Customer Reviews

Kickback (Wyatt Novel)

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I recently discovered that the Minneapolis Public Library has a bookstore. This is very cool - I hauled a good summer's worth of reading out of there for less than $15.

One of my finds was a book called <I>Kickback</I> (1991) by an Australian named Garry Disher. This is the first of the Wyatt Series (Wyatt is the main character). My first and lasting impression was that if Elmore Leonard was an Aussie, this is what he'd write. The Wyatt thrillers have been called a landmark in Australian crime writing, according to Harper Collins Publishers.

The mid-north of South Australia is the setting. Except for some of the terminology, however, the city could be any US metropolitan area. Wyatt is a professional robber and in the Leonard tradition is the coolest character in the book. He has a young Clint Eastwood thing going: He's quiet, watchful, careful, and sharp. Wyatt has no close friends and he keeps an eye on his associates. You can't help but respect him and the way he operates.

The story is crisp, well-plotted, and has a few unexpected twists. A heist is complicated by a surly cowboy named Sugarfoot Younger who is out for his piece of the action and personal revenge. The book is a quick and fun read that flows smoothly and effortlessly. As a writer, I'm jealous.

Kickback (1991) Paydirt (1992) Deathdeal (1993) Crosskill (1994) Port Vila Blues (1996) The Fallout (1997)

I ditto the previous reviewer with one exception....

I think Wyatt is more like Parker of the Richard Stark series. Though Elmore Leonards early stuff isn't bad comparison.

This is as nasty, violent, hardboiled, remorseless and as cleverly well written as anything Stark has done with Parker.

There are NO good guys. Just some not as bad as others.

If you like 'em Super down and dirty. these are for you.

One of the 2 BEST crime seies EVER written (Stark/Parker the other).

I don't know why Gary Disher isn't well-known over here... his WYATT books are simply wonderful. This is required reading for Willeford, Westlake, and Thomas Perry fans. FALL OUT is the last book in the series... so start at the beginning with KICKBACK and you won't be sorry. I read all six books in the series in one stretch and was sad when it was over.

Garry Disher writing style is unbelievable, but the story was a little too violent for me. I loved the line "the dog ... yawned squeakily". I'll definitely be adding his book on writing to my collection.