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Wyatt #3
Deathdeal
Wyatt, professional hold-up man, is back in another tight, remorseless thriller. On the run after the payroll heist that went horribly wrong in Paydirt, wanted by the police and contract hitmen, he discovers that a shadowy third player has joined the hunt. Enter Stolle. Stolle specialises in finding people who don't want to be found. But who is his Brisbane client? Is this a trap Wyatt's walking into? And what of the score itself, the suburban bank with two million in the vault? It looks easy enough - if you don't count a bank manager who owes favours to the wrong people, a gun-running pilot, grifters, bent cops and punks with ambition...There's death in a deal like that. What the critics said about previous Wyatt 'Real books, not junk fiction.' Booklist, USA 'Wyatt is the sort of character Australian movies are made of.' Sunday Age 'Wyatt's as hard-boiled as a hubcap.' Weekend Australian
212 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1993
67 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
About the author
Garry Disher
92 books719 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 39 reviews
July 6, 2023
4★
“‘I’m glad you’re okay,’ [X] said. Then he saw the big Colt. A kind of sadness settled in him. ‘You know you’ve got nothing to worry about from me.’
Wyatt raised the muzzle. ‘That’s right,’ he said.”
Wyatt is a hard-nosed operator, wasting little emotion on other people except for how likely they are to affect him and his life. He’s a crook, a thief, a master of the heist. His real problem, as I see it, is that he can’t do these jobs on his own, and he doesn’t trust anyone but himself.
He’s still trying to stay out of sight of the serious crims he’s crossed in Melbourne and Sydney, but because he lost his last job to someone who got to the money first, he needs to get out there and raise some capital.
He’s got about $20,000 hidden in odd spots in his backpack, but it’s not the big haul he was looking for. He’s not greedy. He just wants to do a couple of jobs a year and make enough to sun himself somewhere for a few months at a time and relax.
He stays in cheap motels and doesn’t call attention to himself. But someone finds him at about two o’clock in the morning.
“There were two of them and they came in hard and fast. They knew where the bed was and flanked it as Wyatt rolled onto his shoulder and grabbed at the backpack on the dusty carpet.”
They knock him out, and as he comes to, he sees them rummaging through his stuff and talking about all the money he should have from his last job. How do they know that? Nobody knows where he is. He leaps up, gets the better of them both (this is Wyatt, so we believe it), and questions them.
“Wyatt put some flat menace behind his voice. ‘What’s your name?’
‘Mostyn.’
‘Mostyn and Whitney,’ Wyatt said. ‘Nice.’
The man was silent. Wyatt said, ‘But it’s not your names I’m interested in. I want to know who you are and why you’re here.’
‘We were hired,’ Mostyn said. He mumbled it, looking at the floor. He wore a black tracksuit and scuffed gym boots. There was red hair on his knuckles, red hair cropped skinhead style on his scalp. He couldn’t have been more than twenty-five.
‘Who hired you?’
‘I mean,’ Mostyn said, ‘someone hired the boss to find you, and he put me and Whitney on it.’
. . .
The boss said it was a private job, some woman in Queensland. That’s all I know. I swear.’”
The action moves to Queensland where there is another story going on. A bank manager with a gambling habit is being blackmailed into being the go-between for heroin that is being flown in from New Guinea and Thailand to be sold to dealers in Australia. We meet him stashing the drugs in his hotel room as he gambles next-door and awaits the couriers. He is befriended by a pretty girl.
What could possibly go wrong? Bank, blackmail, drugs, plus Wyatt, on edge.
With Wyatt, you think you know what you’re going to get, but you’re never quite sure. He’s pretty cold-blooded and practical, but he does have a heart. He seems disappointed and even a bit regretful when someone he’s trusted (more or less) crosses him and he has no choice but to kill them.
He’s had some happy liaisons with female companions, but I’m wary of getting attached to anyone – about as wary as he is, even when he lets his guard down from time to time. It’s a solitary existence, hardly a life.
“Wrapped in silence, he could thrive, away from the noise and confusion that other people created around themselves. He never felt lonely—loneliness was an illusion. He knew all these things about himself, but, still, in this tunneling shire council ute on this dark plain, he began to feel unconnected to the world.”
This is unashamedly Wyatt, and his fans will love this. I am an admirer of Disher’s writing and prefer his other books to the Wyatt series.
“‘I’m glad you’re okay,’ [X] said. Then he saw the big Colt. A kind of sadness settled in him. ‘You know you’ve got nothing to worry about from me.’
Wyatt raised the muzzle. ‘That’s right,’ he said.”
Wyatt is a hard-nosed operator, wasting little emotion on other people except for how likely they are to affect him and his life. He’s a crook, a thief, a master of the heist. His real problem, as I see it, is that he can’t do these jobs on his own, and he doesn’t trust anyone but himself.
He’s still trying to stay out of sight of the serious crims he’s crossed in Melbourne and Sydney, but because he lost his last job to someone who got to the money first, he needs to get out there and raise some capital.
He’s got about $20,000 hidden in odd spots in his backpack, but it’s not the big haul he was looking for. He’s not greedy. He just wants to do a couple of jobs a year and make enough to sun himself somewhere for a few months at a time and relax.
He stays in cheap motels and doesn’t call attention to himself. But someone finds him at about two o’clock in the morning.
“There were two of them and they came in hard and fast. They knew where the bed was and flanked it as Wyatt rolled onto his shoulder and grabbed at the backpack on the dusty carpet.”
They knock him out, and as he comes to, he sees them rummaging through his stuff and talking about all the money he should have from his last job. How do they know that? Nobody knows where he is. He leaps up, gets the better of them both (this is Wyatt, so we believe it), and questions them.
“Wyatt put some flat menace behind his voice. ‘What’s your name?’
‘Mostyn.’
‘Mostyn and Whitney,’ Wyatt said. ‘Nice.’
The man was silent. Wyatt said, ‘But it’s not your names I’m interested in. I want to know who you are and why you’re here.’
‘We were hired,’ Mostyn said. He mumbled it, looking at the floor. He wore a black tracksuit and scuffed gym boots. There was red hair on his knuckles, red hair cropped skinhead style on his scalp. He couldn’t have been more than twenty-five.
‘Who hired you?’
‘I mean,’ Mostyn said, ‘someone hired the boss to find you, and he put me and Whitney on it.’
. . .
The boss said it was a private job, some woman in Queensland. That’s all I know. I swear.’”
The action moves to Queensland where there is another story going on. A bank manager with a gambling habit is being blackmailed into being the go-between for heroin that is being flown in from New Guinea and Thailand to be sold to dealers in Australia. We meet him stashing the drugs in his hotel room as he gambles next-door and awaits the couriers. He is befriended by a pretty girl.
What could possibly go wrong? Bank, blackmail, drugs, plus Wyatt, on edge.
With Wyatt, you think you know what you’re going to get, but you’re never quite sure. He’s pretty cold-blooded and practical, but he does have a heart. He seems disappointed and even a bit regretful when someone he’s trusted (more or less) crosses him and he has no choice but to kill them.
He’s had some happy liaisons with female companions, but I’m wary of getting attached to anyone – about as wary as he is, even when he lets his guard down from time to time. It’s a solitary existence, hardly a life.
“Wrapped in silence, he could thrive, away from the noise and confusion that other people created around themselves. He never felt lonely—loneliness was an illusion. He knew all these things about himself, but, still, in this tunneling shire council ute on this dark plain, he began to feel unconnected to the world.”
This is unashamedly Wyatt, and his fans will love this. I am an admirer of Disher’s writing and prefer his other books to the Wyatt series.
February 24, 2022
Book three in the series and life is not going well for Wyatt. As he desperately tries to recoup his financial losses it seems that every time he wins he immediately loses again.
Wyatt is a loner but in this book he furthers a relationship he started in a previous book and the results are not always for the best. I finished the book with the impression that he is going to toughen up and revert to basics in the future. Moving away from his usual pattern always seems to end in disaster
I am really enjoying this series and I find it great fun to be on the side of the anti hero. Okay so he kills people but they are always baddies and it is just a book! I am looking forward to the next one.
Wyatt is a loner but in this book he furthers a relationship he started in a previous book and the results are not always for the best. I finished the book with the impression that he is going to toughen up and revert to basics in the future. Moving away from his usual pattern always seems to end in disaster
I am really enjoying this series and I find it great fun to be on the side of the anti hero. Okay so he kills people but they are always baddies and it is just a book! I am looking forward to the next one.
January 25, 2016
Pretty good tale again, but I'm getting a bit tired of how the heists go. Wyatt is supposed to be a Parker-type, but he only talks the talk & otherwise is a born loser. I'm just tired of that & don't know how he was ever successful. I read this book hoping he would finally get out of his rut, but he didn't. I even started the 4th book with hopes, but it immediately turned me off. Obviously, nothing will work yet again. If it does, it will be some magical fix that he didn't earn. Nope, I'm done with this series.
August 13, 2023
After a series of setbacks Wyatt works out a plan to rob a bank in Brisbane. Only the Outfit is after him. They add complications he just doesn’t need!
July 22, 2019
Deathdeal is book three in the Wyatt series by Garry Disher. After two heists went wrong, Wyatt is desperate for money. Due to his financial situation, Wyatt became more involved with a criminal organisation called the Outfit. Wyatt accepted a job to rob a bank in Brisbane. However, for Wyatt, the heists failed again and put him in more trouble than before. The readers of Deathdeal will continue to follow Wyatt to find out what happens to him.
Deathdeal is another enjoyable book to read. Garry Disher did a fantastic job of engaging me with the plot. I like Garry Disher description of his settings. I love Garry Disher portrayal of his characters and the way they interact with each other throughout this book. Deathdeal was well written and researched by Garry Disher.
The readers of Deathdeal will go on a walking trip around the streets of Melbourne and Brisbane. Also, the readers of Deathdeal will understand the work that is involved in organising heists.
I recommend this book.
Deathdeal is another enjoyable book to read. Garry Disher did a fantastic job of engaging me with the plot. I like Garry Disher description of his settings. I love Garry Disher portrayal of his characters and the way they interact with each other throughout this book. Deathdeal was well written and researched by Garry Disher.
The readers of Deathdeal will go on a walking trip around the streets of Melbourne and Brisbane. Also, the readers of Deathdeal will understand the work that is involved in organising heists.
I recommend this book.
October 10, 2015
This is the third book in the compelling Wyatt series by Garry Disher. To read a crime fiction novel through the eyes of the 'perp' is a refreshing angle for me. Wyatt has some endearing qualities and old school loyalties that make him a likeable rogue. As the reader, you feel good when Wyatt gets away with a crime. You are on-side with the 'baddie' and it feels good!
I have two books left to read in this series by Garry Disher -
Paydirt (Wyatt #2) and
Crosskill (Wyatt #4). Unfortunately they are both as rare as hen's teeth. Long out-of-print, and as far as I can tell non-existent in Tasmania. If anyone has a copy of either book that they are prepared to lend me, I will guard it with my life, and of course pay 2-way postage.
I have two books left to read in this series by Garry Disher -
Paydirt (Wyatt #2) and
Crosskill (Wyatt #4). Unfortunately they are both as rare as hen's teeth. Long out-of-print, and as far as I can tell non-existent in Tasmania. If anyone has a copy of either book that they are prepared to lend me, I will guard it with my life, and of course pay 2-way postage. 
November 14, 2015
Wyatt is on the run. Everyone is looking for him following the mess-up of his failed attempt to hijack the armored car. He’s determined, in the meantime to get the money back from those who stole it from him (as told in Wyatt #2). As seems to be his lot, others have the same idea and he can trust no one.
The Wyatt series was written before his police procedural series features Hal Challis, a very different character from Wyatt who remains one of the more hard-bitten and amoral anti-heroes I’ve read. There’s very little humor here, just the struggles of a man who wants nothing more than to have his place in the country where he can hold up and rob a few banks every year. He has no interests, few needs or goals and in less capable hands the books would descend into mere shoot-em-ups. Disher instead has created a memorable character. If you like Westlake’s Parker (written under the name Richard Stark) you’ll devour the Wyatt series. On to #4.
The Wyatt series was written before his police procedural series features Hal Challis, a very different character from Wyatt who remains one of the more hard-bitten and amoral anti-heroes I’ve read. There’s very little humor here, just the struggles of a man who wants nothing more than to have his place in the country where he can hold up and rob a few banks every year. He has no interests, few needs or goals and in less capable hands the books would descend into mere shoot-em-ups. Disher instead has created a memorable character. If you like Westlake’s Parker (written under the name Richard Stark) you’ll devour the Wyatt series. On to #4.
October 19, 2023
This is my eighth Disher novel and my second in the Wyatt series. I recently returned to reading Garry Disher after a decade or more away. It has been an enjoyable and rewarding return.
Many years ago, I read a true crime account of the mafia bosses of America. It was revealing that many lived on the edge with a large dose of paranoria. Their lifestyle was supported by daily pill organizer trays. They suffered stress, anxiety, and depression far above community norms. I also had a good friend who was an experienced police officer who would relay stories of criminal ineptitude. Yet, here we have super cool, unflappable Wyatt. That’s alright leave the reality behind and dive and delve into Disher’s crime fiction.
Wyatt has none of the above failings. His only problem lay with hopeless and, more often, corrupt accomplices. His other fault is his continuous experience of bad luck.
The story opens with a number of escapades that introduce Wyatt and a couple of other characters.
Wyatt travels to Brisbane to link up with an old flame who has an idea for the perfect crime. The book then travels into the worn path of a heist story with twists and turns. I guess it could be titled Ocean’s Four.
Disher has written another interesting, easy to read crime fiction book. This story has more double crossers than a Valentines Day card. Disher is undoubtedly at the front of the crowded field of Australian crime fiction writers. He has an easy flowing and descriptive writing style. His collection of crim characters is varied and interesting. His geography is accurate, and Wyatt is a believable, anti-hero, protagonist. I would be interested to know how much planning Disher does before starting the story.
There are as many twists and turns as the Zig Zag Railway, nevertheless they are all believable. I found the ending stretched believability to the breaking point but then reminded myself that it is all make believe.
Disher has replaced Peter Corris as the human benchmark for great, simplistic but stylish crime fiction. His books are not self-indulgent sagas. They are succinct, well planned and executed stories of crime and intrigue peppered with the occasional violence.
I will seek out further Wyatt escapades.
Many years ago, I read a true crime account of the mafia bosses of America. It was revealing that many lived on the edge with a large dose of paranoria. Their lifestyle was supported by daily pill organizer trays. They suffered stress, anxiety, and depression far above community norms. I also had a good friend who was an experienced police officer who would relay stories of criminal ineptitude. Yet, here we have super cool, unflappable Wyatt. That’s alright leave the reality behind and dive and delve into Disher’s crime fiction.
Wyatt has none of the above failings. His only problem lay with hopeless and, more often, corrupt accomplices. His other fault is his continuous experience of bad luck.
The story opens with a number of escapades that introduce Wyatt and a couple of other characters.
Wyatt travels to Brisbane to link up with an old flame who has an idea for the perfect crime. The book then travels into the worn path of a heist story with twists and turns. I guess it could be titled Ocean’s Four.
Disher has written another interesting, easy to read crime fiction book. This story has more double crossers than a Valentines Day card. Disher is undoubtedly at the front of the crowded field of Australian crime fiction writers. He has an easy flowing and descriptive writing style. His collection of crim characters is varied and interesting. His geography is accurate, and Wyatt is a believable, anti-hero, protagonist. I would be interested to know how much planning Disher does before starting the story.
There are as many twists and turns as the Zig Zag Railway, nevertheless they are all believable. I found the ending stretched believability to the breaking point but then reminded myself that it is all make believe.
Disher has replaced Peter Corris as the human benchmark for great, simplistic but stylish crime fiction. His books are not self-indulgent sagas. They are succinct, well planned and executed stories of crime and intrigue peppered with the occasional violence.
I will seek out further Wyatt escapades.
April 26, 2020
A near perfect heist novel. The setting is vivid. The characters are rendered brilliantly. The plotting is sharp. And Wyatt is playing a losing hand with precision and dedication.
September 13, 2025
Wyatt & Anna attempt a bank robbery in Brisbane...
August 27, 2025
Not a long book but no less vividly described red robbery with a twist of double cross. Addictive read.
Read
December 27, 2014It would be heresy to suggest that Garry Disher's "Wyatt" novels are as good as the Donald Westlake "Parker" series that inspired them, wouldn't it? OK, so I won't say that . . . but DAMN these books are good, about as good as hardboiled crime fiction can get. DEATHDEAL, the third in the series, finds Wyatt on the run after the disastrous events of PAYDIRT (while Wyatt is patterned after Parker, he seems to have Dortmunder's luck) when he meets up with some bad characters (old and new) and gets himself involved in a bank heist up in northern Australia. The plot is wonderfully constructed, the story drives forward relentlessly, and Wyatt's prose sees Westlake's hard-boiled economy and raises it with its own poetics of brutality. Someone please put this series into print in the USA--how about University of Chicago? Great great stuff.
April 21, 2022
This third book in Disher's early 1990s "Wyatt" series is really just a continuation of the first two (Kickback and Paydirt), and it certainly doesn't make any sense to read it unless you've read them. On the run following back-to-back debacles, career armed robber Wyatt is hiding from the police and a $20,000 bounty put out by an organized crime outfit. What he doesn't realize is that a shady private detective has been retrained by the femme fatale he boinked (and almost killed) in Kickback to track him down for another heist job.
This time, it's a rinky-dink bank in the rundown outskirts of Brisbane. Of course, as in the first two books -- nothing is ever simple. The bank manager is a gambler deep in debt to a loanshark who's involved in drug trafficking. As ever, Wyatt's seemingly precise plans all go haywire when the chaos of these other interests are unleashed. To be sure, it's all good, page-turning fun, and there's even a prison break thrown in, but at some point his luck's either got to turn or run out completely doesn't it? There are six more books in the series, so maybe not...
This time, it's a rinky-dink bank in the rundown outskirts of Brisbane. Of course, as in the first two books -- nothing is ever simple. The bank manager is a gambler deep in debt to a loanshark who's involved in drug trafficking. As ever, Wyatt's seemingly precise plans all go haywire when the chaos of these other interests are unleashed. To be sure, it's all good, page-turning fun, and there's even a prison break thrown in, but at some point his luck's either got to turn or run out completely doesn't it? There are six more books in the series, so maybe not...
March 17, 2022
I give up. There's a lot to like in the first 2 books but this one killed me... Wyatt is supposed to be Australia's greatest even criminal but every single thing he touches turns to shit. Seriously, every person he trusts stabs him in the back as soon as the jobs done. Here, he even goes back into business with the woman who screwed him over in the first book and then gives her all his money. He's really no better than your average run-of-the-mill meth addict on the criminal mastermind scale (and he has about as much money in his pocket).
Forget Parker, Wyatt is Dortmunder.
Forget Parker, Wyatt is Dortmunder.
January 29, 2022
Wyatt’s plans to settle the score in Melbourne are sidetracked when he receives an offer of a $5,000 payment and a profitable further opportunity in Brisbane. His benefactor turns out to be the femme fatale from ‘Kickback’ and the job is a bank heist. What could possibly go wrong?
By now I’ve grown accustomed to Wyatt’s meticulously planned jobs being thwarted by forces outside his control. The difference this time is that his female partner in crime is nabbed and his moral code sees him spring her from prison. A life of crime together is briefly entertained before they go their separate ways. I’m hoping there’s a bit more to come on their story down the track. A more complex Wyatt would be welcomed.
By now I’ve grown accustomed to Wyatt’s meticulously planned jobs being thwarted by forces outside his control. The difference this time is that his female partner in crime is nabbed and his moral code sees him spring her from prison. A life of crime together is briefly entertained before they go their separate ways. I’m hoping there’s a bit more to come on their story down the track. A more complex Wyatt would be welcomed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2019
Hard boiled Australian. For a thief, who prides himself on his hardness and professionalism, Wyatt sure runs into a lot of bad luck as well as people with other agendas that mess up his plans, sometimes on purpose, sometimes by accident. In this one, he’s still trying to recoup from the failure of his original robbery. Not bad but a bit too talky and with too much time spent on the back stories of the criminals that get in the way.
Also, Nelson fought the sea battle Trafalger, not Waterloo.
Also, Nelson fought the sea battle Trafalger, not Waterloo.
November 14, 2021
Anyone reading these books in series has obviously decided they need to know what happens to Wyatt, the career criminal, and I'm in that category: in for the long haul.
So Wyatt's latest adventure takes him interstate after a run in with people trying to find him, almost out of money and luck - but not quite.
I love the spare writing, the story is the thing and the planning of his jobs, he just needs a break.....
So Wyatt's latest adventure takes him interstate after a run in with people trying to find him, almost out of money and luck - but not quite.
I love the spare writing, the story is the thing and the planning of his jobs, he just needs a break.....
March 27, 2022
Am enjoying this series but they are getting to be a bit too similar. Great planning and execution but there's always someone to stick a spanner in the works.
I'm not sure how the next book is going to go... I don't believe Wyatt would be as generous as he was in the ending of this one... but if I can get hold of it, it will be interesting to see.
I'm not sure how the next book is going to go... I don't believe Wyatt would be as generous as he was in the ending of this one... but if I can get hold of it, it will be interesting to see.
October 12, 2020
Wyatt
Another solid well paced tale in the Wyatt series. With this series Disher has crafted a series very similar to Max Allan Collins Quarry series. The major difference being Wyatt pulls heists were Quarry is a hitman.
Another solid well paced tale in the Wyatt series. With this series Disher has crafted a series very similar to Max Allan Collins Quarry series. The major difference being Wyatt pulls heists were Quarry is a hitman.
May 16, 2022
The Wyatt saga continues…
Garry Disher is a great crime writer. His Wyatt books are more interesting than the normal run of the mill for this genre; the "hero" is a crook! And that's what gives these books an edge.
Recommended,
Peter
Garry Disher is a great crime writer. His Wyatt books are more interesting than the normal run of the mill for this genre; the "hero" is a crook! And that's what gives these books an edge.
Recommended,
Peter
May 2, 2023
A fast paced instalment in this series. What can I say it's Wyatt and written by Disher - it all makes for a story that may not be pretty, but it is always interesting with twists that you do not see coming.
Looking forward to book 4.
Looking forward to book 4.
June 14, 2023
Wyatt, the Australian Parker, is the career criminal we hope succeeds. This book has a surprise and twist in every one of it's short chapters but at all times realistic and believable. Looking forward to the next book.
November 5, 2017
Still continue to enjoy the Wyatt books - now for #4!
October 4, 2020
Another pretty solid heist story.
March 17, 2021
Similar to a Lee Child but without the successful outcome !
Unlike some Australian based novels the heat etc doesnt come over in the story.
Unlike some Australian based novels the heat etc doesnt come over in the story.
May 31, 2021
Great read as usual.
Read
February 16, 2022Aussie Jack Reacher
As the series goes along, I'm
getting to know the character better and liking him more. He's like Jack Reacher.
As the series goes along, I'm
getting to know the character better and liking him more. He's like Jack Reacher.
August 20, 2022
Disher doesn’t waste a word in the Wyatt books. Fast moving - surely Wyatt’s luck must change soon?
January 15, 2023
Wyatt, the ultimate good bad-guy
August 24, 2023
Another very typical Wyatt story. It's curious, the way Disher can set you to baracking for the bad guy.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews