Garry Disher Books

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Garry Disher is an Australian author that writes crime and children’s fiction. Born in 1949 in Burra, South Australia, Disher technically kickstarted his writing career in 1987 with ‘Steal Away.’

Some of his fans might be surprised to learn that Disher also wrote textbooks. He began by penning an Australian history textbook at the request of a publisher. The book performed so well that the publisher in question asked for three more textbooks.

Disher enjoyed the writing process because nonfiction doesn’t introduce the same uncertainties fiction attracts. You can create and follow a clear, unchanging plan. Additionally, the author appreciated the research stage.

But even though the sales for his textbooks were strong, Disher wanted to write fiction. It was his primary passion. Today, most people classify him as a crime fiction author. But in the beginning, Disher was incredibly diverse, going so far as to write children’s books.

His first novel was a challenge. Four publishers rejected ‘Steal Away’ before Angus and Robertson came along and asked for a rewrite. The demand did not discourage the author because he knew publishers were too busy to ask for rewrites of books they did not want.

If Angus and Robertson wanted a rewrite of ‘Steal Away,’ they clearly saw some potential in the book. So the author went back to the drawing board and did a rewrite, producing a draft the publisher accepted.

The rewrites stuck with him because he made significant changes to several aspects, including the novel’s structure. Considering how long it takes to undertake one major rewrite, four major rewriters were not easy. But the author learned from the experience.

By the time he created the Wyatt series in 1992, Disher was a seasoned writer. He took inspiration from the Parker novels and their cold, relentless hero. Many readers have told Disher that Wyatt is somewhat unlikeable because he steals for profit.

Disher does not enjoy walking in Wyatt’s shoes or seeing the world through the protagonist’s eyes, and he likes it that way. The author is convinced that making Wyatt a warm, relatable protagonist with a justifiable goal would ruin the charm of his adventures.

People flock to the Wyatt books because the protagonist is a ruthless killer with standards. Disher does not want to give the character additional layers of complexity and depth. Paul Hirschhausen couldn’t be more different.

As a long-suffering cop that is often overlooked and sidelined, Hirschhausen is much easier to root for. The author initially envisioned his first novel as a standalone story. But Hirschhausen wouldn’t let Disher rest. He kept tapping the author on the shoulder, insisting he had more stories to tell.

Disher did not mind obliging the protagonist because he was accustomed to ideas for stories hounding him. The author’s head is always buzzing with stories. You can find them jotted down in notebooks and on pieces of paper in his study.

Garry Disher Awards

Disher has won Ned Kelly and German Crime Fiction Awards.

Best Garry Disher Books

The author counts Tobias Wolfe, Alice Munro, and Raymond Carver among his favorite writers. Disher’s best books include:

Hell to Pay: Constable Hirsch left Adelaide to start afresh in Tiverton. The rustic town was hardly Hirsch’s idea of a lucrative posting. But his superiors did not give Hirsch a choice in the matter. In fact, the demotion was the least of his worries.

The internal investigations bureau was looking for ways to convict him. It wouldn’t surprise Hirsch if they planted evidence to achieve their goals. But for the moment, the constable had to make Tiverton his priority. Despite its small size, the town was seething with crime because of its isolation and stagnant economy.

Hirsch had to solve the murder of a 16-year-old girl before the situation escalated.

Peace: Constable Hirsch was in a tough spot. But he was learning to make the best of a difficult situation. Running a one-cop station was far from easy. But Hirsch felt like he was making decent progress.

The constable expected the Christmas holidays to pass without a hitch. The grass fire had done little to change the law enforcement officer’s optimistic outlook on things. But then the vicious incident in Kitchener Street occurred, and Sydney police brought a family on a forgotten back road to Hirsch’s attention.

When Does The Next Garry Disher book come out?

Garry Disher doesn't seem to have an upcoming book. Their newest book is Sanctuary and was released on April, 3rd 2024.

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