What do you think?
Rate this book
Jack Irish #1
Bad Debts
A phone message from ex-client Danny McKillop doesn’t ring any bells for Jack Irish. Life is hard enough without having to dredge up old problems: His beloved football team continues to lose, the odds on his latest plunge at the track seem far too long, and he’s still cooking for one. When Danny turns up dead, Jack is forced to take a walk back into the dark and dangerous past.
With suspenseful prose and black humor, Peter Temple builds an unforgettable character in Jack Irish and brings the reader on a journey that is as intelligent as it is exciting.
With suspenseful prose and black humor, Peter Temple builds an unforgettable character in Jack Irish and brings the reader on a journey that is as intelligent as it is exciting.
318 pages, Paperback
First published August 30, 1996
238 people are currently reading
1697 people want to read
About the author
Peter Temple
32books335followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Peter Temple is an Australian crime fiction writer.
Formerly a journalist and journalism lecturer, Temple turned to fiction writing in the 1990s. His Jack Irish novels (Bad Debts, Black Tide, Dead Point, and White Dog) are set in Melbourne, Australia, and feature an unusual lawyer-gambler protagonist. He has also written three stand-alone novels: An Iron Rose, Shooting Star, In the Evil Day (Identity Theory in the US), as well as The Broken Shore and its sequel, Truth. He has won five Ned Kelly Awards for crime fiction, the most recent in 2006 for The Broken Shore, which also won the Colin Roderick Award for best Australian book and the Australian Book Publishers' Award for best general fiction. The Broken Shore also won the Crime Writers' Association Duncan Lawrie Dagger in 2007. Temple is the first Australian to win a Gold Dagger.
Peter Temple is an Australian crime fiction writer.
Formerly a journalist and journalism lecturer, Temple turned to fiction writing in the 1990s. His Jack Irish novels (Bad Debts, Black Tide, Dead Point, and White Dog) are set in Melbourne, Australia, and feature an unusual lawyer-gambler protagonist. He has also written three stand-alone novels: An Iron Rose, Shooting Star, In the Evil Day (Identity Theory in the US), as well as The Broken Shore and its sequel, Truth. He has won five Ned Kelly Awards for crime fiction, the most recent in 2006 for The Broken Shore, which also won the Colin Roderick Award for best Australian book and the Australian Book Publishers' Award for best general fiction. The Broken Shore also won the Crime Writers' Association Duncan Lawrie Dagger in 2007. Temple is the first Australian to win a Gold Dagger.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 274 reviews
November 16, 2019
”I caught her scent as I took the coat and jacket. It was, in a word, throaty.
‘This is nice,� she said, looking around.
We stood awkwardly for a moment, something trembling in the air between us. I looked around at the books in piles on every surface, the CDs and tapes everywhere, the unhung pictures, seeing the place for the first time in years.
‘It’s sort of gentlemen’s club mates with undergraduate student digs,� she said.�
Guy Pearce is Jack Irish.
Jack Irish was once a high rising, reasonably successful lawyer when tragedy strikes. What this woman caller sees in Jack’s flat are the results of a quick spiral downward. Although I must say the description sort of sounds like a mini-paradise to me. I’ve had apartments that resembled that ensemble.
Jack is still a lawyer, but barely. He helps a man named Harry Strang with some shady horse dealings. He helps with loan shark collections. He helps people find people, but he is not a private investigator, though as the story goes, you’ll be wondering why he doesn’t just apply for his licensing and make it official.
As part of his self-therapy, once he pulled his head out of the bottle, he starts hanging out at the local woodworking shop. Charlie isn’t too keen on acquiring an apprentice, but Irish keeps coming around, and before too long, Charlie can’t help himself from showing Irish how things are done. I’ve done some woodworking in my past. I’ve built cedar chests, cabinets, bookshelves, and desks. Doing something with your hands is unbelievably cathartic. I put words on pages every day, and even though that is satisfying, sometimes I just need to go outside to muck in the garden or pull some old boards from the rafters and see if I can conceive of something to make with them. Seeing something tangible, built with your own hands, is so satisfying. The woodworking nuances threaded into the plot add some depth to the character of Irish that make my developing relationship with him that much stronger.
Irish has finally made it to a level of competence that Charlie is trusting him with a special order, though Jack is finding it difficult to make something this beautiful that won’t be revered in someone’s home.
”I studied the rough walnut boards with reverence. This was one of the classic furniture timbers. Very few makers ever had the chance to work with wood of this quality and size.
Did an emerging mining company deserve a table made from unobtainable timber air-dried for at least fifty years?
I loved Charlie’s response: ”’This arschloch I’m not making it for,� he said. ‘He’s just the first owner. I’m making it for all the owners.’�
The trouble begins with a message left by an ex-client Danny McKillop. The name doesn’t ring any bells for Jack. He attempts to get in touch, but they keep missing one another. When McKillop ends up dead, Jack’s curiosity is aroused. As he starts to resurrect McKillop’s recent and more distant past, some of Jack’s memories regarding Danny’s case starts to resurface. It wasn’t the best time in Jack’s life to have him as your attorney. He was self-abusing himself at an alarming rate over the death of his wife. When you read the book and find out exactly how she died, you’ll have even more understanding of his state of mind. ”I wasn’t walking around drunk, crying in pubs, getting into fights with strangers because I was blaming myself. I was in a state of incoherent rage. I had lost someone who had cast a glow into every corner of my life. I was entitled to my feelings. Loss. Hate. Hopelessness. Worthlessness.� The more Irish peers into the past the more he starts to realize that things were missed in the McKillop case. There were greater forces at work than he or even Danny were aware.
As Jack pokes and prods about, he soon discovers that the strings connecting to the case lead all the way to Parliament. Even if he wants to back off, he is already in too deep.
