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Hirsch #5
Mischance Creek
Hirsch is checking firearms. The regular police all weapons secured, ammo stored separately, no unauthorised person with keys to the gun safe. He’s checking people, too. The drought is hitting hard in the mid-north, and Hirsch is responsible for the welfare of his scattered flock of battlers, bluebloods, loners and miscreants.
He isn’t usually called on for emergency roadside assistance. But with all the other services fully stretched, it’s Hirsch who has to grind his way out beyond the Mischance Creek ruins to where some clueless tourist has run into a ditch.
As it turns out, though, Annika Nordrum isn’t exactly a tourist. She’s searching for the body of her mother, who went missing seven years ago. And the only sense in which she’s clueless is the lack of information unearthed by the cops who phoned in the original investigation.
Hirsch owes it to Annika to help, doesn’t he? Not to mention that tackling a cold case beats the hell out of gun audits and admin…
He isn’t usually called on for emergency roadside assistance. But with all the other services fully stretched, it’s Hirsch who has to grind his way out beyond the Mischance Creek ruins to where some clueless tourist has run into a ditch.
As it turns out, though, Annika Nordrum isn’t exactly a tourist. She’s searching for the body of her mother, who went missing seven years ago. And the only sense in which she’s clueless is the lack of information unearthed by the cops who phoned in the original investigation.
Hirsch owes it to Annika to help, doesn’t he? Not to mention that tackling a cold case beats the hell out of gun audits and admin…
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First published November 6, 2025
189 people are currently reading
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About the author
Garry Disher
91 books722 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 - 30 of 99 reviews
November 3, 2025
EXCERPT: Annika Nordrum had a satellite phone but how prepared was she otherwise? And why was she heading for Anna Gorge? No one ever went there. The roads were shocking. 'Have you got emergency gear? Plenty of food and water?'
Nordrum nodded. Her brown hair had mostly escaped her short ponytail and was pasted damply to her forehead and neck. She had a narrow, faintly lived-in face, as if she'd had her share of setbacks. 'Plenty of everything,' she said, 'including locator beacons.'
'More than most tourists travel with,' Hirsch said.
'I'm not a tourist,' she said simply. 'I'm looking for my mother's body.'
ABOUT 'MISCHANCE CREEK': Hirsch is checking firearms. The regular police all weapons secured, ammo stored separately, no unauthorised person with keys to the gun safe. He’s checking people, too. The drought is hitting hard in the mid-north, and Hirsch is responsible for the welfare of his scattered flock of battlers, bluebloods, loners and miscreants.
He isn’t usually called on for emergency roadside assistance. But with all the other services fully stretched, it’s Hirsch who has to grind his way out beyond the Mischance Creek ruins to where some clueless tourist has run into a ditch.
As it turns out, though, Annika Nordrum isn’t exactly a tourist. She’s searching for the body of her mother, who went missing seven years ago. And the only sense in which she’s clueless is the lack of information unearthed by the cops who phoned in the original investigation.
Hirsch owes it to Annika to help, doesn’t he? Not to mention that tackling a cold case beats the hell out of gun audits and admin…
MY THOUGHTS: I am always excited to see a new novel out by Garry Disher - even better when it's a continuation of the Hirsch series. I love Hirsch - he's very human and down-to-earth - and Disher writes him into very realistic situations.
Hirsch has been in Tiverton six years now, his policing a varied mix of law enforcement, social work, welfare checks and keeping his eyes and ears open.
As always, there are multiple threads running through this story - a missing man; a woman looking for her mother's body; harassment of local aboriginals; petty crime; corruption at a local level; political extremism; domestic violence, and an intriguing cold case . . . There's always something for Hirsch to follow up, especially since he is in a sole-charge station. He lives the job.
I dallied over this read, savoring each situation, enjoying the descriptions of the South Australian outback. I was in no hurry to close the cover on the final chapter of Mischance Creek but when I did, it was with an immense feeling of satisfaction, and just a little regret. Regret that it will be a year or so before I get to go visit Hirsch again. It's like waiting for my annual holiday!
Although Mischance Creek is the 5th book in the Hirsch series, it is easily read as a stand-alone.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#MischanceCreek @WaitomoDistrictLibrary
MEET THE AUTHOR: GARRY DISHER (born 15 August 1949, in the Corporate Town of Burra, South Australia) is an Australian author of crime fiction and children's literature. He became a full-time writer in 1988.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Nordrum nodded. Her brown hair had mostly escaped her short ponytail and was pasted damply to her forehead and neck. She had a narrow, faintly lived-in face, as if she'd had her share of setbacks. 'Plenty of everything,' she said, 'including locator beacons.'
'More than most tourists travel with,' Hirsch said.
'I'm not a tourist,' she said simply. 'I'm looking for my mother's body.'
ABOUT 'MISCHANCE CREEK': Hirsch is checking firearms. The regular police all weapons secured, ammo stored separately, no unauthorised person with keys to the gun safe. He’s checking people, too. The drought is hitting hard in the mid-north, and Hirsch is responsible for the welfare of his scattered flock of battlers, bluebloods, loners and miscreants.
He isn’t usually called on for emergency roadside assistance. But with all the other services fully stretched, it’s Hirsch who has to grind his way out beyond the Mischance Creek ruins to where some clueless tourist has run into a ditch.
As it turns out, though, Annika Nordrum isn’t exactly a tourist. She’s searching for the body of her mother, who went missing seven years ago. And the only sense in which she’s clueless is the lack of information unearthed by the cops who phoned in the original investigation.
Hirsch owes it to Annika to help, doesn’t he? Not to mention that tackling a cold case beats the hell out of gun audits and admin…
MY THOUGHTS: I am always excited to see a new novel out by Garry Disher - even better when it's a continuation of the Hirsch series. I love Hirsch - he's very human and down-to-earth - and Disher writes him into very realistic situations.
Hirsch has been in Tiverton six years now, his policing a varied mix of law enforcement, social work, welfare checks and keeping his eyes and ears open.
As always, there are multiple threads running through this story - a missing man; a woman looking for her mother's body; harassment of local aboriginals; petty crime; corruption at a local level; political extremism; domestic violence, and an intriguing cold case . . . There's always something for Hirsch to follow up, especially since he is in a sole-charge station. He lives the job.
I dallied over this read, savoring each situation, enjoying the descriptions of the South Australian outback. I was in no hurry to close the cover on the final chapter of Mischance Creek but when I did, it was with an immense feeling of satisfaction, and just a little regret. Regret that it will be a year or so before I get to go visit Hirsch again. It's like waiting for my annual holiday!
Although Mischance Creek is the 5th book in the Hirsch series, it is easily read as a stand-alone.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#MischanceCreek @WaitomoDistrictLibrary
MEET THE AUTHOR: GARRY DISHER (born 15 August 1949, in the Corporate Town of Burra, South Australia) is an Australian author of crime fiction and children's literature. He became a full-time writer in 1988.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
December 11, 2025
Senior Constable Paul Hirschhausen was driving his vast rural beat in South Australia, doing his annual fire-arms check - so far so good - when he came across Annika Nordrum. When she told him what she was about to do, he was more than happy to help out. Six years prior, Annika's parents had gone missing. They'd headed off, as they did now and then, to do some gem fossicking, and she hadn't heard from them. Her father was discovered at the bottom of an old mine shaft in an area they hadn't planned to be, and her mother was still missing. Her dad's death was called misadventure, but Annika wasn't so sure.
Meanwhile, tempers were frayed throughout the community and in Hirsch's small town of Tiverton. The drought was relentless, people were having to shoot their sheep because of no feed. Hundreds of animals that only the year before had been worth a good amount of money, now worth nothing. But Hirsch was concerned about one of the locals who was making a nuisance of himself, and when his station was attacked - with him inside on his own - Hirsch contacted his boss. His suspicions were aroused when a caravan was stolen - what was going on? Was it all much deeper than anyone realised?
Mischance Creek is the 5th in the Hirsch series by Aussie author Garry Disher and I thoroughly enjoyed it. A gentle, slow burner to start with as it gradually built up into a crescendo of action packed suspense, when I couldn't put it down. Another great episode in this addictive series, I'm already looking forward to #6. Highly recommended.
Meanwhile, tempers were frayed throughout the community and in Hirsch's small town of Tiverton. The drought was relentless, people were having to shoot their sheep because of no feed. Hundreds of animals that only the year before had been worth a good amount of money, now worth nothing. But Hirsch was concerned about one of the locals who was making a nuisance of himself, and when his station was attacked - with him inside on his own - Hirsch contacted his boss. His suspicions were aroused when a caravan was stolen - what was going on? Was it all much deeper than anyone realised?
Mischance Creek is the 5th in the Hirsch series by Aussie author Garry Disher and I thoroughly enjoyed it. A gentle, slow burner to start with as it gradually built up into a crescendo of action packed suspense, when I couldn't put it down. Another great episode in this addictive series, I'm already looking forward to #6. Highly recommended.
October 20, 2025
This is the 5th book in the Hirsch series. It's my first and I quite easily read it as a standalone. I will be rectifying this and reading his backlist. I loved this book and here are the reasons why.
* Aboriginal representation
* Cold case
* Hirsch's character - I'm so used to reading about hardheaded police investigators. I found him to be empathetic, down-to-earth character.
Highly recommend. Another author to add to my ever-growing tbr pile.
* Aboriginal representation
* Cold case
* Hirsch's character - I'm so used to reading about hardheaded police investigators. I found him to be empathetic, down-to-earth character.
Highly recommend. Another author to add to my ever-growing tbr pile.
September 30, 2025
Mischance Creek is the fifth book in the Hirsch series by popular Australian author, Garry Disher. After nearly six years at Tiverton, Senior Constable Paul Hirchhausen has settled into a fairly comfortable routine. When not dealing with admin paperwork and emails at Tiverton’s tiny Police Station, or attending a weekly briefing with his Sergeant and her personnel at Redruth, he’s on patrol, a mix of law enforcement, news exchange, welfare checks and social work.
In mid-November, though, his duty entails a firearms audit, of which he manages a few each day. Most he checks are compliant with the rules; a few need reminders or warnings; one old fellow’s bruises distract him from the .22 shells that don’t match his declared weapons. Later welfare checks come up empty: the old bloke has disappeared.
His sergeant has been tasked with finding the source of hate-mail being sent from the area to politicians, while she’s also trying to rehabilitate a small-town outlaw. There’s harassment of indigenous Australians and ethnic minorities, pressure on the local Ngadjuri people to allow removal of a sacred tree in the path of a proposed road widening, and complaints about a fraudulent car dealer, all of which require following up.
Hirsch encounters several sovereign citizens who maintain that the Government, and thus, the SA Police Service, has no authority over them. Among them, rabble rousers trying to get drought-stricken farmers disgruntled with authority to join right-wing extremist organisations like the Lone Pine Patriots League or My Place. He hears rumours of corruption in the district council and tries to track down a local artist’s caravan, boldly stolen from outside a gallery, while rubbish covertly dumped on Tiverton’s town paddock attracts the ire of the mayor.
Hirsch is called out to help a motorist stuck in a ditch. Annika Nordstrum turns out not to be a tourist, but a well-equipped young woman searching for her mother’s body. Before Hirsch came to Tiverton, gem fossickers Ben and Heather Nordrum were heading for what Ben described to Annika as a promising site at Anna Gorge near Mischance Creek.
Yet, his body was found down a mineshaft at Breadbox Plain. His death was ruled misadventure after a very perfunctory investigation, and Heather’s body was never found. Hirsch decides to see what information the file might reveal, if he can locate it.
Before matters are resolved, there is a body count of six that includes three innocents, a mini-siege at Tiverton Police Station from which Hirsch emerges sore and bruised, a lucky escape (for some) from a nasty man-trap, and a sniper fight. Hirsch uncovers an illegal dumping operation and a meth lab.
As always, Disher’s descriptive prose easily evokes his setting. He gives the reader characters that ring true and a wholly credible plot that keeps the reader guessing and the pages turning.
Hirsch is fast becoming a favourite protagonist: comfortable in his own skin; not perfect but certainly principled; not battling drugs or alcohol, not tempted by illegal or immoral activity; an essentially tireless cop, exuding integrity, dedicated to enforcement and protection tempered with the judgement calls essential in rural policing.
In this instalment he’s dealing with his own grief and concern for his grieving mum in the wake of his father’s recent death. Each additional dose of Hirsch makes him more likeable: another instalment will be very welcome.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Text Publishing.
In mid-November, though, his duty entails a firearms audit, of which he manages a few each day. Most he checks are compliant with the rules; a few need reminders or warnings; one old fellow’s bruises distract him from the .22 shells that don’t match his declared weapons. Later welfare checks come up empty: the old bloke has disappeared.
His sergeant has been tasked with finding the source of hate-mail being sent from the area to politicians, while she’s also trying to rehabilitate a small-town outlaw. There’s harassment of indigenous Australians and ethnic minorities, pressure on the local Ngadjuri people to allow removal of a sacred tree in the path of a proposed road widening, and complaints about a fraudulent car dealer, all of which require following up.
Hirsch encounters several sovereign citizens who maintain that the Government, and thus, the SA Police Service, has no authority over them. Among them, rabble rousers trying to get drought-stricken farmers disgruntled with authority to join right-wing extremist organisations like the Lone Pine Patriots League or My Place. He hears rumours of corruption in the district council and tries to track down a local artist’s caravan, boldly stolen from outside a gallery, while rubbish covertly dumped on Tiverton’s town paddock attracts the ire of the mayor.
Hirsch is called out to help a motorist stuck in a ditch. Annika Nordstrum turns out not to be a tourist, but a well-equipped young woman searching for her mother’s body. Before Hirsch came to Tiverton, gem fossickers Ben and Heather Nordrum were heading for what Ben described to Annika as a promising site at Anna Gorge near Mischance Creek.
Yet, his body was found down a mineshaft at Breadbox Plain. His death was ruled misadventure after a very perfunctory investigation, and Heather’s body was never found. Hirsch decides to see what information the file might reveal, if he can locate it.
Before matters are resolved, there is a body count of six that includes three innocents, a mini-siege at Tiverton Police Station from which Hirsch emerges sore and bruised, a lucky escape (for some) from a nasty man-trap, and a sniper fight. Hirsch uncovers an illegal dumping operation and a meth lab.
As always, Disher’s descriptive prose easily evokes his setting. He gives the reader characters that ring true and a wholly credible plot that keeps the reader guessing and the pages turning.
Hirsch is fast becoming a favourite protagonist: comfortable in his own skin; not perfect but certainly principled; not battling drugs or alcohol, not tempted by illegal or immoral activity; an essentially tireless cop, exuding integrity, dedicated to enforcement and protection tempered with the judgement calls essential in rural policing.
In this instalment he’s dealing with his own grief and concern for his grieving mum in the wake of his father’s recent death. Each additional dose of Hirsch makes him more likeable: another instalment will be very welcome.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Text Publishing.
November 12, 2025
Mischance Creek is the fifth book in the Hirsch series by popular Australian author, Garry Disher. The audio version is narrated by Steve Shanahan. After nearly six years at Tiverton, Senior Constable Paul Hirchhausen has settled into a fairly comfortable routine. When not dealing with admin paperwork and emails at Tiverton’s tiny Police Station, or attending a weekly briefing with his Sergeant and her personnel at Redruth, he’s on patrol, a mix of law enforcement, news exchange, welfare checks and social work.
In mid-November, though, his duty entails a firearms audit, of which he manages a few each day. Most he checks are compliant with the rules; a few need reminders or warnings; one old fellow’s bruises distract him from the .22 shells that don’t match his declared weapons. Later welfare checks come up empty: the old bloke has disappeared.
His sergeant has been tasked with finding the source of hate-mail being sent from the area to politicians, while she’s also trying to rehabilitate a small-town outlaw. There’s harassment of indigenous Australians and ethnic minorities, pressure on the local Ngadjuri people to allow removal of a sacred tree in the path of a proposed road widening, and complaints about a fraudulent car dealer, all of which require following up.
Hirsch encounters several sovereign citizens who maintain that the Government, and thus, the SA Police Service, has no authority over them. Among them, rabble rousers trying to get drought-stricken farmers disgruntled with authority to join right-wing extremist organisations like the Lone Pine Patriots League or My Place. He hears rumours of corruption in the district council and tries to track down a local artist’s caravan, boldly stolen from outside a gallery, while rubbish covertly dumped on Tiverton’s town paddock attracts the ire of the mayor.
Hirsch is called out to help a motorist stuck in a ditch. Annika Nordstrum turns out not to be a tourist, but a well-equipped young woman searching for her mother’s body. Before Hirsch came to Tiverton, gem fossickers Ben and Heather Nordrum were heading for what Ben described to Annika as a promising site at Anna Gorge near Mischance Creek.
Yet, his body was found down a mineshaft at Breadbox Plain. His death was ruled misadventure after a very perfunctory investigation, and Heather’s body was never found. Hirsch decides to see what information the file might reveal, if he can locate it.
Before matters are resolved, there is a body count of six that includes three innocents, a mini-siege at Tiverton Police Station from which Hirsch emerges sore and bruised, a lucky escape (for some) from a nasty man-trap, and a sniper fight. Hirsch uncovers an illegal dumping operation and a meth lab.
As always, Disher’s descriptive prose easily evokes his setting. He gives the reader characters that ring true and a wholly credible plot that keeps the reader guessing and the pages turning.
Hirsch is fast becoming a favourite protagonist: comfortable in his own skin; not perfect but certainly principled; not battling drugs or alcohol, not tempted by illegal or immoral activity; an essentially tireless cop, exuding integrity, dedicated to enforcement and protection tempered with the judgement calls essential in rural policing.
In this instalment he’s dealing with his own grief and concern for his grieving mum in the wake of his father’s recent death. Each additional dose of Hirsch makes him more likeable: another instalment will be very welcome.
In mid-November, though, his duty entails a firearms audit, of which he manages a few each day. Most he checks are compliant with the rules; a few need reminders or warnings; one old fellow’s bruises distract him from the .22 shells that don’t match his declared weapons. Later welfare checks come up empty: the old bloke has disappeared.
His sergeant has been tasked with finding the source of hate-mail being sent from the area to politicians, while she’s also trying to rehabilitate a small-town outlaw. There’s harassment of indigenous Australians and ethnic minorities, pressure on the local Ngadjuri people to allow removal of a sacred tree in the path of a proposed road widening, and complaints about a fraudulent car dealer, all of which require following up.
Hirsch encounters several sovereign citizens who maintain that the Government, and thus, the SA Police Service, has no authority over them. Among them, rabble rousers trying to get drought-stricken farmers disgruntled with authority to join right-wing extremist organisations like the Lone Pine Patriots League or My Place. He hears rumours of corruption in the district council and tries to track down a local artist’s caravan, boldly stolen from outside a gallery, while rubbish covertly dumped on Tiverton’s town paddock attracts the ire of the mayor.
Hirsch is called out to help a motorist stuck in a ditch. Annika Nordstrum turns out not to be a tourist, but a well-equipped young woman searching for her mother’s body. Before Hirsch came to Tiverton, gem fossickers Ben and Heather Nordrum were heading for what Ben described to Annika as a promising site at Anna Gorge near Mischance Creek.
Yet, his body was found down a mineshaft at Breadbox Plain. His death was ruled misadventure after a very perfunctory investigation, and Heather’s body was never found. Hirsch decides to see what information the file might reveal, if he can locate it.
Before matters are resolved, there is a body count of six that includes three innocents, a mini-siege at Tiverton Police Station from which Hirsch emerges sore and bruised, a lucky escape (for some) from a nasty man-trap, and a sniper fight. Hirsch uncovers an illegal dumping operation and a meth lab.
As always, Disher’s descriptive prose easily evokes his setting. He gives the reader characters that ring true and a wholly credible plot that keeps the reader guessing and the pages turning.
Hirsch is fast becoming a favourite protagonist: comfortable in his own skin; not perfect but certainly principled; not battling drugs or alcohol, not tempted by illegal or immoral activity; an essentially tireless cop, exuding integrity, dedicated to enforcement and protection tempered with the judgement calls essential in rural policing.
In this instalment he’s dealing with his own grief and concern for his grieving mum in the wake of his father’s recent death. Each additional dose of Hirsch makes him more likeable: another instalment will be very welcome.
October 10, 2025
Constable Paul Hirschhausen, aka Hirsch, is back for a firth time, patrolling the dry country or regional South Australia in Mischance Creek. Disher, was presented with a Ned Kelly Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018 at which point there was only one Hirsch novel (Bitter Wash Road). He returned to the character in 2019’s Peace and has since gone on to deliver some of the best books of his career. The third book in this series, Consolation, won the Ned Kelly Award for Crime Fiction in 2021, and an unconnected novel, Sanctuary was shortlisted for both the Ned Kelly Award and the British Crime Writers Association’s Silver Dagger. So readers should expect to be in good hands and Mischance Creek does not disappoint.
When Mischance Creek opens Hirsch is undertaking his annual firearms audit. This involves visiting everyone with a licenced firearm and ensuring that the weapons are securely stored and accounted for. His first visit finds a drought-impacted farmer having to shoot some of his flock, then he moves on to a recluse, Alastair Stanyer who’s brother is a successful landholder and sister-in-law is the mayor. Stanyer does a runner after the visit for reasons that Hirsch cannot quite fathom but which he will continue to probe at as other mysteries and issues come his way. One of those is dealing with the local sovereign citizens, people who believe that the laws don’t apply to them. And another is helping a woman called Annika Nordrum who has come to the area to re-investigate the disappearance of her mother and death of her father seven years before while on a fossicking expedition, an unsolved mystery that grabs his attention.
There is plenty more going on in Mischance Creek and plenty of opportunity to explore current issues. This includes local government corruption, fly tipping, protection of Aboriginal sacred sites and even the impact of closing and merging regional schools. All of these issues are handled with the nuance and understanding that they deserve. While there are clearly flawed and dangerous people in Hirsch’s world, and this is a crime story goes to some dark places, this is far from a black and white depiction of this community (although Disher’s view of some of these issues is fairly clear). It will not be hard for regular crime readers to join some of the dots before Hirsch, but the pleasure here is in the way Disher weaves and pulls the threads together, building to more than one climax.
As always, the firm centre of this novel and this series is Paul Hirschhausen. Not only a dogged investigator but a man who feels the responsibility of caring for his community. Unlike many of the damaged characters who inhabit much of crime fiction, Hirsch is just an ordinary policeman who wants to be with his partner and her daughter, who wants to spend more time with his ageing mother but also finds excuses to limit that time and is respected as part of the local regional team.
In Mischance Creek, Disher shows once again why he is one of the masters of Australian rural crime fiction. The Hirsch series is Australian rural crime but much like Disher’s Peninsula series, has its own particular flavour, taking a more communal and ground level view. And once again Disher delivers a mix of seemingly banal but incisive country policing and hot button social issues.
When Mischance Creek opens Hirsch is undertaking his annual firearms audit. This involves visiting everyone with a licenced firearm and ensuring that the weapons are securely stored and accounted for. His first visit finds a drought-impacted farmer having to shoot some of his flock, then he moves on to a recluse, Alastair Stanyer who’s brother is a successful landholder and sister-in-law is the mayor. Stanyer does a runner after the visit for reasons that Hirsch cannot quite fathom but which he will continue to probe at as other mysteries and issues come his way. One of those is dealing with the local sovereign citizens, people who believe that the laws don’t apply to them. And another is helping a woman called Annika Nordrum who has come to the area to re-investigate the disappearance of her mother and death of her father seven years before while on a fossicking expedition, an unsolved mystery that grabs his attention.
There is plenty more going on in Mischance Creek and plenty of opportunity to explore current issues. This includes local government corruption, fly tipping, protection of Aboriginal sacred sites and even the impact of closing and merging regional schools. All of these issues are handled with the nuance and understanding that they deserve. While there are clearly flawed and dangerous people in Hirsch’s world, and this is a crime story goes to some dark places, this is far from a black and white depiction of this community (although Disher’s view of some of these issues is fairly clear). It will not be hard for regular crime readers to join some of the dots before Hirsch, but the pleasure here is in the way Disher weaves and pulls the threads together, building to more than one climax.
As always, the firm centre of this novel and this series is Paul Hirschhausen. Not only a dogged investigator but a man who feels the responsibility of caring for his community. Unlike many of the damaged characters who inhabit much of crime fiction, Hirsch is just an ordinary policeman who wants to be with his partner and her daughter, who wants to spend more time with his ageing mother but also finds excuses to limit that time and is respected as part of the local regional team.
In Mischance Creek, Disher shows once again why he is one of the masters of Australian rural crime fiction. The Hirsch series is Australian rural crime but much like Disher’s Peninsula series, has its own particular flavour, taking a more communal and ground level view. And once again Disher delivers a mix of seemingly banal but incisive country policing and hot button social issues.
October 23, 2025
I leapt at the chance to borrow Garry Disher’s latest in the Hirsch series of rural Australian crime novels when I saw it on the new book shelf at the library. Couldn’t quite believe my luck!
It’s set in the dry lands north of Burra in the so-called Mid North of South Australia, whose southern edges are relatively well watered and have reasonable soil, but by the time you get up to Burra , which he here calls Redruth, it’s dry, the hills for miles are bare because their timbers were logged to support the copper mines that flourished in the nineteenth century, and beyond that you’re not quite in the desert, but it’s not far away.
Disher grew up in this pet of the country try and he conveys the misery of a drought year in the communities where Hirsch is the sole policeman most of the time, the relentless heat, farmers’ and businesses’ fear of impending fearing loss, the anguish of having to destroy stock because there’s no feed, what it means to be short of water.
Because this is a crime novel, many of his characters are bad, and bad things happen. But Disher also knows the inner workings of a small community where most people are decent, there’s a Christmas pageant, school fund raisers and endless cups of tea shared when someone drops in. At the end of a day of visits to remote properties, Hirsch is awash with tea and stale biscuits, kept for when a visitor might call by.
He’s in a loving relationship, and is an all round good bloke - no depressed, violent alcoholic detective here. What a relief.
Anyway, Disher has Blut this story with several strands which he’s experienced and skilful enough to keep on track at all times, pacing incidents, discoveries and normal life to keep all the stories moving along very nicely, thank you.
Disher is one of Australia’s most highly warded crime writers, and here he’s at the top of his game.
It’s set in the dry lands north of Burra in the so-called Mid North of South Australia, whose southern edges are relatively well watered and have reasonable soil, but by the time you get up to Burra , which he here calls Redruth, it’s dry, the hills for miles are bare because their timbers were logged to support the copper mines that flourished in the nineteenth century, and beyond that you’re not quite in the desert, but it’s not far away.
Disher grew up in this pet of the country try and he conveys the misery of a drought year in the communities where Hirsch is the sole policeman most of the time, the relentless heat, farmers’ and businesses’ fear of impending fearing loss, the anguish of having to destroy stock because there’s no feed, what it means to be short of water.
Because this is a crime novel, many of his characters are bad, and bad things happen. But Disher also knows the inner workings of a small community where most people are decent, there’s a Christmas pageant, school fund raisers and endless cups of tea shared when someone drops in. At the end of a day of visits to remote properties, Hirsch is awash with tea and stale biscuits, kept for when a visitor might call by.
He’s in a loving relationship, and is an all round good bloke - no depressed, violent alcoholic detective here. What a relief.
Anyway, Disher has Blut this story with several strands which he’s experienced and skilful enough to keep on track at all times, pacing incidents, discoveries and normal life to keep all the stories moving along very nicely, thank you.
Disher is one of Australia’s most highly warded crime writers, and here he’s at the top of his game.
December 29, 2025
Mischance Creek is another gipping and gritty Australian rural noir in Garry Disher's superb Paul Hirschhausen series. As usual, as sole police officer in the town of Tiverton, in South Australia's drought-stricken wheat belt, Constable Paul Hirschhausen must juggle multiple incidents and concerns over the course of the novel.
January 22, 2026
4.5★
"Thursday. A vivid mix of blue-black bruises starting to yellow across Hirsch’s chest, hip and shoulder. Still tender, but mostly when he knocked against something now. He counted that as an improvement.
Hirsch, Senior Constable Paul Hirschhausen, is a lone country cop in a small South Australian town where much of his time is spent on routine matters, like gun audits and welfare checks.
Hirsch worries about those folks who live alone or so far out of town and who may choose to give up the ghost rather than ask for help.
His routine includes taking regular long, looping drives on bad roads to stop and say G'day to his far-flung people.
"And so he laughed, even though he didn’t often feel up to it these days, knowing that the rituals of talk and tea and buns and laughter kept him in the fold. They stood for ‘How’re you doing?’ out in a land of isolated homesteads crouched along dusty, rarely travelled back roads."
By the end of a long day's run, he is chock-a-block with biscuits, awash with tea, and looking forward to a cold beer and a curry from the local Indian place.
It's not a bad life, especially since high school teacher Wendy and her teen daughter have adopted him. No wedding bells yet, but …
You'd be forgiven for thinking how lovely it would be to live among caring country folk, and it is, as long as you keep your wits about you. For example, this is a man you'd avoid, but he may be the only one in town with parts you need. I do so enjoy Disher's writing.
"Nicholas Sampson ran a business in motor repairs and used car and farm machinery out on the road to Morgan, along a stretch of mean, falling-down dwellings more rust than iron, more dust than stone, always with weedy front yards and stripped cars and skeletal horses out the back. Sampson often featured in Sergeant Brandl’s Monday briefings, suspected of stripping, recycling and rebirthing stolen cars. The image she pasted to her wall-monitor was of a man as dented, grimy and questionable as his vehicles and VIN numbers."
On one of his runs, Hirsch meets a young woman searching for her mother, missing for many years, presumed dead. Mum and Dad had been camping and prospecting, and Dad's body was found twisted and broken at the bottom of a mine shaft – sadly, not a rare occurrence. But Mum was never found.
She has time and determination – Hirsch wishes her well… and then gets an itch to follow up. Why not? He's got many old files.
The action escalates from low-key country investigation to high-powered thriller as Hirsch gets ever deeper into the terrifying guts of the town. You can't trust Disher to save all the characters, either.
Such a good series. Such a good writer. Plenty of standalones to choose from and also his excellent Wyatt series, where a crook is the main character. If you haven't met Disher yet, do.
The Hirsch series so far:
#1 My review of Bitter Wash Road
#2 My review of Peace
#3 My review of Consolation
#4 My review of Day's End
"Thursday. A vivid mix of blue-black bruises starting to yellow across Hirsch’s chest, hip and shoulder. Still tender, but mostly when he knocked against something now. He counted that as an improvement.
Hirsch, Senior Constable Paul Hirschhausen, is a lone country cop in a small South Australian town where much of his time is spent on routine matters, like gun audits and welfare checks.
Hirsch worries about those folks who live alone or so far out of town and who may choose to give up the ghost rather than ask for help.
His routine includes taking regular long, looping drives on bad roads to stop and say G'day to his far-flung people.
"And so he laughed, even though he didn’t often feel up to it these days, knowing that the rituals of talk and tea and buns and laughter kept him in the fold. They stood for ‘How’re you doing?’ out in a land of isolated homesteads crouched along dusty, rarely travelled back roads."
By the end of a long day's run, he is chock-a-block with biscuits, awash with tea, and looking forward to a cold beer and a curry from the local Indian place.
It's not a bad life, especially since high school teacher Wendy and her teen daughter have adopted him. No wedding bells yet, but …
You'd be forgiven for thinking how lovely it would be to live among caring country folk, and it is, as long as you keep your wits about you. For example, this is a man you'd avoid, but he may be the only one in town with parts you need. I do so enjoy Disher's writing.
"Nicholas Sampson ran a business in motor repairs and used car and farm machinery out on the road to Morgan, along a stretch of mean, falling-down dwellings more rust than iron, more dust than stone, always with weedy front yards and stripped cars and skeletal horses out the back. Sampson often featured in Sergeant Brandl’s Monday briefings, suspected of stripping, recycling and rebirthing stolen cars. The image she pasted to her wall-monitor was of a man as dented, grimy and questionable as his vehicles and VIN numbers."
On one of his runs, Hirsch meets a young woman searching for her mother, missing for many years, presumed dead. Mum and Dad had been camping and prospecting, and Dad's body was found twisted and broken at the bottom of a mine shaft – sadly, not a rare occurrence. But Mum was never found.
She has time and determination – Hirsch wishes her well… and then gets an itch to follow up. Why not? He's got many old files.
The action escalates from low-key country investigation to high-powered thriller as Hirsch gets ever deeper into the terrifying guts of the town. You can't trust Disher to save all the characters, either.
Such a good series. Such a good writer. Plenty of standalones to choose from and also his excellent Wyatt series, where a crook is the main character. If you haven't met Disher yet, do.
The Hirsch series so far:
#1 My review of Bitter Wash Road
#2 My review of Peace
#3 My review of Consolation
#4 My review of Day's End
October 14, 2025
The Hirsch series keeps getting better and better. Finished this in less than 24 hours. You won’t find better crime writing.
October 5, 2025
⭐️4 Stars⭐️
Mischance Creek by Garry Disher is pure gold Aussie rural crime. This is the fifth book in the Hirsch series and it can easily be read as a standalone. The story is atmospheric and a great insight into rural policing in remote and lonely areas of outback Australia.
We follow the daily life of Senior Constable Paul Hirschhausen as he’s checking firearms during his regular annual police audit. As he journeys to each stop we meet multiple characters, there’s currently a drought in the mid-north and the farmers are doing it tough.
When Hirsch is called in to assist in a roadside emergency he meets a young woman named Annika who lost her mother seven years ago and is on a mission to find her body. The missing woman is a cold case and Hirsch just might see what he can dig up to assist Annika.
Publication Date 30 September 2025
Publisher Text Publishing
Thank you so much Text Publishing for an early copy of the book.
Mischance Creek by Garry Disher is pure gold Aussie rural crime. This is the fifth book in the Hirsch series and it can easily be read as a standalone. The story is atmospheric and a great insight into rural policing in remote and lonely areas of outback Australia.
We follow the daily life of Senior Constable Paul Hirschhausen as he’s checking firearms during his regular annual police audit. As he journeys to each stop we meet multiple characters, there’s currently a drought in the mid-north and the farmers are doing it tough.
When Hirsch is called in to assist in a roadside emergency he meets a young woman named Annika who lost her mother seven years ago and is on a mission to find her body. The missing woman is a cold case and Hirsch just might see what he can dig up to assist Annika.
Publication Date 30 September 2025
Publisher Text Publishing
Thank you so much Text Publishing for an early copy of the book.
November 1, 2025
I'm a long-time Garry Disher fan, and Mischance Creek didn't disappoint; it was brilliant. I thoroughly enjoy the slow interweaving of events in the small Australian outback community through the day-to-day trivia a local cop faces; knowing the people, aware of the subtle changes, and putting it together- Disher captures it all in a great tale.
October 26, 2025
A good read, but not as strong as Hirsch #1-4. Disher is a fine Australian writer and rural crime noir is his specialty. Hirsch has been a good series thus far - probably not one for the younger reader, it largely centres around a Police Senior Constable in a small country town. The storylines are generally strong, stronger than you'd expect given the settings. Not one to read whilst tired, there is generally quite a bit going on across parallel events and characters.
Mischance Creek was a strong ending but it was somewhat dull for the first 2/3rds. 3 stars for me.
Mischance Creek was a strong ending but it was somewhat dull for the first 2/3rds. 3 stars for me.
December 10, 2025
Senior Constable Paul Hirschhausen is on the job on a fire arms audit. While he is checking the firearms and ammo are stored safely he is also checking on their owners, as it’s a tough life out in the rural outback and many of the farmers are doing it tough thanks to the drought that won’t end
When he is called out to an emergency roadside assistance, he welcomes the change of scenery and pace. But instead finds Annika Nodrum stuck while trying to search for her mother who has been missing for seven years. Annika’s father was found dead but her mother’s body has never been recovered.
Hirsch decides to help Annika find out what happened to her mother and search for the police file, if he can find it? Why is there a shroud of secrecy around this case?
This is the fifth book in Disher’s Hirsch series and my first by the author and I believe it can easily be read as a stand alone
It is a slow burn but a very well written outback noir crime story that wonderfully builds suspense through out
Thank you Text Publishing for my gifted review copy
October 7, 2025
Great read. 5 star drama.
Aitch or Brevet Sergeant Paul Hirschhausen apart from dealing with sovereign citizens, lawbreakers, racism, road side assistance , stolen caravans a cold case and being assaulted is making time for his mother with them both grieving the loss his father. The setting of time aside to include family grief, slowed the pace of the book and for me gave a good story another dimension in quality.
Gary Disher and his Hirsch books are good and this book #5 has given # 6 an aspiration to be met.
I mean the book has lots of stuff like the loss of a colleague , council corruption, illegal dumping of hazardous ☢️ waste , dealing with teenage attitudes and Aitch’s love life. I cannot elaborate further or I would have to mark the spoilers button.
New readers and existing readers of Garry Disher enjoy.
This book is a fine piece of writing covering plots , subplots, and the human condition.
Probably a bit light on in the inefficiencies in government
Aitch or Brevet Sergeant Paul Hirschhausen apart from dealing with sovereign citizens, lawbreakers, racism, road side assistance , stolen caravans a cold case and being assaulted is making time for his mother with them both grieving the loss his father. The setting of time aside to include family grief, slowed the pace of the book and for me gave a good story another dimension in quality.
Gary Disher and his Hirsch books are good and this book #5 has given # 6 an aspiration to be met.
I mean the book has lots of stuff like the loss of a colleague , council corruption, illegal dumping of hazardous ☢️ waste , dealing with teenage attitudes and Aitch’s love life. I cannot elaborate further or I would have to mark the spoilers button.
New readers and existing readers of Garry Disher enjoy.
This book is a fine piece of writing covering plots , subplots, and the human condition.
Probably a bit light on in the inefficiencies in government
October 17, 2025
6 stars! Love this series and this was one of the best. Great characters and plot, hope there will be more in the series, in the not too distant future 🤞🤞
November 12, 2025
A solid read, though probably the weakest in the Hirsch series (but still better than many other Aussie noir books). One of the threads - notably the sovereign citizen one - dead-ended (excuse the pun). A shame, because it’s a theme worth exploring.
September 20, 2025
4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Vibes: Rural Noir, Slow Burn Tension, Small Town Secrets
- - -
Thanks to the kind team at Text Publishing, I was lucky enough to get an early read of Garry Disher’s latest book before its October release.
I’ve read some of Garry’s previous novels but this was my first time meeting Senior Constable Paul Hirschhausen, even though this is the fifth book in the series. Luckily it works perfectly as a standalone. I never felt lost having missed the earlier books, just instantly absorbed into Hirsch’s world.
Unlike a lot of my Aussie crime reads that kick off with a dead body or crime committed, Mischance Creek takes its time. It follows the daily grind of a rural cop, slowly but perfectly introducing the characters, town politics and building tensions until they spiral into the drama at the heart of the story.
The topical theme of sovereign citizenship was in particular fascinating to read about, especially with its prominence in the news lately.
Garry’s writing is unmatched when it comes to capturing the scenes of rural atmospheric Australia. I especially loved his play at making light of the idea of ‘outback noir’ given this is his bread and butter.
While the body count was lighter than my usual crime reads, the suspense and character depth kept me hooked. Mischance Creek is proof that sometimes the quiet crime dramas can be just as compelling.
Vibes: Rural Noir, Slow Burn Tension, Small Town Secrets
- - -
Thanks to the kind team at Text Publishing, I was lucky enough to get an early read of Garry Disher’s latest book before its October release.
I’ve read some of Garry’s previous novels but this was my first time meeting Senior Constable Paul Hirschhausen, even though this is the fifth book in the series. Luckily it works perfectly as a standalone. I never felt lost having missed the earlier books, just instantly absorbed into Hirsch’s world.
Unlike a lot of my Aussie crime reads that kick off with a dead body or crime committed, Mischance Creek takes its time. It follows the daily grind of a rural cop, slowly but perfectly introducing the characters, town politics and building tensions until they spiral into the drama at the heart of the story.
The topical theme of sovereign citizenship was in particular fascinating to read about, especially with its prominence in the news lately.
Garry’s writing is unmatched when it comes to capturing the scenes of rural atmospheric Australia. I especially loved his play at making light of the idea of ‘outback noir’ given this is his bread and butter.
While the body count was lighter than my usual crime reads, the suspense and character depth kept me hooked. Mischance Creek is proof that sometimes the quiet crime dramas can be just as compelling.
September 10, 2025
As can often be the case SC Paul Hirschhausen is doing a spot of routine country policing when things start happening. In the midst of it, things rapidly turn to shit and he’s in the hot seat, in the middle of South Australia’s nowhere, and not knowing who he can trust.
Like all good crime novels there’s multiple converging storylines - here there’s small town power and influence at play, a woman stranded but it turns out she’s not a tourist, and a group of sovereign citizens bringing attention to themselves for being stereotypical sovereign citizen assholes (NB - very topical here in Australia at the moment).
Whilst this is a series, and I agree reading the prior Hirsch books will give context, it’s not strictly necessary to pick up the main threads. We do learn more about Hirsch and his relationships, with some shifting perceptions from him of what policing means to him.
Rich in the desolate-ness of the drought stricken countryside, and the resultant effects upon the towns’ inhabitants, you can’t help but wonder about similar situations playing out throughout country Australia.
Mischance Creek is a book you can churn through but it definitely gives you something to think about behind the final pages.
Thanks Text Publishing for my advanced reading copy. It’s out this October (2025).
Like all good crime novels there’s multiple converging storylines - here there’s small town power and influence at play, a woman stranded but it turns out she’s not a tourist, and a group of sovereign citizens bringing attention to themselves for being stereotypical sovereign citizen assholes (NB - very topical here in Australia at the moment).
Whilst this is a series, and I agree reading the prior Hirsch books will give context, it’s not strictly necessary to pick up the main threads. We do learn more about Hirsch and his relationships, with some shifting perceptions from him of what policing means to him.
Rich in the desolate-ness of the drought stricken countryside, and the resultant effects upon the towns’ inhabitants, you can’t help but wonder about similar situations playing out throughout country Australia.
Mischance Creek is a book you can churn through but it definitely gives you something to think about behind the final pages.
Thanks Text Publishing for my advanced reading copy. It’s out this October (2025).
November 15, 2025
Yet another fine tale from Garry Disher. His depiction of the place and its people is so true and done without exaggeration or fuss.
November 19, 2025
excellent Australian noir.
November 5, 2025
Another page turner from Garry Disher. No gratuitous violence - just an excellent story with a decent, kind and wry cop working towards the resolution of a crime.
January 8, 2026
One of my favourite rural noir characters. Tough job. Convincingly modern life problems hit the outback. A great police procedural in an unusual environment.
December 11, 2025
Having recently travelled through Burra and SA’s mid north the landscape descriptions took on additional meaning. Burra (Disher’s Redruth) lies on the cusp of hard country in most directions.
October 24, 2025
another great book
I only read my first Gary Disher book a few years ago and could not believe he is not as well known as he should be. His books are great. His characters authentically Australian. My favourite is Hirsch and this did not disappoint.
I only read my first Gary Disher book a few years ago and could not believe he is not as well known as he should be. His books are great. His characters authentically Australian. My favourite is Hirsch and this did not disappoint.
November 21, 2025
Hate to say it but this just didn’t grip me! I love Garry Disher and the Hirsch series in particular and I usually can’t put his books down but this one felt like it took too long to get to the point. Still love the scene setting and social commentary of rural life.
October 21, 2025
Bloody awesome series
I can’t say enough about Hirsch series. Love the characters and story. The best! Can’t wait for the next one.
I can’t say enough about Hirsch series. Love the characters and story. The best! Can’t wait for the next one.
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November 18, 2025The following book reviews have been shared by Text Publishing, publisher of Mischance Creek.
‘The characters are stark, the emotions of the big dry – quiet despair, hope and endurance – jump off the pages. Authentic Aussie crime writing at its best.’ [5 stars]
SA Weekend
‘Mischance Creek confirms Disher’s place as one of Australia’s great crime writers.’
Cheryl Akle, Australian
‘Garry Disher is the doyen of the outback crime novel and his latest about South Australian police constable Paul ‘Hirsch’ Hirschhausen, Mischance Creek, once more sets the standard for the genre.’
Canberra Weekly
‘This is a terrific read. It works as a standalone, but really – why stop there? The ‘Hirsch’ series is that good.’ [4.5 stars]
Good Reading Magazine
‘Another gripping read…’
BookPeople
‘The characters are stark, the emotions of the big dry – quiet despair, hope and endurance – jump off the pages. Authentic Aussie crime writing at its best.’ [5 stars]
SA Weekend
‘Mischance Creek confirms Disher’s place as one of Australia’s great crime writers.’
Cheryl Akle, Australian
‘Garry Disher is the doyen of the outback crime novel and his latest about South Australian police constable Paul ‘Hirsch’ Hirschhausen, Mischance Creek, once more sets the standard for the genre.’
Canberra Weekly
‘This is a terrific read. It works as a standalone, but really – why stop there? The ‘Hirsch’ series is that good.’ [4.5 stars]
Good Reading Magazine
‘Another gripping read…’
BookPeople
November 9, 2025
I really enjoy this series, Hirsch being one of my favourite crime coppers. No alcohol abuse, no ego, no relationship dramas, just an intelligent, mighty good bloke.
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