Bitter Wash Road

I very much enjoyed Bitter Wash Road by Garry Disher which is set in the South Australian outback.  A young policeman, Paul Hirschhausen, is transferred to a small country town after he testified against corrupt police officers.  Hirsch's three new work colleagues are not impressed with having a "maggot" join them.  The officer-in-charge, Sergeant Cropp, treats him poorly, giving him the worst jobs.  The townspeople treat Hirsch with the same contempt they have for the other police officers, so it is a very lonely place at first.  Hirsch is called to investigate an apparent hit and run of a young girl and there are no suspects or evidence.  He later becomes acquainted with a dysfunctional family whose members have an effect on Hirsch's life.  While Hirsch investigates suspicious deaths, and other assorted crimes in the area, the townspeople develop a respect for him.  There are some twists and turns in this story which makes for a good crime story.  The author writes very well, uses wit and irony and times and I'm disappointed I haven't discovered this award-winning Australian writer before now. 41/2/5