The series is set in Melbourne, Australia. I was reading about Jack going here and there, and so finally, I pulled up a map of Melbourne. I spent a bit of time familiarizing myself with the layout of the streets. By the end of the book, I wasn’t having to look at the map anymore but could visualize where Jack was in the city. There is some Australian slang scattered throughout the book. Some are familiar to me, and some are self-evident, but there are a few I had to google to be sure they are what I think they are. I know things like this annoy some readers, but for me, all it does is add authenticity to my reading experience.
Peter Temple
There is a Jack Irish series available, starring Guy Pearce, which has two seasons. In addition, there are three movies that precede the series, also starring Guy Pearce, that are based on the novels. There are only four Jack Irish novels, which is too few for sure, but unfortunately, Peter Temple passed away in 2018. I have not seen the movies yet because I decided to read the books first. I am watching the first season of the series, and it is terrific so far. Guy Pearce has always been one of my favorite actors, and the role fits him like a glove. So you have many choices about how you want to get to know Jack Irish, but whichever way you choose, I highly recommend making his acquaintance.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:
‘This is nice,� she said, looking around.
We stood awkwardly for a moment, something trembling in the air between us. I looked around at the books in piles on every surface, the CDs and tapes everywhere, the unhung pictures, seeing the place for the first time in years.
‘It’s sort of gentlemen’s club mates with undergraduate student digs,� she said.�
Guy Pearce is Jack Irish.
Jack Irish was once a high rising, reasonably successful lawyer when tragedy strikes. What this woman caller sees in Jack’s flat are the results of a quick spiral downward. Although I must say the description sort of sounds like a mini-paradise to me. I’ve had apartments that resembled that ensemble.
Jack is still a lawyer, but barely. He helps a man named Harry Strang with some shady horse dealings. He helps with loan shark collections. He helps people find people, but he is not a private investigator, though as the story goes, you’ll be wondering why he doesn’t just apply for his licensing and make it official.
As part of his self-therapy, once he pulled his head out of the bottle, he starts hanging out at the local woodworking shop. Charlie isn’t too keen on acquiring an apprentice, but Irish keeps coming around, and before too long, Charlie can’t help himself from showing Irish how things are done. I’ve done some woodworking in my past. I’ve built cedar chests, cabinets, bookshelves, and desks. Doing something with your hands is unbelievably cathartic. I put words on pages every day, and even though that is satisfying, sometimes I just need to go outside to muck in the garden or pull some old boards from the rafters and see if I can conceive of something to make with them. Seeing something tangible, built with your own hands, is so satisfying. The woodworking nuances threaded into the plot add some depth to the character of Irish that make my developing relationship with him that much stronger.
Irish has finally made it to a level of competence that Charlie is trusting him with a special order, though Jack is finding it difficult to make something this beautiful that won’t be revered in someone’s home.
”I studied the rough walnut boards with reverence. This was one of the classic furniture timbers. Very few makers ever had the chance to work with wood of this quality and size.
Did an emerging mining company deserve a table made from unobtainable timber air-dried for at least fifty years?
I loved Charlie’s response: ”’This arschloch I’m not making it for,� he said. ‘He’s just the first owner. I’m making it for all the owners.’�
The trouble begins with a message left by an ex-client Danny McKillop. The name doesn’t ring any bells for Jack. He attempts to get in touch, but they keep missing one another. When McKillop ends up dead, Jack’s curiosity is aroused. As he starts to resurrect McKillop’s recent and more distant past, some of Jack’s memories regarding Danny’s case starts to resurface. It wasn’t the best time in Jack’s life to have him as your attorney. He was self-abusing himself at an alarming rate over the death of his wife. When you read the book and find out exactly how she died, you’ll have even more understanding of his state of mind. ”I wasn’t walking around drunk, crying in pubs, getting into fights with strangers because I was blaming myself. I was in a state of incoherent rage. I had lost someone who had cast a glow into every corner of my life. I was entitled to my feelings. Loss. Hate. Hopelessness. Worthlessness.� The more Irish peers into the past the more he starts to realize that things were missed in the McKillop case. There were greater forces at work than he or even Danny were aware.
As Jack pokes and prods about, he soon discovers that the strings connecting to the case lead all the way to Parliament. Even if he wants to back off, he is already in too deep.
The series is set in Melbourne, Australia. I was reading about Jack going here and there, and so finally, I pulled up a map of Melbourne. I spent a bit of time familiarizing myself with the layout of the streets. By the end of the book, I wasn’t having to look at the map anymore but could visualize where Jack was in the city. There is some Australian slang scattered throughout the book. Some are familiar to me, and some are self-evident, but there are a few I had to google to be sure they are what I think they are. I know things like this annoy some readers, but for me, all it does is add authenticity to my reading experience.
Peter Temple
There is a Jack Irish series available, starring Guy Pearce, which has two seasons. In addition, there are three movies that precede the series, also starring Guy Pearce, that are based on the novels. There are only four Jack Irish novels, which is too few for sure, but unfortunately, Peter Temple passed away in 2018. I have not seen the movies yet because I decided to read the books first. I am watching the first season of the series, and it is terrific so far. Guy Pearce has always been one of my favorite actors, and the role fits him like a glove. So you have many choices about how you want to get to know Jack Irish, but whichever way you choose, I highly recommend making his acquaintance.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit
I also have a Facebook blogger page at:
April 29, 2024
Crime is not my thing really. Tried it in my youth once or twice but never felt that thrilled about. A few years back the rave was The Dry by Jane Harper, so I thought I might give that a chance on release. It was OK.
