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Wyatt #4
Crosskill
Wyatt is meticulous, demanding and implacable, and this may be the toughest, coolest and most uncompromising series in Australian literature.
Wyatt made some powerful enemies in his first three outings, and the time has come to confront them. But we know by now that Wyatt’s revenge won’t be showy, impetuous and futile; it will be pragmatic, elaborate—and still possibly futile. He holes up in Sydney, preparing to return home to Melbourne to play his enemies against each other in a dangerous double-cross that will tear down the notions of loyalty and obligation.
“A cold hand grips the imaginative nerves more and more tightly.” — Robert Hood
“Violent, gripping, realistic... impossible to put down.” — Sunday Age
“As hard as it gets and very entertaining.” — Weekend Australian
Wyatt made some powerful enemies in his first three outings, and the time has come to confront them. But we know by now that Wyatt’s revenge won’t be showy, impetuous and futile; it will be pragmatic, elaborate—and still possibly futile. He holes up in Sydney, preparing to return home to Melbourne to play his enemies against each other in a dangerous double-cross that will tear down the notions of loyalty and obligation.
“A cold hand grips the imaginative nerves more and more tightly.” — Robert Hood
“Violent, gripping, realistic... impossible to put down.” — Sunday Age
“As hard as it gets and very entertaining.” — Weekend Australian
183 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 1994
34 people are currently reading
155 people want to read
About the author
Garry Disher
91 books687 followersGarry Disher was born in 1949 and grew up on his parents' farm in South Australia.
He gained post graduate degrees from Adelaide and Melbourne Universities. In 1978 he was awarded a creative writing fellowship to Stanford University, where he wrote his first short story collection. He travelled widely overseas, before returning to Australia, where he taught creative writing, finally becoming a full time writer in 1988. He has written more than 40 titles, including general and crime fiction, children's books, textbooks, and books about the craft of writing.
He gained post graduate degrees from Adelaide and Melbourne Universities. In 1978 he was awarded a creative writing fellowship to Stanford University, where he wrote his first short story collection. He travelled widely overseas, before returning to Australia, where he taught creative writing, finally becoming a full time writer in 1988. He has written more than 40 titles, including general and crime fiction, children's books, textbooks, and books about the craft of writing.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
August 29, 2024
Fourth in the series and Wyatt is getting increasingly tired of being poor. He wants his money back and he goes after it hard. He is the bad guy who you want to see win - especially since he is going after people even worse than he is!
His activities in the previous books have earned him an enormous price on his head so he really is being pursued by every shady individual and every gang wherever he goes. Fortunately he is very skilled at staying under the radar even though there are several near misses.
The book is short and action packed and has an excellent ending. A great read and I look forward to seeing what Wyatt does next.
His activities in the previous books have earned him an enormous price on his head so he really is being pursued by every shady individual and every gang wherever he goes. Fortunately he is very skilled at staying under the radar even though there are several near misses.
The book is short and action packed and has an excellent ending. A great read and I look forward to seeing what Wyatt does next.
October 11, 2019
Crosskill is book four of the Wyatt series by Garry Disher. Wyatt was broke and angry with the group who took all his money called Mesics. Wyatt plot a plan to get his money back. However, Wyatt's plan failed, and Wyatt was on the run again without his money, and someone is out to kill him. The readers of Crosskill will continue to follow Wyatt to see he gets his money back from Mesics.
I enjoyed reading Crosskill another adventure with Wyatt. Crosskill is well written and researched by Garry Disher. I like the Garry Disher portrayal of his characters and the way they interact with each other. Garry Disher did an excellent job of describing his settings and the plot that ensures I engaged with this book.
The readers of Crosskill will learn that there is no honour between criminals, and it is quite common for criminals to double-crossed each other. Also, the readers of Crosskill will learn about Melbourne suburbs and the best places to visit in Melbourne.
I recommend this book.
I enjoyed reading Crosskill another adventure with Wyatt. Crosskill is well written and researched by Garry Disher. I like the Garry Disher portrayal of his characters and the way they interact with each other. Garry Disher did an excellent job of describing his settings and the plot that ensures I engaged with this book.
The readers of Crosskill will learn that there is no honour between criminals, and it is quite common for criminals to double-crossed each other. Also, the readers of Crosskill will learn about Melbourne suburbs and the best places to visit in Melbourne.
I recommend this book.
December 2, 2015
Fourth in the Wyatt series, I suggest they be read in order. The series will appeal to fans of Quarry and Parker. Disher is just as good as Collins and Westlake (writing as Richard Stark) in portraying the amoral bad guy, each with his own peculiar code of ethics.
Crosskill continues the story begun in the earlier volumes as Wyatt tries to get his money from a holdup gone wrong back from the mob. Definitely not literature, but who cares. They are well-crafted stories showing a darker side. With all the things that go wrong, my only question is how Wyatt can keep going without getting totally depressed.
Lots of fun. I intend to read all of them and then move on to Disher’s police procedurals.
Crosskill continues the story begun in the earlier volumes as Wyatt tries to get his money from a holdup gone wrong back from the mob. Definitely not literature, but who cares. They are well-crafted stories showing a darker side. With all the things that go wrong, my only question is how Wyatt can keep going without getting totally depressed.
Lots of fun. I intend to read all of them and then move on to Disher’s police procedurals.
April 21, 2018
Great series!
Very enjoyable, recently discovered series. Though somewhat of a rip off of the old Parker novels by Richard Stark, still a worthwhile adventure!
Very enjoyable, recently discovered series. Though somewhat of a rip off of the old Parker novels by Richard Stark, still a worthwhile adventure!
January 31, 2022
In this 4th book in the series, Wyatt returns to Melbourne determined to get back at ‘the Mesics’, the crime family who took the profits of his armoured-van heist in South Australia. He can’t make progress though while he’s still dogged by ‘the Outfit’ from Sydney, so he goes on the offensive. After several strategic hits to their operations and a brazen confrontation a deal is struck. Wyatt will help the Outfit takeover the Mesics’ domain in return for ‘his cash’ and cancellation of the bounty on his head.
I’m really invested in this series now and enjoying the expansion of Wyatt’s story. There are so many different types of ‘crims’ (including ‘bent coppers’) in this one and multiple double-crosses. The writing is still spare and sharp and the books are a short, entertaining read. I don’t like it when Wyatt kills someone but he only kills other crims when he’s been “crossed, cornered or provoked.”
I’m really invested in this series now and enjoying the expansion of Wyatt’s story. There are so many different types of ‘crims’ (including ‘bent coppers’) in this one and multiple double-crosses. The writing is still spare and sharp and the books are a short, entertaining read. I don’t like it when Wyatt kills someone but he only kills other crims when he’s been “crossed, cornered or provoked.”
March 7, 2023
This series just gets better and better.
Really enjoying listening to the audio versions, many of which weren't available when the books were first published. Great narrator. Dorje Swallow is perfect for the job of reading the Wyatt series.
Fast paced crime from the angle of the crim who just never seems like the 'bad guy'. Somehow you always want him to get away with it! Brilliant stuff!
Really enjoying listening to the audio versions, many of which weren't available when the books were first published. Great narrator. Dorje Swallow is perfect for the job of reading the Wyatt series.
Fast paced crime from the angle of the crim who just never seems like the 'bad guy'. Somehow you always want him to get away with it! Brilliant stuff!
November 16, 2021
Great tension in the story line but you could say the same for every Garry Disher book.
The books are old and it is quite nostalgic to read about the good old days, of actual cash in safes instead of white collar crime, and of the unflappable good/ baddie Wyatt.
The books are old and it is quite nostalgic to read about the good old days, of actual cash in safes instead of white collar crime, and of the unflappable good/ baddie Wyatt.
December 13, 2021
My review
I was a bit disappointed that wyatt kept getting ripped off and never got on top .Finally he is on awning streak.The ending in all his books is abrupt and leaves you wanting more. This book doesn't let you down full of action and intrigue
I was a bit disappointed that wyatt kept getting ripped off and never got on top .Finally he is on awning streak.The ending in all his books is abrupt and leaves you wanting more. This book doesn't let you down full of action and intrigue
November 7, 2017
All four Wyatt books form a great OZ crime saga. The villain hero concept seems to work even though he is a killer. His victims seem to deserve what they get
October 31, 2019
Wyatt continues to try to recover his money and get the Outfit off his back. As before he runs up against the problem of dumb, venal people who outsmart themselves and trip him up as well.
May 1, 2020
Another excellent heist novel featuring the cold and professional thief Wyatt.
September 16, 2020
Best of the series so far. Whole bunch of double crosses, and a genius prison break plan.
August 10, 2025
Taut, well written novel with many double crosses and plot twists. Excellent reading once again.
July 22, 2021
Brilliant. It took me a while to track down a hard copy of this book & I wasn't disappointed. Garry Disher has created a wonderful, believable, well rounded character in Wyatt. Taught writing, fast paced story - not a word out of place & not an unnecessary word added.
May 12, 2010
The fourth Wyatt novel, who is the Australian Parker. There's even a nod to the Parker novels with a crime group called the Outfit and a character named Charles Willis.
Everyone is after Wyatt. The Outfit has a forty thousand dollar contract on his head. He's already killed two hitmen in the last six months. A third, a woman, has missed himthree times and he's dealt her damage.
Wyatt needs this resolved because he wants to hit the Mesics, a Melbourne crime family. They interfered in one of his jobs and cost him $300,000. The old man had recently died and his two sons were at odds. One wanted to continue as before and the other wanted an alliance with an American Mafia family in the casino business. Now is the time to hit them.
To demonstrate his power, Wyatt and an associate hit several Outfit businesses, then boldly works into a meeting with Kepler, head of the Outfit. They make a deal together. The contract is voided and Wyatt hits the Mesics, rifling the safes, and leaving them handcuffed, allowing the Outfir to walk in and take their business records. The Outfit had wanted into Melbourne for a while now.
Unknown to the new partnership was a couple of crooked cops, independent of each other, horning in. Not to mention a double cross of Wyatt by even another party.
Everyone wants Wyatt's head. He's a man who always sticks to a deal. Unless crossed. Then he becomes even more dangerous.
Everyone is after Wyatt. The Outfit has a forty thousand dollar contract on his head. He's already killed two hitmen in the last six months. A third, a woman, has missed himthree times and he's dealt her damage.
Wyatt needs this resolved because he wants to hit the Mesics, a Melbourne crime family. They interfered in one of his jobs and cost him $300,000. The old man had recently died and his two sons were at odds. One wanted to continue as before and the other wanted an alliance with an American Mafia family in the casino business. Now is the time to hit them.
To demonstrate his power, Wyatt and an associate hit several Outfit businesses, then boldly works into a meeting with Kepler, head of the Outfit. They make a deal together. The contract is voided and Wyatt hits the Mesics, rifling the safes, and leaving them handcuffed, allowing the Outfir to walk in and take their business records. The Outfit had wanted into Melbourne for a while now.
Unknown to the new partnership was a couple of crooked cops, independent of each other, horning in. Not to mention a double cross of Wyatt by even another party.
Everyone wants Wyatt's head. He's a man who always sticks to a deal. Unless crossed. Then he becomes even more dangerous.
August 16, 2011
CROSSKILL is another of my Wyatt series rereads - just because I want to.
This book, in particular, really takes on the bad guys. Wyatt may not immediately seem to have much of a moral conscience when it comes to taking other people's money - but he does think honour amongst thieves is important. Especially where his money is concerned.
As with all the Wyatt series, Wyatt plays a lone hand, with just a little help (and hindrance) from his friends. But when trouble arrives it hits him from all sides. Wyatt will, of course triumph in the end. There will be a bit of collateral damage, and some people just don't seem to realise that there are some enemies for life that you just don't want to make.
This series is just so good. Tight, clever and suspenseful writing combined with believable plotlines make for a very involving storyline. The slow reveal of small background points about Wyatt make him a very elusive character - for the reader as well as those in the story. It's actually a clever idea that - there's always some little pearl about Wyatt that drops in each book - giving the reader just a little bit more about the lonest of lone Australian fictional crime characters.
This book, in particular, really takes on the bad guys. Wyatt may not immediately seem to have much of a moral conscience when it comes to taking other people's money - but he does think honour amongst thieves is important. Especially where his money is concerned.
As with all the Wyatt series, Wyatt plays a lone hand, with just a little help (and hindrance) from his friends. But when trouble arrives it hits him from all sides. Wyatt will, of course triumph in the end. There will be a bit of collateral damage, and some people just don't seem to realise that there are some enemies for life that you just don't want to make.
This series is just so good. Tight, clever and suspenseful writing combined with believable plotlines make for a very involving storyline. The slow reveal of small background points about Wyatt make him a very elusive character - for the reader as well as those in the story. It's actually a clever idea that - there's always some little pearl about Wyatt that drops in each book - giving the reader just a little bit more about the lonest of lone Australian fictional crime characters.
February 21, 2022
Finished book 3 so fast I just started straight in on 4. Nice to see Wyatt winning a few rounds this time, although the usual road bumps do come along as he tangles with the mob, runs a few heists and knocks a few heads together.
February 13, 2013
Another book I'd give 4 and a half stars to if I could. A solid and entertaining read. Garry Disher doesn't have Elmore Leonard's ear for dialogue (few writers do) but he also doesn't waylay the story with sassy cleverness either. He stays on track a bit better. With this story, it's all very matter of fact, and concisely done.
Good job.
Good job.
August 3, 2016
I am regarding these books in the "Wyatt" series as one long book broken into chapters. This was similar in plot complications to its predeccessor, book 3. They are short pot boilers, interesting due to the perspective of a very pragmatic, ruthless, paranoid criminal who, although scarier than my old cat, is just as scared as her of unexpected noises, strange places and others of the same ilk.
July 18, 2015
It's pretty these are well crafted books, with a strong lead. Disher deserves to be better known in this country.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews