Whispering Death (Inspector Hal Challis)
Disher’s Hal Challis novels depict realistic crime fighting; his Wyatt novels show realistic thievery. In this, a Challis, he combines the two approaches by introducing an accomplished thief named Grace, whose exploits weave through and eventually intersect with Challis’ duties. (The police inspector’s lover and colleague Ellen Destry is mostly offstage, studying sex crimes in Europe.) Disher’s writing is a marvel of naturalism, exploring the reality of police and criminal work with meticulous attention to both character and detail—aspiring thieves would do well to study his scenarios—without ever losing our interest. A rapist wearing a police uniform stalks Challis’ beat on the Mornington Peninsula, south of Melbourne, Australia; a shotgun-toting bank robber is on the loose; and vandals are defacing the gates of mansions. Meanwhile, Grace scouts and steals, trying to keep one step ahead of her dangerous, estranged mentor. The unusual mix of incidents builds to a convincing climax while still looking like a regular load of casework. Versatile and prolific, Disher keeps this series fresh and again delivers a procedural with real authority. --Keir Graff