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The Red Hand: Stories, Reflections and the Last Appearance of Jack Irish
‘One of the world’s finest crime writers.’ The Times
‘He was to terse blokes with hard jobs and wounded souls what Proust was to memory. He made every sentence count and shot the stragglers.’ Shane Maloney
Peter Temple didn’t start publishing novels until he was fifty, but then he got cracking, writing nine of them in thirteen years. When he died, in March 2018, there was an unfinished Jack Irish novel in his drawer. This substantial fragment, entitled High Art, reveals a writer at the peak of his powers.
The Red Hand also includes the screenplay of the ABC telemovie Valentine’s Day, an improbably delightful tale about an ailing country football club, as well as stories, essays, autobiographical reflections, and a selection of Temple’s brilliant book reviews. What connects them all is his trademark wit, his ruthless intelligence, and his abiding love of his adopted homeland of Australia.
Peter Temple held crime writing up to the light and, with his poet’s ear and eye, made it his own incomparable thing. His work transcends all notions of genre: he remains a towering presence in contemporary Australian literature. This wonderful book pays tribute to all the achievements of the master.
Peter Temple held crime writing up to the light and, with his poet’s ear and eye, made it his own incomparable thing.
‘Peter Temple is an addiction. Read one book and you will want to read them all.’ Val McDermid
352 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2019
50 people are currently reading
74 people want to read
About the author
Peter Temple
29 books344 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 15, 2019
A grab bag of short stories, reviews, screenplay and unfinished manuscripts. Just rubs it in that we will be missing more works from an excellent writer.
October 12, 2019
‘Stories, Reflections and the Last Appearance of Jack Irish’
Peter Temple (10/3/1946-8/3/2018) wrote crime fiction. He was the first crime writer to win the Miles Franklin Award, in 2010, for his novel ‘Truth’. ‘Truth’ was the sequel to ‘The Broken Shore’: I read both novels in 2014, and then read ‘Shooting Star’ in 2015. I always meant to read the Jack Irish series, but I haven’t done so yet. I will now.
Michael Heyward’s introduction to the book, entitled ‘A Charismatic Curmudgeon’ sets the scene and mood perfectly. Michael Heyward is the publisher at Text Publishing.
‘The Red Hand’ contains a significant fragment (89 pages) of ‘High Art’, an unfinished Jack Irish novel which has me wanting to read the four complete novels as soon as possible. It also includes sixteen pieces under the heading ‘Reflections, Reviews and Essays’. I enjoyed each of them, especially ‘Remembrance of Books Past’, ‘The Fitzroy Youth Club at the 2001 Grand Final’, ‘James Ellroy: The Demon Dog of American Fiction’, and ‘Reading Raymond Chandler’. There are also six short stories to enjoy, and the screenplay of ‘Valentine’s Day’.
Peter Temple was an astute observer and a gifted writer. I’d recommend this book to everyone with an interest in crime fiction generally, and in Peter Temple specifically.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Peter Temple (10/3/1946-8/3/2018) wrote crime fiction. He was the first crime writer to win the Miles Franklin Award, in 2010, for his novel ‘Truth’. ‘Truth’ was the sequel to ‘The Broken Shore’: I read both novels in 2014, and then read ‘Shooting Star’ in 2015. I always meant to read the Jack Irish series, but I haven’t done so yet. I will now.
Michael Heyward’s introduction to the book, entitled ‘A Charismatic Curmudgeon’ sets the scene and mood perfectly. Michael Heyward is the publisher at Text Publishing.
‘The Red Hand’ contains a significant fragment (89 pages) of ‘High Art’, an unfinished Jack Irish novel which has me wanting to read the four complete novels as soon as possible. It also includes sixteen pieces under the heading ‘Reflections, Reviews and Essays’. I enjoyed each of them, especially ‘Remembrance of Books Past’, ‘The Fitzroy Youth Club at the 2001 Grand Final’, ‘James Ellroy: The Demon Dog of American Fiction’, and ‘Reading Raymond Chandler’. There are also six short stories to enjoy, and the screenplay of ‘Valentine’s Day’.
Peter Temple was an astute observer and a gifted writer. I’d recommend this book to everyone with an interest in crime fiction generally, and in Peter Temple specifically.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
January 21, 2021
It’s been over a decade since the great Peter Temple told the Miles Franklin Award judges that they’d have to “cop it sweet” for giving Australia’s most prestigious literary prize to a crime writer for the first time. “You’ve done the crime, you do the time,” he said to laughs from the gathered literati.
Truth was a special book, a companion to equally exquisite The Broken Shore, and a deep character study of a Melbourne detective whose life is teetering as he investigates a murder and bush fires rage across his state. Sadly, that was to be Temple’s final novel; a planned coda to his loose trilogy never eventuated before his death in 2018.
Fortunately, THE RED HAND offers readers another taste of Temple’s brilliance. A posthumous collection, it includes part of an unfinished fifth Jack Irish novel, the screenplay for a TV movie about an ailing country football club, and essays, reviews, and reflections from an author known for his poetic, searing storytelling.
One to grab for crime aficionados, or anyone who appreciates the finest writing.
Truth was a special book, a companion to equally exquisite The Broken Shore, and a deep character study of a Melbourne detective whose life is teetering as he investigates a murder and bush fires rage across his state. Sadly, that was to be Temple’s final novel; a planned coda to his loose trilogy never eventuated before his death in 2018.
Fortunately, THE RED HAND offers readers another taste of Temple’s brilliance. A posthumous collection, it includes part of an unfinished fifth Jack Irish novel, the screenplay for a TV movie about an ailing country football club, and essays, reviews, and reflections from an author known for his poetic, searing storytelling.
One to grab for crime aficionados, or anyone who appreciates the finest writing.
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September 30, 2019The following book reviews have been shared by Text Publishing – publisher of The Red Hand
‘Peter Temple is an addiction. Read one book and you will want to read them all.’
Val McDermid
‘Peter Temple is an addiction. Read one book and you will want to read them all.’
Val McDermid
November 28, 2020
THE BEST BOOK I'VE READ IN A VERY LONG TIME
The Red Hand is a compendium of Peter Temple's work put together by his publisher after he sadly died in March 2018.
The book starts with part of an un-finished Jack Irish novel, continues with a number of articles about fellow authors who had a positive and negative influence on him, these articles are followed by six short stories (all crackers and worth buying this book just for them), and finishes up with the screen play of Valentine's Day - "a charming and improbable story about an itinerant musician who is the namesake of an AFL (Australian Football League or 'Aussie Rules') star and ends up being dragooned into coaching the local football team…".
I have to confess; I did not read the final screenplay. Instead, I found a copy of The Australian Broadcasting Commission's television production on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nYn5...) and watched it instead.
Peter Temple has been a favourite author for many years; he is a superb writer and story teller. I can best demonstrate his skills by quoting the final paragraphs from one of his author reviews.
Peter's thoughts on Kathy Reichs' Grave Secrets (Temperance Brennan #5)
Reiche's protagonist is called Tempe Brennan, who is, surprise, a forensic anthropologist (Reiche's "day job" is being a forensic anthropologist). Here Brennan FA is investigating deaths old and new in Guatemala. She shows what a bit of American expertise can achieve, thereby going some way to make up for the CIA-backed coup of 1954
Since I have read only this book by Ms Reichs, I will not be so silly as to suggest that all her novels are bad. She may have written works that stagger. And it is a fact that many writers peak early and then trundle downhill with the sound this book makes: the hollow noise of empty garbage bins being dragged back to base.
Still, if your interests lie in the stomach-turning details of decomposition and exhumation this is your book. I can only describe it as forensic porn. That there is an audience for works of this kind testifies to our nature as an inquiring species. We are also playful creatures. A bit more play would do wonders for Kathy.
Clearly, Kathy Reichs never read this stinging review as she went on to write another fifteen books in her Temperance Brennan series. Me; I would have given up writing and gone back to forensic anthropology.
This book is a lovely tribute to a great author and will hold a place on my bookshelves for years to come.
Thank you Peter!
And I hope this review stimulates you to get a copy of this fine book and enjoy a good read.
Stay safe,
Peter Anderson
The Red Hand is a compendium of Peter Temple's work put together by his publisher after he sadly died in March 2018.
The book starts with part of an un-finished Jack Irish novel, continues with a number of articles about fellow authors who had a positive and negative influence on him, these articles are followed by six short stories (all crackers and worth buying this book just for them), and finishes up with the screen play of Valentine's Day - "a charming and improbable story about an itinerant musician who is the namesake of an AFL (Australian Football League or 'Aussie Rules') star and ends up being dragooned into coaching the local football team…".
I have to confess; I did not read the final screenplay. Instead, I found a copy of The Australian Broadcasting Commission's television production on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nYn5...) and watched it instead.
Peter Temple has been a favourite author for many years; he is a superb writer and story teller. I can best demonstrate his skills by quoting the final paragraphs from one of his author reviews.
Peter's thoughts on Kathy Reichs' Grave Secrets (Temperance Brennan #5)
Reiche's protagonist is called Tempe Brennan, who is, surprise, a forensic anthropologist (Reiche's "day job" is being a forensic anthropologist). Here Brennan FA is investigating deaths old and new in Guatemala. She shows what a bit of American expertise can achieve, thereby going some way to make up for the CIA-backed coup of 1954
Since I have read only this book by Ms Reichs, I will not be so silly as to suggest that all her novels are bad. She may have written works that stagger. And it is a fact that many writers peak early and then trundle downhill with the sound this book makes: the hollow noise of empty garbage bins being dragged back to base.
Still, if your interests lie in the stomach-turning details of decomposition and exhumation this is your book. I can only describe it as forensic porn. That there is an audience for works of this kind testifies to our nature as an inquiring species. We are also playful creatures. A bit more play would do wonders for Kathy.
Clearly, Kathy Reichs never read this stinging review as she went on to write another fifteen books in her Temperance Brennan series. Me; I would have given up writing and gone back to forensic anthropology.
This book is a lovely tribute to a great author and will hold a place on my bookshelves for years to come.
Thank you Peter!
And I hope this review stimulates you to get a copy of this fine book and enjoy a good read.
Stay safe,
Peter Anderson
July 21, 2023
This was a really interesting and entertaining read. I was familiar with the Jack Irish series and others but to read about Temple himself, his background, thoughts and how how came to writing was really insightful. I also enjoyed excerpts from his and the writing of others in the genre, especially his opinions on the works. For a South African who came to live in and love Australia he certainly got a handle on what makes us tick.
March 29, 2020
Peter Temple is the greatest Australian male writer. This is a selection of some of his brilliant work including the unfinished last Jack Irish novel. This is much more than crime fiction.
March 24, 2020
Writing stripped bare. Not a single superfluous word. Great loss.
January 9, 2022
I had put off reading this book for many weeks, I did not want to say a final farewell to an author and a character with whom I had shared many enjoyable hours. With the passing of Peter Temple in March 2018 Jack Irish vanishers from our literary world.
In this publication an unfinished Jack Irish novel is published. The writing is Temple at his purest, sharpest and bluntest. Wasted words and literary padding don’t happen. Some lines and even paragraphs are language experiences are worth smelling, sucking, swirling before slowly swallowing.
The opening line, “Joe Mirvic made many marks on society, all of the kind that grew scar tissue.”
"Robby Ross met us at the door. He was a tall man, ski tanned, broken nose, full head of hair cropped close and eyebrows left to go wild."
"I slept in silk sheets that held me as if it cared."
"A big man came in wearing a suit tailored to mitigate thirty years of long lunches and four course dinner."
The opening chapter of High Art reminded me of Jim Crace’s Being Dead. Vivid descriptions of the human body in early stages of decomposition. It is interesting thinking where Temple would have taken the several plots in this book.
This is followed by reviews of other authors by Temple. I was especially interested in his comments on James Lee Burke and John Le Carre. Temple was not reticent about being critical in his reviews.
The penultimate part is a collection of short stories. Temple had a talent for short story writing. I am surprised he did not publish more short stories. These ones a full of loneliness, pathos and sadness.
Although born in South Africa Temple had a deep love of Australia, its people and its language. His account of Australian idioms and slang makes for interesting reading.
Crossroads is a brilliant snapshot of working-class women and their language. Several women are in a car driving to work. The short story is mainly the dialogue between the woman as they approach their factory. A powerful ending.
I would love to use this with a senior English class. Get them to record the chatter in a car or playground and develop that into short story. After reading Crossroads get student to write a biography of each woman based on their dialogue.
I particularly liked Missing Cuffley. Packed so much in so few pages. Brilliant.
This book concludes with the screenplay of a short film, Valentine that starred Rhys Muldoon and Roy Billing.
Goodbye my friend.
In this publication an unfinished Jack Irish novel is published. The writing is Temple at his purest, sharpest and bluntest. Wasted words and literary padding don’t happen. Some lines and even paragraphs are language experiences are worth smelling, sucking, swirling before slowly swallowing.
The opening line, “Joe Mirvic made many marks on society, all of the kind that grew scar tissue.”
"Robby Ross met us at the door. He was a tall man, ski tanned, broken nose, full head of hair cropped close and eyebrows left to go wild."
"I slept in silk sheets that held me as if it cared."
"A big man came in wearing a suit tailored to mitigate thirty years of long lunches and four course dinner."
The opening chapter of High Art reminded me of Jim Crace’s Being Dead. Vivid descriptions of the human body in early stages of decomposition. It is interesting thinking where Temple would have taken the several plots in this book.
This is followed by reviews of other authors by Temple. I was especially interested in his comments on James Lee Burke and John Le Carre. Temple was not reticent about being critical in his reviews.
The penultimate part is a collection of short stories. Temple had a talent for short story writing. I am surprised he did not publish more short stories. These ones a full of loneliness, pathos and sadness.
Although born in South Africa Temple had a deep love of Australia, its people and its language. His account of Australian idioms and slang makes for interesting reading.
Crossroads is a brilliant snapshot of working-class women and their language. Several women are in a car driving to work. The short story is mainly the dialogue between the woman as they approach their factory. A powerful ending.
I would love to use this with a senior English class. Get them to record the chatter in a car or playground and develop that into short story. After reading Crossroads get student to write a biography of each woman based on their dialogue.
I particularly liked Missing Cuffley. Packed so much in so few pages. Brilliant.
This book concludes with the screenplay of a short film, Valentine that starred Rhys Muldoon and Roy Billing.
Goodbye my friend.
August 14, 2020
Such a wonderful selection of pieces, including the 90 pages of the unfinished Jack Irish novel. I'll be forever wondering how the story would have ended. I just hope he left behind some notes and another Melbourne writer can finish it if they can carry off Temple's dry-humoured style. (Shane Maloney, how about it?)
November 11, 2022
If you want an cross-section of the interests and abilities of one of Australia's finest crime novelist, this is the book to read. The 'teaser' unfinished Jack Irish novel leaves you with regret because it was incomplete. The book reviews are some of the best I've read. Although not a deep short story fan, it is obvious that Temple put in a great deal of consideration and effort into them.
June 9, 2023
I really enjoyed The Broken Shore and Truth and so grabbed this from the library..for me its a bit of a mixed bag as you would expect..some good and some just ok stuff..You can see the development that ended up in the above peaks as well as all the Jack Irish who is just a great character. It added to my appreciation of him as a writer.
June 7, 2020
Temple’s death was a great loss to the crime genre.
In this volume there is a cracker of a short crime story, and some wonderful essays and critiques.
That said, he may have written himself out.
The unfinished Jack Irish is obviously a work in progress.
In this volume there is a cracker of a short crime story, and some wonderful essays and critiques.
That said, he may have written himself out.
The unfinished Jack Irish is obviously a work in progress.
October 15, 2020
An eclectic collection of Peter Temple's writing including a screenplay, short stories, anecdotes, essays, book reviews - all of which exemplify his wit, intelligence and poetic ear. A wonderful background to what made his crime fiction so memorable.
April 1, 2022
Peter Temple did not write a single bad book in his life. Even this one, a posthumous effort from his editor, does not disappoint - other than making me rue not having any more new Temple books to look out for.
Well, there's always the option to re-read.
Well, there's always the option to re-read.
October 21, 2023
Good to once again dip in and rediscover Peter Temple's writing, and also to glean biographic details, but as a whole this was a bit of a rag-tag collection, and my reading of it proasbly not in tune with its intent.
June 27, 2022
Fabulous love his writing, so descriptive and inspiring
October 21, 2021
Oh! I'm in misery because I'll never be able to finish High Art. Temple would have crafted & shaved it into a brilliant Jack Irish, with nary a word wasted. I have to read them all again, now.
The reviews, the short stories and the play - I enjoyed them all, but not without that bittersweet knowing. I've never seen Valentine's Day, but I could see it in my mind as I was reading it - such fun. He says so much in so few words, without resorting to "yapping" at us (thankyou, Mr Temple, for vouchsafing me the right word).
I wish you were still here to give me more, Peter, but thanks for the joy you're about to give me as I re-read your entire catalogue.
The reviews, the short stories and the play - I enjoyed them all, but not without that bittersweet knowing. I've never seen Valentine's Day, but I could see it in my mind as I was reading it - such fun. He says so much in so few words, without resorting to "yapping" at us (thankyou, Mr Temple, for vouchsafing me the right word).
I wish you were still here to give me more, Peter, but thanks for the joy you're about to give me as I re-read your entire catalogue.
November 22, 2019
Great book like his others before. I would have been one of those people who on meeting Peter, would have sounded like I thought Jack was real.
December 11, 2021
Every individual essay and story is a joy to read.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews