Scan barcode
kcfromaustcrime's review against another edition
3.0
There's a new Wyatt on the way, and that means it's as good a time as any to do a little tidying up of the back catalogue.
Wyatt is a very careful man, because he has to be. Wyatt robs banks, lifts payrolls, gets girls, leaves girls, lives the life of a loner, trusts few, works out the details and thinks a job through. He regards his criminal activities as his job, he's very professional. He doesn't like surprises, he doesn't like hot heads and half wits, mind you, he can handle them when he needs to.
Kickback is the first Wyatt novel from renowned Australian writer Garry Disher. Unusual in Australian crime fiction, these books are about the crimes and the criminals. In KICKBACK in particular, even the victim's aren't squeaky clean. Anna Reid is a solicitor who is happy to see the robbery of her work partner's safe - she wants the money to get herself out of a financial hole. But she gets more than she bargained for when Wyatt agrees to do the job, and brings a little extra baggage along with him. Sugarfoot Younger is a young man, a bit of a cowboy in look, inclination and attitude, and he is just stupid enough to think he can play Wyatt at his own game.
Tough, violent, precise and absolutely authentic, Disher write a fantastic professional criminal in Wyatt. An old-fashioned sort of a crim, Wyatt isn't interested in collateral damage - to himself or his victim's, but don't for a moment think that he's beyond ruthlessness if he needs to protect his own skin.
The current Wyatt novels are:
* Kickback (1991)
* Paydirt (1992)
* Deathdeal (1993)
* Crosskill (1994)
* Port Vila Blues (1996)
* The Fallout (1997)
Wyatt is a very careful man, because he has to be. Wyatt robs banks, lifts payrolls, gets girls, leaves girls, lives the life of a loner, trusts few, works out the details and thinks a job through. He regards his criminal activities as his job, he's very professional. He doesn't like surprises, he doesn't like hot heads and half wits, mind you, he can handle them when he needs to.
Kickback is the first Wyatt novel from renowned Australian writer Garry Disher. Unusual in Australian crime fiction, these books are about the crimes and the criminals. In KICKBACK in particular, even the victim's aren't squeaky clean. Anna Reid is a solicitor who is happy to see the robbery of her work partner's safe - she wants the money to get herself out of a financial hole. But she gets more than she bargained for when Wyatt agrees to do the job, and brings a little extra baggage along with him. Sugarfoot Younger is a young man, a bit of a cowboy in look, inclination and attitude, and he is just stupid enough to think he can play Wyatt at his own game.
Tough, violent, precise and absolutely authentic, Disher write a fantastic professional criminal in Wyatt. An old-fashioned sort of a crim, Wyatt isn't interested in collateral damage - to himself or his victim's, but don't for a moment think that he's beyond ruthlessness if he needs to protect his own skin.
The current Wyatt novels are:
* Kickback (1991)
* Paydirt (1992)
* Deathdeal (1993)
* Crosskill (1994)
* Port Vila Blues (1996)
* The Fallout (1997)
rodhunt's review against another edition
3.0
I’ve read 4 Gary Disher books this year. This is an excellent crime novel - the police are rarely sighted. An economical thriller and I trust a great set up for the series.
bundy23's review against another edition
3.0
Complete Parker rip-off set in early 90's Melbourne. It's pretty entertaining and, like the Stark series it's copying, fast paced and doesn't outstay it's welcome. I reckon I'll read a few more.
stanro's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
My first Disher. Wyatt is a careful professional criminal and this is the first in a series featuring him.
It is a somewhat cliched book - reminding me a bit of the dimly remembered Cliff Hardy series I consumed around that time. For all that, it is well written and suspenseful, with sufficient unanticipated twists and some predicted turns to satisfy me. Written in 1991, the recording was released in 2022. I look forward to more Wyatt.
It is a somewhat cliched book - reminding me a bit of the dimly remembered Cliff Hardy series I consumed around that time. For all that, it is well written and suspenseful, with sufficient unanticipated twists and some predicted turns to satisfy me. Written in 1991, the recording was released in 2022. I look forward to more Wyatt.
mlafaive's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
civion's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
very similar to Richard Stark's Parker character, not as good as Stark but still a very good read if you enjoy heist books
ericwelch's review
4.0
I have read several of Disher's novels in the Wyatt series and they are all quite competent, noir in the manner of Quarry, and Parker, and Keller. This was the first in the series and I wish I had read it first. They are all stand-alones, but this one sets the stage, if you will.
As with Lawrence Block, all of Disher's creations are wonderful ways to spend an afternoon. Get them all.
As with Lawrence Block, all of Disher's creations are wonderful ways to spend an afternoon. Get them all.
More...