Having read and enjoyed Garry Disher’s ‘Challis and Destry’ police procedural series and many of his standalone novels, I thought it was about time I tackled at least one book in Disher’s long-running ‘Wyatt’ series, despite feeling slightly unsure about the premise of a calculating thief and occasional hitman as the main protagonist. However, I soon put those doubts aside as I ventured into Wyatt’s murky underworld.

Wyatt is not an easy man to know. He lives a solitary life on society’s fringe, taking on old school break-and-enter jobs that he is fed via intel through his broad network of sources. He works alone and his methods are low-tech, as he prefers his own cunning and instincts and the odd disguise over the fancy equipment and security gadgets.

Wyatt’s untouchable persona makes connecting with the character a challenge. Yet, the brilliance of these stories is that, as the plot unfolds, it becomes increasingly obvious that the real villains are lawyers, financiers and bankers who Wyatt targets for his thefts.

The story opens with Wyatt on a wryly ironic mission to steal Ned Kelly memorabilia from a less-than-savoury character on the advice of an old associate, Sam Kramer, who is currently serving time. Kramer’s daughter, Phoebe, is Wyatt’s contact and there is a frisson of attraction between them that Wyatt is trying hard to ignore.

Million dollar yachts, expensive cars and elaborate Ponzi schemes all provide the backdrop for an engaging read set in Sydney and Newcastle. I am not sure that Wyatt is my favourite of Disher’s leading men, but he certainly has an interesting time in Kill Shot.

Reviewed by Maryanne Vagg