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Peninsula Crimes #4
Chain of Evidence
Praise for the Hal Challis series:
“Garry Disher is an old favorite of mine, and it’s about time American readers got a shot at him.”—Scott Phillips, author of Cottonwood and The Ice Harvest
“A first-rate Australian author.”—The New York Times Book Review
Inspector Hal Challis has been summoned to Mawson’s Bluff, his childhood home in the Australian Outback, where his father is dying. Sergeant Ellen Destry is left to head an investigation into a ring of pedophiles that has descended on the peaceful Mornington Peninsula, a resort community near Melbourne. A little girl has been abducted from the fairgrounds at the annual Waterloo Show; it takes her mother twenty-four hours to report her missing. By then, hope is slim that the police will find the child before it is too late.
Challis’ sister’s difficult husband disappeared from the Bluff four years ago; since then Meg has received nuisance mail that she assumes comes from him. While Challis is in town, an extra buried body is discovered when a new grave is dug in the local graveyard. A black plastic bag containing the corpse of Meg’s husband is found on top of a coffin that was interred four years earlier.
With two very different crimes to solve, Challis and Destry have their work cut out for them.
Garry Disher is the author of more than forty books for children and adults. Two of his mysteries have won the German Crime Fiction Critics Prize. He lives near Melbourne in Australia.
“Garry Disher is an old favorite of mine, and it’s about time American readers got a shot at him.”—Scott Phillips, author of Cottonwood and The Ice Harvest
“A first-rate Australian author.”—The New York Times Book Review
Inspector Hal Challis has been summoned to Mawson’s Bluff, his childhood home in the Australian Outback, where his father is dying. Sergeant Ellen Destry is left to head an investigation into a ring of pedophiles that has descended on the peaceful Mornington Peninsula, a resort community near Melbourne. A little girl has been abducted from the fairgrounds at the annual Waterloo Show; it takes her mother twenty-four hours to report her missing. By then, hope is slim that the police will find the child before it is too late.
Challis’ sister’s difficult husband disappeared from the Bluff four years ago; since then Meg has received nuisance mail that she assumes comes from him. While Challis is in town, an extra buried body is discovered when a new grave is dug in the local graveyard. A black plastic bag containing the corpse of Meg’s husband is found on top of a coffin that was interred four years earlier.
With two very different crimes to solve, Challis and Destry have their work cut out for them.
Garry Disher is the author of more than forty books for children and adults. Two of his mysteries have won the German Crime Fiction Critics Prize. He lives near Melbourne in Australia.
375 pages, Hardcover
First published January 7, 2007
177 people are currently reading
357 people want to read
About the author
Garry Disher
92 books717 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 114 reviews
January 10, 2023
Number four in this excellent crime series is slightly different in that Inspector Hal Challis is on compassionate leave as his father is dying. The book is really two stories running parallel as Hal looks for a solution to his brother in law's disappearance eighteen months ago, and Sergeant Ellen Destry is left in charge of the team working on a child abduction.
Ellen feels herself out of her depth coping with the case and the team, and makes regular phone calls to Challis. They both find their relationship becoming more important to them. I guess it helps that Ellen has left her husband and is staying in Challis's house while he is away!
The police work in both cases is good and the stories are equally interesting. Disher walks a fine line on bad cops and brutality without going too far, and I think he handles it well. Ellen deserves a medal! I enjoyed it all. 4 stars.
Ellen feels herself out of her depth coping with the case and the team, and makes regular phone calls to Challis. They both find their relationship becoming more important to them. I guess it helps that Ellen has left her husband and is staying in Challis's house while he is away!
The police work in both cases is good and the stories are equally interesting. Disher walks a fine line on bad cops and brutality without going too far, and I think he handles it well. Ellen deserves a medal! I enjoyed it all. 4 stars.
February 20, 2024
The Peninsula East police station has seen some challenging cases over the years, but each of them have been led by Inspector Hal Challis. In Chain of Evidence the 4th book in the police procedural series Challis is away on extended leave when a case breaks and it's left to Detective Sergeant Ellen Destry to take charge. In a master stroke author Garry Disher has freshened up an already strong series sharing the focus on a character who until now was merely a bit player.
The disappearance of Katie Blasko has the entire Peninsula community buzzing with uncertainty. Did she run away or was she abducted, no one's really sure. As far as Sergeant Ellen Destry is concerned she is leading an abduction investigation her first in the role. With Hal Challis away, she feels the sting of uncertainty with her superintendent counting the pennies and fronting the media at every opportunity and her fellow sergeants waiting for her to make a mistake. Ellen needs every break possible to go her way.
