That explains one of the reasons why Disher and I get on as occasional friends (Sydney and Melbourne being what they are), that I’ve published some of his work (two of the stories in this collection of short stories were originally commissioned by myself or those working with me on anthologies) and, most importantly admire his skills as a writer.

Disher writes carefully constructed, precise prose that obviously belays the fact that above all else he crafts his work meticulously. As he says in the author’s note, Disher has a career writing ‘literary’, crime and children’s books. I’ve only read the crime novels, all of which feature Wyatt (no Christian name), a renegade criminal. This alone makes Disher’s work unique in contemporary Australian crime fiction as he’s chosen an ‘outsider’, who the reader never get to like, as his protagonist. The six novels are very obviously inspired by Richard Stark (pen name for Donald Westlake) and an approach to crime fiction that is rare.

The traditional notion of the crime story is that good triumphs over evil, the good guys win, the white knight comes to the rescue – but as with Westlake (and James Ellroy in a different fashion), Wyatt, the bad guy, always wins.

Increasingly, the Wyatt novels began to seem a little tired. A criminal like Wyatt would not, in reality, survive for six novels and there was a definite sense that Disher knew that as well. Straight, Bent & Barbara Vine is however a highly accomplished and impressive collection of stories (some of which feature Wyatt) with criminality at their core. They’re clever, pacey, intriguing, and continually captivating.

Kerry Greenwood is also capable of writing a page-turner of a crime novel. Over the years, her series featuring ‘super sleuth’ Phryne Fisher has been erratic. There’s been some superb novels whilst others have been too padded with extraneous material and unnecessary conversations between characters.

Raisins and Almonds, the ninth in the series, and Greenwood’s first for her new publisher, Allen & Unwin, is unquestionably one of the strongest. It finds Fisher in a fascinating mystery which involves Jewish politics, poison, alchemy – and chicken soup. As well as Fisher the novel features the characters that will be familiar to readers of the series – Bert, Cec, Dot and Detective Inspector ‘Call Me Jack’ Robinson.

Greenwood has obviously done extensive research for Raisins and Almonds, the book also containing a complete bibliography of all the books consulted with the suggestion from the author that ‘If anyone would like to duplicate my research, here are my sources.’ And given the subject matter there’s a guide to the Yiddish words used.

In all honestly, the Phryne Fisher books aren’t my preferred choice of reading matter. They’re more styled towards those who like historical (the books are set in 1920s Melbourne) clue puzzle novels, but I have to admire Greenwood for both her evocation of an era, pacey storytelling, and ingenious plotting.

Raisins and Almonds is an excellent novel and recommended to anyone who wants to enter the world of Phryne Fisher. Whilst a series novel it’s far from necessary to have read any of the previous title – but after a few hours with this novel chances are that those who fall under its spell will be seeking out other books in the series.

Both Straight, Bent & Barbara Vine and Raisins and Almonds (talk about book titles!) are further proof that Australians are writing diverse and world-class novels with criminality at their core.