Bad Debts by Peter Temple I got after my wife was watching the Jack Irish TV series. What I caught looked pretty good TV wise. Temple had also won a Miles Franklin for Broken Shore, so there was interest there. This is better than The Dry, but then that may be because the banter between the characters to me is typical strine chat in certain circles. I do enjoy this kind of thing occasionally. Quick-witted and quirky, I have worked with a few blokes over the years that made me chuckle as the day went by; such was their use of the lingo. I suspect that Plot wise this is a mash-up of the author's knowledge of the Melbourne underworld and political corruption that as a journalist he would have heard about from his time in the media.
Drunk driver goes to jail for running over a political activist and then years later after release gets killed after he is shot dead by police under suspicious circumstances. Left a desperate message on Jack Irish phone, his once drunk lawyer at the time of his imprisonment and now comparatively sober, who feels a sense of guilt for not helping him in what was a stitch up, follows up what is going on. Let’s say Jack has a few adventures on the way to the inevitable conclusion, and that is maybe why crime is not for me.
Be that as it may this is an easy read, it moves along at a good pace and the inbetween stuff such as the footy banter and horse racing betting plunge break the story up in a good way.
Recommended to all the old Roy Boys out there.
Bad Debts by Peter Temple I got after my wife was watching the Jack Irish TV series. What I caught looked pretty good TV wise. Temple had also won a Miles Franklin for Broken Shore, so there was interest there. This is better than The Dry, but then that may be because the banter between the characters to me is typical strine chat in certain circles. I do enjoy this kind of thing occasionally. Quick-witted and quirky, I have worked with a few blokes over the years that made me chuckle as the day went by; such was their use of the lingo. I suspect that Plot wise this is a mash-up of the author's knowledge of the Melbourne underworld and political corruption that as a journalist he would have heard about from his time in the media.
Drunk driver goes to jail for running over a political activist and then years later after release gets killed after he is shot dead by police under suspicious circumstances. Left a desperate message on Jack Irish phone, his once drunk lawyer at the time of his imprisonment and now comparatively sober, who feels a sense of guilt for not helping him in what was a stitch up, follows up what is going on. Let’s say Jack has a few adventures on the way to the inevitable conclusion, and that is maybe why crime is not for me.
Be that as it may this is an easy read, it moves along at a good pace and the inbetween stuff such as the footy banter and horse racing betting plunge break the story up in a good way.
Recommended to all the old Roy Boys out there.
November 28, 2020
is quality, action-packed Aussie urban noir.
The central character Jack Irish, while nominally a legal practitioner, in fact seems to spend the majority of his time working as a debt collector, fixer and private detective. He also spends a bit of time planning (horse racing) betting plunges with his mates Harry Strang and Cam, and learning the skills of fine cabinetmaking from a neighbour who's become a friend. He's a flawed and complex character with a tangled personal and professional history.
As the book opens, Jack receives several messages (on his answering machine) from a former client, who was convicted and jailed after a fatal hit and run some years previously. But before he can get in touch, the man's been shot and killed by police in an apparent standoff in a pub carpark. Despite warnings to leave well alone, Irish's curiosity and sense that he let the client down spur him to dig further into the reason the man sought him out.
In the process, he's introduced to investigative journalist Linda Hillier, with whom he soon commences a romantic relationship. Together they uncover a complex tale around political corruption, property development scams, a paedophile ring and dirty cops. It's a gripping plot, with a large cast of characters, but a fast and stimulating read. The book also prompted feelings of nostalgia in me for the Melbourne of my early-adulthood (the early-mid 90s), before the widespread use of mobile phones and CCTV, when the inner northern suburbs were a bit rough and the Fitzroy Football Club still existed in the VFL (now AFL) competition. Although pre-dates it, readers and viewers who enjoyed the first Underbelly: The Gangland War">Underbelly series - covering the Melbourne Gangland War (1995 - 2005) - will appreciate the realism of 's setting, plot and characters.
A great read with a distinctly Melburnian flavour.
The central character Jack Irish, while nominally a legal practitioner, in fact seems to spend the majority of his time working as a debt collector, fixer and private detective. He also spends a bit of time planning (horse racing) betting plunges with his mates Harry Strang and Cam, and learning the skills of fine cabinetmaking from a neighbour who's become a friend. He's a flawed and complex character with a tangled personal and professional history.
As the book opens, Jack receives several messages (on his answering machine) from a former client, who was convicted and jailed after a fatal hit and run some years previously. But before he can get in touch, the man's been shot and killed by police in an apparent standoff in a pub carpark. Despite warnings to leave well alone, Irish's curiosity and sense that he let the client down spur him to dig further into the reason the man sought him out.
In the process, he's introduced to investigative journalist Linda Hillier, with whom he soon commences a romantic relationship. Together they uncover a complex tale around political corruption, property development scams, a paedophile ring and dirty cops. It's a gripping plot, with a large cast of characters, but a fast and stimulating read. The book also prompted feelings of nostalgia in me for the Melbourne of my early-adulthood (the early-mid 90s), before the widespread use of mobile phones and CCTV, when the inner northern suburbs were a bit rough and the Fitzroy Football Club still existed in the VFL (now AFL) competition. Although pre-dates it, readers and viewers who enjoyed the first Underbelly: The Gangland War">Underbelly series - covering the Melbourne Gangland War (1995 - 2005) - will appreciate the realism of 's setting, plot and characters.
A great read with a distinctly Melburnian flavour.
October 9, 2013
There's nothing not to like here: good writing, complicated plot, fun setting in Australia. However, if you've read enough of this type of book, you can go through the checklist: Black best friend? Check. Tragic experience in past? Check. Recovering alcoholic? Check. Police contacts? Reporter girlfriend? Colorful friends? Check, check, check. There's nothing new here, but it's fun.
January 3, 2013
The plotting is always convoluted in a Peter Temple read. You do at times scratch your head -- but then...there's so much verve in these pages peopled with some beautifully drawn characters and a tangible sense of place and time that the ride is something you are not keen on concluding.
