tense phrases. Garry Disher tells you everything and nothing making every page an intrigue and leaving you desperate to find out what the hell is going on. The Hoopla ["Hell to Pay"] moves at a cracking pace and is a great read. "Launceston Examiner"" Praise for "Hell to Pay" "Disher has drawn both a vivid and visceral picture of a backblocks bush town, its inhabitants ground down by the stresses of isolation, hard work and irregular, relentlessly shrinking incomes . . . The story pulls no punches." "--The Guardian" "Disher writes and plots like the smooth old pro he is." "--Toronto Star" "The story is a compelling one and the multiple plot threads, none of which at first seem to have anything to do with the other--including Hirsch's exile from Adelaide--come together in a cleverly plotted manner." --Mysterious Reviews "Striking... Writing of this quality does not come along every day." --Reviewing the Evidence "Exceptional crime fiction." --"Courier-Mail " "Garry Disher's new novel is a rewarding mix of small-town policing and corruption, parish politics, vested interests and the closing of ranks against an outsider . . . fans of good crime fiction and Australian writing alike should enjoy it." --"Australian Bookseller & Publisher" "Garry Disher has been giving us highly intelligent literary thrillers for decades and he gets better and better, even as he wins more prizes for his resonant, poetic novels. Along with Peter Temple, he is the master wordsmith of local crime fiction and, to paraphrase Frederick Barthelme, his seemingly simple words trick us into the drama, and the drama breaks our hearts." --"Weekend Australian" "Peter Temple and Garry Disher will be identified as the crime writers who redefined Australian crime fiction in terms of its form, content and style . . . Disher's eye for detail is acute and his poetic analogies precise . . . ["Hell to Pay"] continues the work of re-imagining the crime genre in a very Australian way, and does it beautifully." --"Sydney Morning Herald" "["Hell to Pay"] is superb." --"Weekend Australian" "Not a word is wasted: here the ancient, bare, distinctive landscape of th Praise for "Hell to Pay" "Disher has drawn both a vivid and visceral picture of a backblocks bush town, its inhabitants ground down by the stresses of isolation, hard work and irregular, relentlessly shrinking incomes... The story pulls no punches." "--The Guardian" Praise for Garry Disher "Terrific plot, nuanced characters and solid procedures, served up on a refreshing new turf." --"The New York Times Book Review" "Top-notch ... Trust me, mate: Readers will want to make a return visit to Disher's Australia." --"The Christian Science Monitor" "There's real technique on show here ... it's so fast and hard-written that it becomes a blur, a flurry of activity that dazzles the senses ... Wyatt is a thrill-laden pleasure. I can't wait to read the others." --ABC Radio "Outstanding ... The spare, economical prose perfectly suits this tale of mad love and crimes gone wrong, which will remind many of Westlake's better Parker novels." --"Publishers Weekly", Starred Review Praise for Garry Disher "Terrific plot, nuanced characters and solid procedures, served up on a refreshing new turf." --"The New York Times Book Review" "Top-notch ... Trust me, mate: Readers will want to make a return visit to Disher's Australia." --"The Christian Science Monitor" "There's real technique on show here ... it's so fast and hard-written that it becomes a blur, a flurry of activity that dazzles the senses ... Wyatt is a thrill-laden pleasure. I can't wait to read the others." --ABC Radio "Outstanding ... The spare, economical prose perfectly suits this tale of mad love and crimes gone wrong, which will remind many of Westlake's better Parker novels." --"Publishers Weekly", Starred Review