Truth, by Peter Temple, is as much a character study as it is a crime story. At the center of a whirlwind of crime, family dysfunction, and political corruption is Inspector Stephen Villani. Villani is a well-schooled detective, capable of hunting down the bad guys. His wit and wisdom lend credibility to this side of his character. Then there are the added dimensions of his estranged wife, daughter on the streets, and varied affiars. Through it all, Villani makes tough decisions, weaving between the difficult and the impossible with varied results.
This being the second Peter Temple book I’ve read, I was ready for the clipped sentences, odd references to things not properly explained, and insider jargon. Temple does a fine job of authenticating his police dialog, but at times this can be challenging if one is not tuned in to subtleties. While I appreciate the desire to render things accurately, a bit more clarity would have gone a long way. And this book will take you a long way. From a guy who steps into multiple murder scenes, who juggles his emotionally inaccessible father, who wrestles with how to handle a drug addicted daughter, and who somehow manages to do his job. There’s a morality play in here, one that demonstrates how the world rarely forgets and less often forgives, but continues on, carried by people like Villani who never give up.
The Bent Page 
Hard Knocks Down Under
The Broken Shore is the first Peter Temple book I’ve read. It features Joe Cashin, a detective haunted by a splintered family, nagging injuries, and his own questions about justice under the law. The story begins with the attack and subsequent death/murder of a wealthy local man. As Cashin is on and off the case, societal tensions are exposed as well as old wounds in his own personal history. The story careens around odd corners and meanders through Cashin’s past and present, revealing the details about a place where the friction is no longer under the surface. I would have preferred a bit more plot and a bit less interdiction for family heartstrings.
Much has been made about Temple’s writing style. It does have a staccato beat, which at times can be distracting. Chapter endings are a bit like stepping off a cliff. His sparse dialog may leave you guessing sometimes, too. However, he does paint the picture of a portion of Australia many American readers may not know. I’m going read another of his books because this installment has piqued my curiosity.
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on June 23, 2011 at 3:03 pm Leave a CommentTags: book review, Books, fiction, Writing