Jack Irish -- as gumshoes go -- is very credible indeed. He comes to us in this, in the first of the series, fully formed. Dodgy. Opportunistic. Living on the edge at bit. But genuinely one of us.
Neither a cowboy nor spiv. A tad cowardly. He's not even one iota psychopathic.
As a lawyer who has decided to live closer to the street and on his wits, Jack Irish is a stand out crime fiction remake. Aiding him is a lot of discursive humour and a great command of Australian cultural mores and peculiarities.
Even more so: Jack Irish is oh so very much a Melbourne boy that I pity those whose roots are elsewhere because they'd miss the papable reflection that draws so much on the city and its people to enliven it.
For some of us, reading Bad Debts is almost as good as a visit back home.
Jack Irish -- as gumshoes go -- is very credible indeed. He comes to us in this, in the first of the series, fully formed. Dodgy. Opportunistic. Living on the edge at bit. But genuinely one of us.
Neither a cowboy nor spiv. A tad cowardly. He's not even one iota psychopathic.
As a lawyer who has decided to live closer to the street and on his wits, Jack Irish is a stand out crime fiction remake. Aiding him is a lot of discursive humour and a great command of Australian cultural mores and peculiarities.
Even more so: Jack Irish is oh so very much a Melbourne boy that I pity those whose roots are elsewhere because they'd miss the papable reflection that draws so much on the city and its people to enliven it.
For some of us, reading Bad Debts is almost as good as a visit back home.
May 21, 2022
My wife introduced me to a great Aussie TV series, Jack Irish, starring Guy Pearce. The series is based on books by author, . There are four books in the series. introduces us to failed lawyer Jack Irish, now spending his time hunting for missing people and other odd legal jobs. Irish gave up the law profession for the most part when his wife was murdered by a lunatic client.
This is a fascinating, rich story with many varied plot lines. Irish receives a voice mail from a client he defended who went to prison. Out of prison, Danny McKillop, leaves a message that he wishes to talk with Irish. Irish gets his message too late and discovers that Danny was shot by police. This murder is the start of an entertaining investigation by Jack Irish, that will involve corruption and other things i won't get into that will threaten Jack's life and also other people associated with him.
On a lighter note, Jack helps two friends, Harry (an ex jockey) and Cam, manipulate gambling on horse racing to try and earn big bucks. (It's more complicated than my short synopsis of course, but fascinating stuff). Cam and Harry are great characters and good friends and partners to Harry.
The story is peopled with so many excellent characters. Jack works for an old German furniture restorer (it helped him get over his wife's murder); the three old gents at the local pub who argue over old Aussie Football matches; the lovely reporter, Linda, who starts a relationship with Jack and helps him with his investigation into the death of McKillop and so many others..
It's a rich story that meanders along at times and as the story builds up, gets tenser and tenser. It's so well written that you feel yourself in the story, felling the same dread that Jack and Linda begin to feel as their lives become more and more at risk. I enjoyed the description of Temple, the characters, the whole story. Once you start it, you will just want to keep reading to learn more about the characters, enjoy the setting and follow the mystery. I thought I had it sort of figured out, but there were nice little twists and turns that surprised and satisfied me. I can't wait to read the next book. I have it on order. 😎 (5 stars)
This is a fascinating, rich story with many varied plot lines. Irish receives a voice mail from a client he defended who went to prison. Out of prison, Danny McKillop, leaves a message that he wishes to talk with Irish. Irish gets his message too late and discovers that Danny was shot by police. This murder is the start of an entertaining investigation by Jack Irish, that will involve corruption and other things i won't get into that will threaten Jack's life and also other people associated with him.
On a lighter note, Jack helps two friends, Harry (an ex jockey) and Cam, manipulate gambling on horse racing to try and earn big bucks. (It's more complicated than my short synopsis of course, but fascinating stuff). Cam and Harry are great characters and good friends and partners to Harry.
The story is peopled with so many excellent characters. Jack works for an old German furniture restorer (it helped him get over his wife's murder); the three old gents at the local pub who argue over old Aussie Football matches; the lovely reporter, Linda, who starts a relationship with Jack and helps him with his investigation into the death of McKillop and so many others..
It's a rich story that meanders along at times and as the story builds up, gets tenser and tenser. It's so well written that you feel yourself in the story, felling the same dread that Jack and Linda begin to feel as their lives become more and more at risk. I enjoyed the description of Temple, the characters, the whole story. Once you start it, you will just want to keep reading to learn more about the characters, enjoy the setting and follow the mystery. I thought I had it sort of figured out, but there were nice little twists and turns that surprised and satisfied me. I can't wait to read the next book. I have it on order. 😎 (5 stars)
October 26, 2019
The first of the Jack Irish series of Aussie noir investigations � fiercely written, crammed with brutal and brilliant creations, with gems of dazzling dialogue enlivening every encounter. It’s a bit less ‘literary� and a lot less gruelling than some of Temple’s standalone stories, which tends to leave you feeling emotionally hollowed out. But it retains all of the author’s acerbic skill at single-line character assassination, and his outstanding use of colloquial English to masterfully portray a sense of place and purpose.
Witty and gripping: a cracking additional to the international crime scene.
Ideal if you enjoyed Black Fly Season by Giles Blunt or Steve Hamilton’s Canadian thrillers.
8/10
There are many more reviews of crime / thrillers over at
Witty and gripping: a cracking additional to the international crime scene.
Ideal if you enjoyed Black Fly Season by Giles Blunt or Steve Hamilton’s Canadian thrillers.
8/10
There are many more reviews of crime / thrillers over at
July 29, 2020
Peter Temple is an Australian mystery writer who creates a believable world as former world weary criminal defense lawyer. My problem with his writing is the convolutions of so many different side streets including gambling and other activities that I don't really care about. He has won a lot of awards and apparently there is a Jack Irish TV show as well as one called Broken Shore based on his novels. He is successful so you may like his books, it's just not my cup of tea.
August 20, 2019
A few months ago Pam and I watched, over a period of two or three weeks, the and the second of the two series that followed those movies (our library didn't have the first series). The stars of the show are Guy Pearce, Aaron Pedersen and, at least in the movies, Marta Dusseldorp. These Australian outings are much recommended, with some great character actors supporting the principals.
So, of course, I decided to get hold of the first novel in the late Peter Temple's series that formed the basis for the TV pieces. For obvious reasons I delayed the reading for a few months to make sure the first of the TV movies was no longer fresh in my mind (as we old geezers like to euphemize).
The long and the short is that I enjoyed Bad Debts rather a lot less than I thought I was going to.
The setup's great. After the murder of his wife, lawyer Jack Irish hit the bottle. Now he still does some low-level lawyering, but most of his time is spent working as a debt-collector, conducting dubious business around the racetrack and, as a therapeutic hobby, serving as much-derided apprentice to a master-cabinetmaker. Checking his voicemail after a brief absence he finds a message from a client, Danny, whom he represented a decade ago -- so long ago he has only the vaguest recollection of the case. Soon Jack learns that, by the time he played that message, Danny was dead, shot down in a parking lot by the cops he was supposedly threatening with a gun.
Reluctantly, feeling his representation of Danny back in the day was somehow inadequate, Jack essays to reinvestigate the old case -- the hit and run killing of an environmental activist -- and discovers there was indeed more to it than met the eye. Slowly he uncovers a major conspiracy involving corrupt cops and rising to the upper levels of state politics . . .
I was initially very much engaged, too, by Temple's prose. Jack Irish is an entertainingly laconic, cynical observer of the human condition and indeed of his own foibles -- a narrator much in the Philip Marlowe vein, indeed, but with a strong Australian accent. The language is extraordinarily salty, to the extent that it might upset some; and there's a fair deal of Ozzie slang mixed in among the rest. (Some of the words I didn't recognize, though I had no difficulty teasing out their meaning from context.)
A few chapters in I was singing the book's praises, and then, I dunno, I began to get a bit bogged down in it. The sessions spent cabinetmaking and at the racetrack began to seem overextended and rather dull. (Maybe not so dull if you're into woodwork or horse-racing, but alas . . .) Matters weren't helped by the fact that the plot really is quite exceptionally convoluted, and in places I was having to think hard to work out who was who. And the droll observations that had earlier made me grin now seemed a shade long-winded, obstructions to the telling of the tale rather than the oil that made it flow so easily.
There were also a couple of sequences where I had difficulty working out what was going on. One of them I remembered from the movie -- it's pretty climactic scene -- and I actually read the relevant paragraphs three times to make sure I hadn't missed something. (To be enigmatic, a gun seems from the written description to appear from nowhere.)
So, although it grieves me to say this, when I reached the final page of Bad Debts it was with something of a sigh of relief. It's not that the book's bad (far from it: it has many riches), just that it seemed to be way harder to get through than it should have been. Other readers may find exactly the opposite.
So, of course, I decided to get hold of the first novel in the late Peter Temple's series that formed the basis for the TV pieces. For obvious reasons I delayed the reading for a few months to make sure the first of the TV movies was no longer fresh in my mind (as we old geezers like to euphemize).
The long and the short is that I enjoyed Bad Debts rather a lot less than I thought I was going to.
The setup's great. After the murder of his wife, lawyer Jack Irish hit the bottle. Now he still does some low-level lawyering, but most of his time is spent working as a debt-collector, conducting dubious business around the racetrack and, as a therapeutic hobby, serving as much-derided apprentice to a master-cabinetmaker. Checking his voicemail after a brief absence he finds a message from a client, Danny, whom he represented a decade ago -- so long ago he has only the vaguest recollection of the case. Soon Jack learns that, by the time he played that message, Danny was dead, shot down in a parking lot by the cops he was supposedly threatening with a gun.
Reluctantly, feeling his representation of Danny back in the day was somehow inadequate, Jack essays to reinvestigate the old case -- the hit and run killing of an environmental activist -- and discovers there was indeed more to it than met the eye. Slowly he uncovers a major conspiracy involving corrupt cops and rising to the upper levels of state politics . . .
I was initially very much engaged, too, by Temple's prose. Jack Irish is an entertainingly laconic, cynical observer of the human condition and indeed of his own foibles -- a narrator much in the Philip Marlowe vein, indeed, but with a strong Australian accent. The language is extraordinarily salty, to the extent that it might upset some; and there's a fair deal of Ozzie slang mixed in among the rest. (Some of the words I didn't recognize, though I had no difficulty teasing out their meaning from context.)
A few chapters in I was singing the book's praises, and then, I dunno, I began to get a bit bogged down in it. The sessions spent cabinetmaking and at the racetrack began to seem overextended and rather dull. (Maybe not so dull if you're into woodwork or horse-racing, but alas . . .) Matters weren't helped by the fact that the plot really is quite exceptionally convoluted, and in places I was having to think hard to work out who was who. And the droll observations that had earlier made me grin now seemed a shade long-winded, obstructions to the telling of the tale rather than the oil that made it flow so easily.
There were also a couple of sequences where I had difficulty working out what was going on. One of them I remembered from the movie -- it's pretty climactic scene -- and I actually read the relevant paragraphs three times to make sure I hadn't missed something. (To be enigmatic, a gun seems from the written description to appear from nowhere.)
So, although it grieves me to say this, when I reached the final page of Bad Debts it was with something of a sigh of relief. It's not that the book's bad (far from it: it has many riches), just that it seemed to be way harder to get through than it should have been. Other readers may find exactly the opposite.
December 27, 2012
Set mainly in Melbourne, once a criminal lawyer, John (Jack) Irish is now making his way out of a dark period of life that he drifted into after the death of his second wife who died at the hands of an unhappy client. Trying to deal with his pain, Jack drowned his sorrows in alcohol and became a collector of "serious debts," as well as a gambler betting on the ponies. He does some odd work for a couple of men in the horse racing business. But there's another side to Jack -- as a sort of therapy, he also helps a friend make furniture, finding a bit of peace and pride in his work, and he has a huge heart. He's a dad to daughter Claire. He tries to stay on the side of law and order, but there are moments when he sometimes has to cross over that border.
As the novel opens, Jack checks his answering machine to find a number of messages from a client, Danny McKillop, who Jack once defended in a hit and run accident. He pleads with Jack to meet him, but Jack doesn't remember him at the time and the last message was left a couple of days earlier. Now curious, Jack digs into the case files, where he discovers that McKillop had been accused of the death of Anne Jeppeson, a young activist some ten years earlier. McKillop had pleaded guilty after a witness positively ID'd him as the driver of the car. McKillop had pleaded guilty and received ten years for his crime. Now out, it seems that he really wants to talk to Jack. As Jack pokes around, he starts thinking that perhaps McKillop wasn't the one behind the wheel; little does he know that he is opening a veritable Pandora's box of an investigation, helped along by a gorgeous journalist named Linda Hillier. It isn't long until he discovers that someone is willing to kill to keep Jack from getting to the truth. In a story that is part hardboiled noir with added bits of action-packed conspiracy thriller, Jack has to navigate between bullets, explosions and a host of shady people to get to the truth. The problem is that Jack has no idea who to trust.
My first experience with Peter Temple is with his The Broken Shore, which I loved and which has much more of a literary feel to it than does Bad Debts. Having said that, Bad Debts really kept me on my toes and kept my brain engaged trying to figure out the 10 year-old mystery of Danny McKillop. And while I'm normally not a huge fan of the fast-paced variety of thriller/conspiracy novel, this one I liked, not only because of the writing in which Temple has crafted a very tightly-woven and controlled story despite the number of crazy twists and turns, but also because of the characters, especially, but not limited to, Jack himself. Rarely do I like a first series novel this much, but I was sucked in from the beginning and just couldn't let it go.
As the novel opens, Jack checks his answering machine to find a number of messages from a client, Danny McKillop, who Jack once defended in a hit and run accident. He pleads with Jack to meet him, but Jack doesn't remember him at the time and the last message was left a couple of days earlier. Now curious, Jack digs into the case files, where he discovers that McKillop had been accused of the death of Anne Jeppeson, a young activist some ten years earlier. McKillop had pleaded guilty after a witness positively ID'd him as the driver of the car. McKillop had pleaded guilty and received ten years for his crime. Now out, it seems that he really wants to talk to Jack. As Jack pokes around, he starts thinking that perhaps McKillop wasn't the one behind the wheel; little does he know that he is opening a veritable Pandora's box of an investigation, helped along by a gorgeous journalist named Linda Hillier. It isn't long until he discovers that someone is willing to kill to keep Jack from getting to the truth. In a story that is part hardboiled noir with added bits of action-packed conspiracy thriller, Jack has to navigate between bullets, explosions and a host of shady people to get to the truth. The problem is that Jack has no idea who to trust.
My first experience with Peter Temple is with his The Broken Shore, which I loved and which has much more of a literary feel to it than does Bad Debts. Having said that, Bad Debts really kept me on my toes and kept my brain engaged trying to figure out the 10 year-old mystery of Danny McKillop. And while I'm normally not a huge fan of the fast-paced variety of thriller/conspiracy novel, this one I liked, not only because of the writing in which Temple has crafted a very tightly-woven and controlled story despite the number of crazy twists and turns, but also because of the characters, especially, but not limited to, Jack himself. Rarely do I like a first series novel this much, but I was sucked in from the beginning and just couldn't let it go.
January 4, 2024
This 1996 detective story set in Melbourne has held up well. Jack Irish, a sometime solicitor, is returning to living after the life wreck caused by the murder of his wife by his ex-client. He is jolted into activity by a voicemail from another ex-client and the guilt it engenders.
Jack is no lily white as he lives on the edges of the racing world, with some crooked cops for friends and doing some dodgy jobs. but he wasn't expecting to get involved in murder, property scams, and some very messy politics. Or a woman. All these aspects are very well handled in a good plot with convincing characters.
I loved the contrasts between big end of town politics/crime/corruption and the smaller, more country, racing storyline. The weaving between crime and its human consequences is beautifully done as well.
I am rereading this 8 years after the first time of reading and I have upgraded it. It was a really engrossing story that still kept me engaged to the end. I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series.
Highly recommended.
Jack is no lily white as he lives on the edges of the racing world, with some crooked cops for friends and doing some dodgy jobs. but he wasn't expecting to get involved in murder, property scams, and some very messy politics. Or a woman. All these aspects are very well handled in a good plot with convincing characters.
I loved the contrasts between big end of town politics/crime/corruption and the smaller, more country, racing storyline. The weaving between crime and its human consequences is beautifully done as well.
I am rereading this 8 years after the first time of reading and I have upgraded it. It was a really engrossing story that still kept me engaged to the end. I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series.
Highly recommended.
August 12, 2019
Ehh. Same story has been told a thousand times. Too many names of too many bad guys. Brush up on your Australian slang beforehand - you’ll need it.
November 4, 2019
*novel read for a college course*
SUMMARY
Jack Irish is an ex-lawyer, and when he receives a voicemail from a recently released client, Danny McKillop, he is confused. After dismissing the phone call, Danny turns up dead, murdered in a police standoff. Jack is riddled with guilt and decides to delve into the past. But Jack soon learns that there are a lot of people who would kill to keep the past hidden, and that Danny's death may be part of a larger cover-up.
REVIEW
As someone who grew up in Melbourne, I adored reading this for the Australian slang and the Melbourne culture. It made the books more enjoyable and I found myself smiling at the football remarks. The only part that didn't mesh well for me was the horse racing and betting. Even though I grew up around the culture, the jargon that was used went over my head. This was the main reason why I gave this novel a 3 instead of a 4 star.
While I did feel like I could have put together the mystery myself and solved it quickly, I did not see that way that it would unfold. I was quite shocked by the way the events came together and how the violence escalated toward the end. I also loved how the plots were intertwined and the revelations we learnt from both Jack and Linda.
Linda was awesome. I loved her character and her dominant presence. She would not stand down and let other people walk over her. I also thought that the relationship between her and Jack has a lot of potential and would be interested to see how it goes in future novels.
SUMMARY
Jack Irish is an ex-lawyer, and when he receives a voicemail from a recently released client, Danny McKillop, he is confused. After dismissing the phone call, Danny turns up dead, murdered in a police standoff. Jack is riddled with guilt and decides to delve into the past. But Jack soon learns that there are a lot of people who would kill to keep the past hidden, and that Danny's death may be part of a larger cover-up.
REVIEW
As someone who grew up in Melbourne, I adored reading this for the Australian slang and the Melbourne culture. It made the books more enjoyable and I found myself smiling at the football remarks. The only part that didn't mesh well for me was the horse racing and betting. Even though I grew up around the culture, the jargon that was used went over my head. This was the main reason why I gave this novel a 3 instead of a 4 star.
While I did feel like I could have put together the mystery myself and solved it quickly, I did not see that way that it would unfold. I was quite shocked by the way the events came together and how the violence escalated toward the end. I also loved how the plots were intertwined and the revelations we learnt from both Jack and Linda.
Linda was awesome. I loved her character and her dominant presence. She would not stand down and let other people walk over her. I also thought that the relationship between her and Jack has a lot of potential and would be interested to see how it goes in future novels.
January 16, 2024
It’s a great book but it gets tangled up in its own intrigue.
P200 it was 4 stars ⭐️ but in the end after getting tangled up in its own bewilderment �
Well I also lost the plot & lost a star ⭐️
Maybe 🤔 you’ll not be confused & give it 4 stars
P200 it was 4 stars ⭐️ but in the end after getting tangled up in its own bewilderment �
Well I also lost the plot & lost a star ⭐️
Maybe 🤔 you’ll not be confused & give it 4 stars
January 12, 2025
I picked this up after enjoying the television adaptations of Bad Debts and Black Tide starring Guy Pearce. The series differs in a number of ways, including the fact that Pearce does not resemble the Jack Irish that author Peter Temple describes. But that's really a moot point here.
Bad Debts reads like a class hardboiled crime novel, though taken out of its typical setting and relocated in Melbourne, Australia, during the 1990s. The hero-detective, Jack Irish, is suitably cynical and world-weary enough, and the world he inhabits is grim and suspenseful. The mystery is complex, constantly bringing up questions that lead to more questions before bringing things to an explosive head. But the mystery is not just the sole focus of the story � woven into the story are subplots dealing with Jack Irish's everyday life, to references to his daughter and late wife, to his cabinetmaking hobby and more. This makes for an altogether richer story and character.
I'm sorry if that sounds like a lot of wankery. I was forced to study crime fiction at both high school and university, so I tend to get excited every time I can actually use that knowledge. :P
Maybe it was because I had already seen the miniseries adaptation, but I didn't find Bad Debts that engaging to begin with � which is why it's a four stars, not five. Still, when the action did start to heat up, I was glued to the pages. In my opinion, it is a fine detective story in the tradition of the likes of Raymond Chandler.
Bad Debts reads like a class hardboiled crime novel, though taken out of its typical setting and relocated in Melbourne, Australia, during the 1990s. The hero-detective, Jack Irish, is suitably cynical and world-weary enough, and the world he inhabits is grim and suspenseful. The mystery is complex, constantly bringing up questions that lead to more questions before bringing things to an explosive head. But the mystery is not just the sole focus of the story � woven into the story are subplots dealing with Jack Irish's everyday life, to references to his daughter and late wife, to his cabinetmaking hobby and more. This makes for an altogether richer story and character.
I'm sorry if that sounds like a lot of wankery. I was forced to study crime fiction at both high school and university, so I tend to get excited every time I can actually use that knowledge. :P
Maybe it was because I had already seen the miniseries adaptation, but I didn't find Bad Debts that engaging to begin with � which is why it's a four stars, not five. Still, when the action did start to heat up, I was glued to the pages. In my opinion, it is a fine detective story in the tradition of the likes of Raymond Chandler.
April 30, 2020
Occasional lawyer and part-time sleuth, Jack Irish is used to trouble. Taking work as a debt-collector he idles away his spare time at the racetrack or helping out in a cabinetmaker’s shop. But when a former client leaves a message on Jack’s answering machine, he ignores it until the next day, by which time the caller has been shot and killed. A sense of obligation pushes Jack to investigate, but while the case seems to go nowhere, things suddenly start to happen. Dangerous things.
This is the first volume in the Jack Irish Thriller series and the first I’ve read by Peter Temple. The author’s clever use of language, with its mix of Aussie colloquialisms and witty observations reminded me of James Ellroy, though the style is quite different. The story slides around for a while appearing to go nowhere in particular, but then the plot begins to fall into place, bringing the strands together and creating a clever and unexpected story that left me hungry for more. What I really liked was the way that, even though this is the first book, Temple presents his hero fully formed and raring to go.
A thoroughly enjoyable read.
This is the first volume in the Jack Irish Thriller series and the first I’ve read by Peter Temple. The author’s clever use of language, with its mix of Aussie colloquialisms and witty observations reminded me of James Ellroy, though the style is quite different. The story slides around for a while appearing to go nowhere in particular, but then the plot begins to fall into place, bringing the strands together and creating a clever and unexpected story that left me hungry for more. What I really liked was the way that, even though this is the first book, Temple presents his hero fully formed and raring to go.
A thoroughly enjoyable read.
March 26, 2011
Geeze, Temple is good. I mean, this is no Broken Shore, and has all his usual 'way too many coincidences' problems. And what's with his obsession with street-kid-porn? But damn he writes a likeable protagonist. Is there anyone who wouldn't like Jack Irish? I just love the way Temple writes dialogue and describes things. I'd love to see him write some not-crime, cause really, I don't care much for crime. Anyway, read this in two days. Just couldn't stop.
March 12, 2018
The story unfolded beautifully, expertly paced and just the right amount of twists and turns, action sequences and a very satisfying denouement. Not sure about Jack Irish’s character arc - subtle, perhaps non existent??? Brilliant book nonetheless. Sad to finish it on the very day of the author’s death.
December 9, 2015
Meet Jack Irish. After seeing the tv movies with Guy Pierce, I got ver interested in these books. Sure enough, the books are even better than the movies. Excellent read and a great story with humour to boot. Highly recommended.
September 11, 2019
Do you want a sexist, heteronormative book with a bland thriller plot and unneeded romance in the background? Then this is for you.
The only thing that made this experience enjoyable was the occasional really weird metaphor and simile.
The only thing that made this experience enjoyable was the occasional really weird metaphor and simile.
November 3, 2015
Quintessentially Australian, wonderful laconic writing. Loved all the Melbourne references.
July 17, 2018
Despite long sections involving detailed accounts of carpentry and horse racing, it was pretty good.
October 21, 2019
A marvelous detective story told with humor, meaning, and literary zest.
March 22, 2023
BANGER. Peter Temple has a way with words when tackling masculine Australian society that I absolutely adore. It was ever-present in 'The Broken Shore' and 'Truth', so no surprises that it was bang on here.
Never seen my family name written in fiction before, so "that cunt Scullin" was a genuinely epic surprise.
The mystery is entertaining and ticks all the boxes, but not necessarily anything to write home about. The beauty of this book is in the more literary elements. Jack is just a really interesting guy to follow, living a pretty odd life. It's hard to put a finger on what exactly he does for work. Anything, really. So long as it distracts from his baggage.
I'll admit that the horseracing sections lost me a little. I didn't understand a lot of what they were talking about, and struggled to connect it to the rest of the film. But Cam was a dope character so I didn't mind hanging out with them.
Cannot wait to read the rest of this series and all of Temple's work. Quickly becoming one of my favourite writers.
Never seen my family name written in fiction before, so "that cunt Scullin" was a genuinely epic surprise.
The mystery is entertaining and ticks all the boxes, but not necessarily anything to write home about. The beauty of this book is in the more literary elements. Jack is just a really interesting guy to follow, living a pretty odd life. It's hard to put a finger on what exactly he does for work. Anything, really. So long as it distracts from his baggage.
I'll admit that the horseracing sections lost me a little. I didn't understand a lot of what they were talking about, and struggled to connect it to the rest of the film. But Cam was a dope character so I didn't mind hanging out with them.
Cannot wait to read the rest of this series and all of Temple's work. Quickly becoming one of my favourite writers.
July 25, 2022
A thrilling urban noir from award winning Australian novelist, Peter Temple, “Bad Debts� serves as the first instalment in the Jack Irish series of books and combines a Raymond Chandler-esque mystery and style with a brooding and deeply engaging protagonist. There isn’t anything wholly original about this novel, or indeed very many of the characters, but the pace of the writing and the clear love for classic noir from Temple keep you entranced. By the final third of the book when the multiple threads start to come together, Temple propels is forward with thrilling, action-packed sequences that certainly compliment the slower, suspense-building earlier chapters. An excellent love letter to pulp noir and Chandler, this is a fantastic start to the Jack Irish series.
March 23, 2022
-4.3- While not a five star book in my opinion, this is a fantastic first entry in the Jack Irish series. Having watched the Australian t.v. series on acorn and really enjoyed it I sought out the Peter Temple books and was glad to discover some subtle differences between the book series and the t.v. series. For one thing the lead romantic interest in the t.v. series is a very annoying gangly giraffe looking female and she comes across in the books as a more attractive and self assured character. This book deals with gross political and police corruption and Jack Irish finds himself squarely in the middle of it. After getting a not so subtle warning to back off our intrepid barrister/p.i. does just the opposite and diligently works towards exposing the dirty bastards. Also, there is a very satisfying sub-plot involving horse racing that runs throughout the series. If you like your hard boiled fiction with a bit of Aussie flare then this is a series I highly recommend.
July 4, 2021
I was not familiar with this author, a top Australian crime novelist, or the Jack Irish series. It turns out that this and several of the books were made into TV movies and then continued on as the TV series Jack Irish. Reminiscent of Elmore Leonard, this one is a gritty story of murder and corruption (and horse racing subplot) set in Melbourne, and like all the best of the genre, Melbourne itself is a character. Great characters, wonderful dialogue and dark humor. Will definitely be on the lookout for the other Jack Irish books. The movies and TV series are also highly recommended.
April 8, 2025
Pros: not my usual style but enjoyed the change of pace. Cons: certainly didn’t pass the Bechdel test and felt a little boys locker roomy.
April 13, 2022
3/5 - does what it says on the tin. Enjoyable, easy read
June 22, 2019
Although this is the first Jack Irish thriller it is the second I have read so I knew what to expect, snazzy dialogue, a great plot and a character who not only solves crimes but also has a couple of other interests on the side. I will enjoy the others but this wasn't memorable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 274 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.