Rumours of a paedophile group operating in the Peninsula region have been floating around for some time and this case causes that rumour to flare up with the hope that Katie's simply a runaway dimming. Haunting Ellen's every decision is the image of Katie Blasko being held and abused while she and her team stumble around.
The floodgates of intrigue and speculation open and it seems that the quiet Peninsula district is about to have all of its scabby sores picked open. The Jarretts, a local family of petty criminals that has been terrorising their neighbourhood make their presence felt with increasing frequency and will prove to become vital to the case, the stink of police corruption will surface and Ellen will understand just how lonely it can be leading a police investigation while weighed down by the burden of expectation.
Her job isn't made any easier thanks to a cost cutting exercise by her superior which has resulted in the forensic work being outsourced to a privately operated forensic laboratory instead of their usual government one. Sloppy procedures leads to contamination of evidence and growing frustration for the rookie team leader.
The major point of interest for followers of the series is the prominent role of Ellen Destry due to Hal Challis' absence. The reason behind his absence is that he has returned to his home town of Mawsons Bluff in South Australia to be with his dying father. But true to his inquisitive nature he manages to become an unwanted participant in his own investigation, this one a murder.
Garry Disher has taken his quality police procedural series, one that has already benefited from a distinctive setting and dramatic characterisations and given it one almighty shake. There is no doubt that the Challis and Destry series has been freshened up by the prominent role given to Ellen Destry here. She has a similar yet different outlook on policing and brings a whole raft of personal issues to the job. Add to that the promise of a growing attraction and there is much to look forward to in future books.
Moving on to the remaining members of the Peninsula East CIU and I was struck by an unusual feature about the station. Usually when reading a police procedural you are impressed by the great teamwork that goes on within the investigative unit as they efficiently go about working the case. This can't be said of the Peninsula East CIU with each officer either more intent on their own personal agendas or harbouring simmering resentments against their colleagues. This is a far from cohesive unit which makes for some very unpredictable results.
As a matter of fact, there is a definite underlying feeling of contempt running right through Chain of Evidence. Sure, there's the usual antagonism between the police and criminals, but it runs even deeper than that with police against police and even police against forensics technicians. It gives the story an edginess, a feeling that we are only moments away from a fearful explosion of emotion. And this feeling even travels all the way to Mawson's Bluff.
What was already a strong series has been even further enhanced by the addition of Chain of Evidence. With its evocative themes, expanded character viewpoints and Disher's wonderfully described settings, the release of each book in the series is becoming an increasingly anticipated event. When Hal Challis returns to the Peninsula he will find things much changed.
The disappearance of Katie Blasko has the entire Peninsula community buzzing with uncertainty. Did she run away or was she abducted, no one's really sure. As far as Sergeant Ellen Destry is concerned she is leading an abduction investigation her first in the role. With Hal Challis away, she feels the sting of uncertainty with her superintendent counting the pennies and fronting the media at every opportunity and her fellow sergeants waiting for her to make a mistake. Ellen needs every break possible to go her way.
Rumours of a paedophile group operating in the Peninsula region have been floating around for some time and this case causes that rumour to flare up with the hope that Katie's simply a runaway dimming. Haunting Ellen's every decision is the image of Katie Blasko being held and abused while she and her team stumble around.
The floodgates of intrigue and speculation open and it seems that the quiet Peninsula district is about to have all of its scabby sores picked open. The Jarretts, a local family of petty criminals that has been terrorising their neighbourhood make their presence felt with increasing frequency and will prove to become vital to the case, the stink of police corruption will surface and Ellen will understand just how lonely it can be leading a police investigation while weighed down by the burden of expectation.
Her job isn't made any easier thanks to a cost cutting exercise by her superior which has resulted in the forensic work being outsourced to a privately operated forensic laboratory instead of their usual government one. Sloppy procedures leads to contamination of evidence and growing frustration for the rookie team leader.
The major point of interest for followers of the series is the prominent role of Ellen Destry due to Hal Challis' absence. The reason behind his absence is that he has returned to his home town of Mawsons Bluff in South Australia to be with his dying father. But true to his inquisitive nature he manages to become an unwanted participant in his own investigation, this one a murder.
Garry Disher has taken his quality police procedural series, one that has already benefited from a distinctive setting and dramatic characterisations and given it one almighty shake. There is no doubt that the Challis and Destry series has been freshened up by the prominent role given to Ellen Destry here. She has a similar yet different outlook on policing and brings a whole raft of personal issues to the job. Add to that the promise of a growing attraction and there is much to look forward to in future books.
Moving on to the remaining members of the Peninsula East CIU and I was struck by an unusual feature about the station. Usually when reading a police procedural you are impressed by the great teamwork that goes on within the investigative unit as they efficiently go about working the case. This can't be said of the Peninsula East CIU with each officer either more intent on their own personal agendas or harbouring simmering resentments against their colleagues. This is a far from cohesive unit which makes for some very unpredictable results.
As a matter of fact, there is a definite underlying feeling of contempt running right through Chain of Evidence. Sure, there's the usual antagonism between the police and criminals, but it runs even deeper than that with police against police and even police against forensics technicians. It gives the story an edginess, a feeling that we are only moments away from a fearful explosion of emotion. And this feeling even travels all the way to Mawson's Bluff.
What was already a strong series has been even further enhanced by the addition of Chain of Evidence. With its evocative themes, expanded character viewpoints and Disher's wonderfully described settings, the release of each book in the series is becoming an increasingly anticipated event. When Hal Challis returns to the Peninsula he will find things much changed.
November 8, 2020
Fourth in the Peninsula Crimes series, sees DI Hal Challis on compassionate leave in the north of South Australia to visit his ailing father in the small town where he grew up, and gets enmeshed in the disappearance of his brother-in-law. On the Mornington Peninsula south-east of Melbourne, DS Ellen Destry of the Waterloo police beat is caught up in the disappearance of a 10-year-old girl, snatched on her way home from school, believed the work of a paedophile ring.
While these two themes run in parallel, there is so much more going on: Pam Murphy is undergoing detective training, much to the disdain of uniform partner, John Tankard – whose raft of problems stems from his own stupidity, a superintendent who courts the media while slashing expenses, a good-old-boy network within the local police protects some while punishing others, in particular a troubled and troublesome petty crime family on one of the housing estates.
As a fan of author Garry Disher’s “Wyatt” series, this is the third of his Peninsula Crimes I have read, and it deals with some difficult and uncomfortable issues (the sexual abuse of children and animal cruelty to name two). But for me, all the former relationships/marriages and embryonic romances muddies the story line, the ending with more corpses than you can shake a stick at.
Verdict: a reasonable read, but not his best.
While these two themes run in parallel, there is so much more going on: Pam Murphy is undergoing detective training, much to the disdain of uniform partner, John Tankard – whose raft of problems stems from his own stupidity, a superintendent who courts the media while slashing expenses, a good-old-boy network within the local police protects some while punishing others, in particular a troubled and troublesome petty crime family on one of the housing estates.
As a fan of author Garry Disher’s “Wyatt” series, this is the third of his Peninsula Crimes I have read, and it deals with some difficult and uncomfortable issues (the sexual abuse of children and animal cruelty to name two). But for me, all the former relationships/marriages and embryonic romances muddies the story line, the ending with more corpses than you can shake a stick at.
Verdict: a reasonable read, but not his best.
May 31, 2016
I was pleasantly surprised by this since I picked up the 4th book in a series & it had a lot more meat than his Wyatt series (an Australian version of Parker). Very good police procedural with a couple of twisty mysteries going on at the same time as a budding romance.
The accent takes a bit of getting used to, especially the way some words are pronounced, but otherwise people are people. I found the country side descriptions somewhat sparse, but interesting.
The accent takes a bit of getting used to, especially the way some words are pronounced, but otherwise people are people. I found the country side descriptions somewhat sparse, but interesting.
December 30, 2014
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2017
When Inspector Hal Challis’ sister Meg telephoned him saying their dad was dying, Hal took a month off work, much to the disgust of his supervisor. But the importance of this journey from Melbourne to South Australia was foremost in his mind – the last time he’d visited his family had been at his mother’s funeral.
While sitting with his father with nothing more to do but think, he became consumed with the disappearance of Meg’s husband Gavin some eighteen months previously. Gavin had never been found, but Meg had received some strange letters and other correspondence. She suspected Gavin had run off maybe to Sydney or some other far flung place…
Meanwhile Sergeant Ellen Destry had been left in charge in Hal’s absence and her first case almost immediately was of a missing girl from near her school. Katie Blascoe had vanished on the way home, and Ellen was concerned because of a paedophile ring which was rumoured to be operating in the area. There was also the worry of a family of trouble makers in the area, one young male having recently been acquitted on a technicality.
Was Ellen in over her head? And were her suspicions of a leak within the department correct? Plus was Hal causing trouble with him being out of his jurisdiction?
Chain of Evidence is the 4th in the Inspector Challis series by Aussie author Garry Disher and I was a little disappointed in it. It seemed to hold a lot of unnecessary extra “stuff”, and there were a lot of characters to keep up with. The focus was also on Ellen in this title, with Hal on the sidelines. Disher writes a good crime novel though, so I’ll continue to read his titles. Recommended for fans of the genre.
While sitting with his father with nothing more to do but think, he became consumed with the disappearance of Meg’s husband Gavin some eighteen months previously. Gavin had never been found, but Meg had received some strange letters and other correspondence. She suspected Gavin had run off maybe to Sydney or some other far flung place…
Meanwhile Sergeant Ellen Destry had been left in charge in Hal’s absence and her first case almost immediately was of a missing girl from near her school. Katie Blascoe had vanished on the way home, and Ellen was concerned because of a paedophile ring which was rumoured to be operating in the area. There was also the worry of a family of trouble makers in the area, one young male having recently been acquitted on a technicality.
Was Ellen in over her head? And were her suspicions of a leak within the department correct? Plus was Hal causing trouble with him being out of his jurisdiction?
Chain of Evidence is the 4th in the Inspector Challis series by Aussie author Garry Disher and I was a little disappointed in it. It seemed to hold a lot of unnecessary extra “stuff”, and there were a lot of characters to keep up with. The focus was also on Ellen in this title, with Hal on the sidelines. Disher writes a good crime novel though, so I’ll continue to read his titles. Recommended for fans of the genre.
May 11, 2020
Chain of Evidence by Garry Disher is number four in the Australian homicide investigator Hal Challis series.
In Chain of Evidence, Challis has taken a leave of absence to care for his terminally ill father, and while there also decides to investigate the disappearance of his sister's husband (a man with plenty of enemies). The husband, who exhibited wide-ranging behaviors before disappearing, left behind his vehicle in a secluded area and is believed by most to have committed suicide.
Meanwhile, those back in Waterloo are deep into the investigation of an abducted young girl while also dealing with a large troublemaking family, known to be violent, most would like to see disappear from the Earth.
Disher continues this quality police procedural series with compelling storylines and continues to develop all of the regular characters while propelling them forward in a believable manner.
Chain of Evidence is recommended to those that enjoy police procedurals with developing characters and interesting investigations.
In Chain of Evidence, Challis has taken a leave of absence to care for his terminally ill father, and while there also decides to investigate the disappearance of his sister's husband (a man with plenty of enemies). The husband, who exhibited wide-ranging behaviors before disappearing, left behind his vehicle in a secluded area and is believed by most to have committed suicide.
Meanwhile, those back in Waterloo are deep into the investigation of an abducted young girl while also dealing with a large troublemaking family, known to be violent, most would like to see disappear from the Earth.
Disher continues this quality police procedural series with compelling storylines and continues to develop all of the regular characters while propelling them forward in a believable manner.
Chain of Evidence is recommended to those that enjoy police procedurals with developing characters and interesting investigations.
July 19, 2023
Another great Peninsular / Hal Challis mystery. Hal’s back in South Australia because his father’s dying. His brother-in-law disappeared a few years back and Hal’s curious.
May 1, 2019
9/10
October 28, 2020
Around the World of Crime and Mystery
Australia - 2007
I skipped the first book in this series (didn't like the title) and almost skipped this one: the cover tells you all you need to know about the subject matter of this book. Distasteful.
CAST - 4 stars: Inspector Hal Challis returns to his roots to spend time with his dying father; his sister has stayed home in Mawson's Bluff, handling family burdens. That's an all too familiar situation, all too universal: the sons go out into the world (as expected) and the daughters stay home. Things are changing, true, but here there is very little about the brother/sister dynamic. Sergeant Ellen Destry has sold her house and moved in with Challis but now has his house to herself. She COULD open drawers, learn about the man, etc., but she doesn't. That's some restraint! And restraint to be admired: Challis should be free to reveal himself on his own terms, so I really like this about Ellen. A young Katie Blasko has been abducted and we know by who during the first few pages, so that's not the mystery: will she return, will she be okay are the questions to be answered. Katie's mom, Donna Blasko is portrayed as a rather careless mom, and her new live-in boyfriend's name is Justin Pedder. Pedder/Peado ring? Red herring or not? A joke by the author? Pam Murphy, desperate to get away from her cop 'buddy', John Tankard, is studying to be a detective. But why hasn't she already demanded she be paired with someone NOT sexually harassing her? We're four novels into the series and I'm glad Pam is moving on, or trying to, but I'd have quit a job and walked away, or at least tried to get a different cop buddy. Unless Pam likes the tension. John isn't very bright and spends 30K on a car he can't afford, and he can't get it registered in Australia. You'd think a cop would know better. Does Pam enjoy her intellectual supremacy? Dr. Everard is a Children's Services psychologist, heart seems frozen, Destry can only respond with an "Oh, God". And then there is Neville Clode, 60ish, who keeps a 'spa/bath'for his step-daughters visit. Not to worry: he is brutally raped with a bottle, or so he says...but I think he liked it. Who rapes a 60 y/o man? If he's a peadophile and a father has found out, I'd think Clode would have been beaten to death with said bottle. Readers will think they know the bad folks before the cops figure out what is staring at them all along. I found the cast, this time around, on the unbelievable side in some respects. But Disher can throw curves. Oddly, when cop Van Alphen hangs out at night on a nude beach- there are street kids, hookers, rent boys, etc., (you know, the kind of party we all say we'd never attend...), the author writes, without quotes:
>>>Fifty bucks for a blowjob.
>>>Van Alphen said he could be interested.
>>>Five hundred for the whole night. Or a threesome could be arranged.
My first thought was "okay, who is going to blow who"? Is the questioner a guy or gal or Alphen? Is it Van Alphen asking for a threesome? At the end of this scene, Alphen meets Billy DaCosta, a rent boy. They get along just fine. There is so much the author isn't telling us that I found this scene, and a few others, fascinating. Disher refuses to put a label on anyone. Beware, readers! 4 stars to the author for walking away from stereotypes, just when you think you've identified someone's good/bad behavior. But of course, there are some characters irredeemably horrific.
ATMOSPHERE - 2 stars: In the third book of this series, the cops are looking for a stolen car and toward the end of that book, they notice a massive junkyard outside of town and investigate. Here, the author writes, "The cars from the first five carjackings had never been found." One can only suppose the junkyard is gone...forgotten about...only visible in book 3. Yes, this area, the Peninsula, has rich people on hills overlooking the rest...the rest of us, that is. The missing junkyard just irritated me.
CRIME - 3: Absolutely disgusting, especially the kids who sell themselves for a bit of cash and parents seem oblivious. And are cops involved in some way? Not my cup of tea for a crime novel, but the author does raise some questions.
INVESTIGATION - 3: A child psychologist seems to dislike her job as much as John Tankard hates his. Hal is out of the picture. Ellen has an entire clan, a bad family, to deal with. There is a big picture the cops don't seem to see....because maybe they don't want to. Sort of a police procedural in which some cops don't want to proceed. For certain reasons. Interesting take. Besides, the cops are forced to use a sloppy, outside lab to save money. DNA samples are ruined, cases fall apart. Gotta save some bucks!
RESOLUTION - 3: Satisfying. I know now that Disher isn't going to resolve everything, but he resolves enough to keep me reading another in this series.
SUMMARY - 3.0. Good police procedural. But when is Disher going to bat one out of the park?
Australia - 2007
I skipped the first book in this series (didn't like the title) and almost skipped this one: the cover tells you all you need to know about the subject matter of this book. Distasteful.
CAST - 4 stars: Inspector Hal Challis returns to his roots to spend time with his dying father; his sister has stayed home in Mawson's Bluff, handling family burdens. That's an all too familiar situation, all too universal: the sons go out into the world (as expected) and the daughters stay home. Things are changing, true, but here there is very little about the brother/sister dynamic. Sergeant Ellen Destry has sold her house and moved in with Challis but now has his house to herself. She COULD open drawers, learn about the man, etc., but she doesn't. That's some restraint! And restraint to be admired: Challis should be free to reveal himself on his own terms, so I really like this about Ellen. A young Katie Blasko has been abducted and we know by who during the first few pages, so that's not the mystery: will she return, will she be okay are the questions to be answered. Katie's mom, Donna Blasko is portrayed as a rather careless mom, and her new live-in boyfriend's name is Justin Pedder. Pedder/Peado ring? Red herring or not? A joke by the author? Pam Murphy, desperate to get away from her cop 'buddy', John Tankard, is studying to be a detective. But why hasn't she already demanded she be paired with someone NOT sexually harassing her? We're four novels into the series and I'm glad Pam is moving on, or trying to, but I'd have quit a job and walked away, or at least tried to get a different cop buddy. Unless Pam likes the tension. John isn't very bright and spends 30K on a car he can't afford, and he can't get it registered in Australia. You'd think a cop would know better. Does Pam enjoy her intellectual supremacy? Dr. Everard is a Children's Services psychologist, heart seems frozen, Destry can only respond with an "Oh, God". And then there is Neville Clode, 60ish, who keeps a 'spa/bath'for his step-daughters visit. Not to worry: he is brutally raped with a bottle, or so he says...but I think he liked it. Who rapes a 60 y/o man? If he's a peadophile and a father has found out, I'd think Clode would have been beaten to death with said bottle. Readers will think they know the bad folks before the cops figure out what is staring at them all along. I found the cast, this time around, on the unbelievable side in some respects. But Disher can throw curves. Oddly, when cop Van Alphen hangs out at night on a nude beach- there are street kids, hookers, rent boys, etc., (you know, the kind of party we all say we'd never attend...), the author writes, without quotes:
>>>Fifty bucks for a blowjob.
>>>Van Alphen said he could be interested.
>>>Five hundred for the whole night. Or a threesome could be arranged.
My first thought was "okay, who is going to blow who"? Is the questioner a guy or gal or Alphen? Is it Van Alphen asking for a threesome? At the end of this scene, Alphen meets Billy DaCosta, a rent boy. They get along just fine. There is so much the author isn't telling us that I found this scene, and a few others, fascinating. Disher refuses to put a label on anyone. Beware, readers! 4 stars to the author for walking away from stereotypes, just when you think you've identified someone's good/bad behavior. But of course, there are some characters irredeemably horrific.
ATMOSPHERE - 2 stars: In the third book of this series, the cops are looking for a stolen car and toward the end of that book, they notice a massive junkyard outside of town and investigate. Here, the author writes, "The cars from the first five carjackings had never been found." One can only suppose the junkyard is gone...forgotten about...only visible in book 3. Yes, this area, the Peninsula, has rich people on hills overlooking the rest...the rest of us, that is. The missing junkyard just irritated me.
CRIME - 3: Absolutely disgusting, especially the kids who sell themselves for a bit of cash and parents seem oblivious. And are cops involved in some way? Not my cup of tea for a crime novel, but the author does raise some questions.
INVESTIGATION - 3: A child psychologist seems to dislike her job as much as John Tankard hates his. Hal is out of the picture. Ellen has an entire clan, a bad family, to deal with. There is a big picture the cops don't seem to see....because maybe they don't want to. Sort of a police procedural in which some cops don't want to proceed. For certain reasons. Interesting take. Besides, the cops are forced to use a sloppy, outside lab to save money. DNA samples are ruined, cases fall apart. Gotta save some bucks!
RESOLUTION - 3: Satisfying. I know now that Disher isn't going to resolve everything, but he resolves enough to keep me reading another in this series.
SUMMARY - 3.0. Good police procedural. But when is Disher going to bat one out of the park?
October 31, 2011
When 10 year old Katie Blasko goes missing, Ellen Destry is in charge of the case. Katie's from one of the local Estates – a poor, run-down area full of dysfunctional families, violence and drugs. Nearly everybody on the investigation team is pretty sure that Katie's disappearance is yet another family out of control - Katie's either fallen prey to her mother's de facto, she's run away, or any of the other things that happen all too frequently to little kids on the Estate. Ellen Destry's not so sure, she's got this feeling that Katie's been abducted and she's got this nagging concern about rumours that have been flying about a paedophile ring on the Peninsula. She's also more than aware that the powers that be in Waterloo Police Station are not convinced she's up to running an investigation of this type. What makes her really sensitive to their thoughts, is that she's agrees with them.
Hal Challis, however, can't be much help. He's half-way across Australia, in the outback of South Australia, watching his elderly and frail father die. He's also wondering what happened to his brother in law who disappeared a few years before, his car found abandoned in the outback. Hal's sister has always thought he did a runner, after all, she's been receiving strange correspondence which seemed to indicate he was somewhere, alive. Hal's not so sure and, because he can't help himself, he intervenes.
Having read all of Garry Disher's Challis series, CHAIN OF EVIDENCE stands out as the best book thus far – at least for me. There is a deftness in the drawing of the two separate plots, and the characters that gave this book a real focus and tension. The main plot, the possible abduction of the young girl is intricate, complicated and involves the Waterloo Police Station in a number of unexpected ways. The complications of the relationship (or lack of relationship) between Challis and Destry has an extra level of interest because of the physical distance between the two characters. Another element was, what seemed like, a deliberate choice of the types of investigations for both characters – Challis is a dry, sparse, reserved man investigating an old disappearance in a dry, reserved, desert edge town. Destry is a more emotional, complicated, outgoing woman, investigating a messy, complicated and intricate crime in a lusher, familiar environment. In this instance, this didn't resonate as a cliché.
CHAIN OF EVIDENCE flags a strong shift of focus from a series concentrating on Hal Challis, with a touch of Ellen Destry on the side, to a combined focus as both characters take centre stage, albeit in different investigations and in different states. This bodes very well for the ongoing development of this series.
Hal Challis, however, can't be much help. He's half-way across Australia, in the outback of South Australia, watching his elderly and frail father die. He's also wondering what happened to his brother in law who disappeared a few years before, his car found abandoned in the outback. Hal's sister has always thought he did a runner, after all, she's been receiving strange correspondence which seemed to indicate he was somewhere, alive. Hal's not so sure and, because he can't help himself, he intervenes.
Having read all of Garry Disher's Challis series, CHAIN OF EVIDENCE stands out as the best book thus far – at least for me. There is a deftness in the drawing of the two separate plots, and the characters that gave this book a real focus and tension. The main plot, the possible abduction of the young girl is intricate, complicated and involves the Waterloo Police Station in a number of unexpected ways. The complications of the relationship (or lack of relationship) between Challis and Destry has an extra level of interest because of the physical distance between the two characters. Another element was, what seemed like, a deliberate choice of the types of investigations for both characters – Challis is a dry, sparse, reserved man investigating an old disappearance in a dry, reserved, desert edge town. Destry is a more emotional, complicated, outgoing woman, investigating a messy, complicated and intricate crime in a lusher, familiar environment. In this instance, this didn't resonate as a cliché.
CHAIN OF EVIDENCE flags a strong shift of focus from a series concentrating on Hal Challis, with a touch of Ellen Destry on the side, to a combined focus as both characters take centre stage, albeit in different investigations and in different states. This bodes very well for the ongoing development of this series.
December 27, 2012
One of the better police procedural series going. I really enjoy the Australian setting, the books are well plotted, and the author does a great job with both the major and supporting characters from book to book.
March 24, 2016
In this book, Inspector Challis is a bit quiet as he is back in SA with his dying family - but he still finds time to solve a murder. Sgt Destry fills his role and is faced with a pedophile ring, murders and yet more police behaving badly.
The series is moving nicely along.
The series is moving nicely along.
February 28, 2018
Chain of Evidence is book four of the Inspector Hal Challis series by Garry Disher. Inspector Hal Challis had to go back home after he received a phone call from his sister telling him that is Father is dying. Why Inspector Hal Challis was on leave Sergeant Ellen Destry was in charge of the Peninsula East's Crime Investigation Unit and his home. However, Inspector Hal Challis started to investigate the murder of his sister's Meg husband, and Sergeant Ellen Destry began to investigate the disappearance of a ten-year-old girl. The readers of Chain of Evidence will follow the twist and turns in Inspector Challis and Sergeant Ellen Destry investigations to see what happens.
I enjoyed reading Chain of Evidence. I love Garry Disher portrayal of his characters especially Inspector Hal Challis and the way Garry Disher intertwines Hal with his other characters and the plot of Chain of Evidence. Chain of Evidence was well written and researched by Garry Disher. I like the way Garry Disher intertwine the two stories throughout Chain of Evidence. I love the way, Garry Disher ensures that I am engaged in the plots of Chain of Evidence.
The readers of Chain of Evidence will learn about the importance of family and friends. Also, the readers of Chain of Evidence will start to understand the role and procedures of law enforcement in two states.
I recommend this book.
I enjoyed reading Chain of Evidence. I love Garry Disher portrayal of his characters especially Inspector Hal Challis and the way Garry Disher intertwines Hal with his other characters and the plot of Chain of Evidence. Chain of Evidence was well written and researched by Garry Disher. I like the way Garry Disher intertwine the two stories throughout Chain of Evidence. I love the way, Garry Disher ensures that I am engaged in the plots of Chain of Evidence.
The readers of Chain of Evidence will learn about the importance of family and friends. Also, the readers of Chain of Evidence will start to understand the role and procedures of law enforcement in two states.
I recommend this book.
October 16, 2021
great!
August 15, 2011
This is the fourth of Garry Disher's crime fiction series featuring Police Officers, Detective Inspector Hal Challis and Detective Ellen Destry . Previously Challis has been the keynote character, but in this novel he has a more passive role. Challis is miles away at his father's deathbed in dry, dusty South Australia. Whilst there he investigates the sudden disappearance of his brother-in-law.
Meanwhile, back in the Victorian peninsula town of Waterloo, Ellen Destry is thrust into the limelight. Despite some sexist resentment, Ellen is acting as both jobsitter and housesitter for Challis whilst he is away. With this as the backdrop, a young girl is abducted and then found alive, and an active pedophile ring on the Mornington Peninsula is uncovered. Interwoven into the story are small town tensions, hidden alliances and police corruption.
Throughout the novel the two main plotlines run parallel to each other as the reader switches between South Australia and Victoria. Ultimately as both cases break open the despairing secrets of two small towns in two different states are revealed.
Overall a very enjoyable read. The plotlines were multi-layered, sophisticated, but slick and full of the kind of intrigue and tension that keeps the pages turning. I also really enjoyed the character development of Ellen Destry in this novel. She is going through a vulnerable stage of life both personally, and professionally. Her marriage is over, her relationship with her daughter is rocky, the police force is cutting corners and compromising forensics, and she doesn't know who she can trust. And bubbling away in the background is the romantic tension between herself and Challis that becomes apparent during their interstate phone conversations.
I would thoroughly recommend this title to all devotees of crime and police procedural fiction. With two more titles subsequently published making a total of six Challis and Destry novels (at the time of writing this), it is an enjoyable series of Australian crime fiction to get your teeth into and one which I will continue to read with interest.
Meanwhile, back in the Victorian peninsula town of Waterloo, Ellen Destry is thrust into the limelight. Despite some sexist resentment, Ellen is acting as both jobsitter and housesitter for Challis whilst he is away. With this as the backdrop, a young girl is abducted and then found alive, and an active pedophile ring on the Mornington Peninsula is uncovered. Interwoven into the story are small town tensions, hidden alliances and police corruption.
Throughout the novel the two main plotlines run parallel to each other as the reader switches between South Australia and Victoria. Ultimately as both cases break open the despairing secrets of two small towns in two different states are revealed.
Overall a very enjoyable read. The plotlines were multi-layered, sophisticated, but slick and full of the kind of intrigue and tension that keeps the pages turning. I also really enjoyed the character development of Ellen Destry in this novel. She is going through a vulnerable stage of life both personally, and professionally. Her marriage is over, her relationship with her daughter is rocky, the police force is cutting corners and compromising forensics, and she doesn't know who she can trust. And bubbling away in the background is the romantic tension between herself and Challis that becomes apparent during their interstate phone conversations.
I would thoroughly recommend this title to all devotees of crime and police procedural fiction. With two more titles subsequently published making a total of six Challis and Destry novels (at the time of writing this), it is an enjoyable series of Australian crime fiction to get your teeth into and one which I will continue to read with interest.
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June 3, 2017The opening scene: Child lured by a man into a van on her way home from school and she is drugged and presumably raped.
Scene two: Recently separated detective awakes in the bed of the man that she obviously is infatuated with and then wanders about growling at subordinates before going off and growling at the child's mother, "How dare she not monitor her child constantly?" That is the moral the author is going for?
Scene next: I put the book down and sigh.
It doesn't take much now for me to recognize the hallmarks of a standard issue thriller novel where the irascible detective will meet her darkest fears and thereby be somewhat matured by volume's end, and the "chills" mentioned on the cover are all supplied by grisly and sadistic acts performed by a stock villain who knows as much about what the police will do as the detective and can only be brought down by random events.
Occasionally these books surprise, but this one was so by the numbers, and therefore so off-putting that I just put it aside and will never return to it. As I read through the section where the detective is increasingly unsympathetic to the parents of the missing girl, where she essentially blames them for her disappearance, the book just lost me. If one believed these authors, the number of police only slightly exceeds that of serial killers with cryptic and devious rituals. Who needs to live in so much fear?
Anyway, no rating since I didn't give it a fair reading, and I never even got to the parts with the hero detective. Not my cup of tea at all.
Scene two: Recently separated detective awakes in the bed of the man that she obviously is infatuated with and then wanders about growling at subordinates before going off and growling at the child's mother, "How dare she not monitor her child constantly?" That is the moral the author is going for?
Scene next: I put the book down and sigh.
It doesn't take much now for me to recognize the hallmarks of a standard issue thriller novel where the irascible detective will meet her darkest fears and thereby be somewhat matured by volume's end, and the "chills" mentioned on the cover are all supplied by grisly and sadistic acts performed by a stock villain who knows as much about what the police will do as the detective and can only be brought down by random events.
Occasionally these books surprise, but this one was so by the numbers, and therefore so off-putting that I just put it aside and will never return to it. As I read through the section where the detective is increasingly unsympathetic to the parents of the missing girl, where she essentially blames them for her disappearance, the book just lost me. If one believed these authors, the number of police only slightly exceeds that of serial killers with cryptic and devious rituals. Who needs to live in so much fear?
Anyway, no rating since I didn't give it a fair reading, and I never even got to the parts with the hero detective. Not my cup of tea at all.
August 24, 2010
I do love an Australian accent. This police procedural takes place near Victoria. DS Destry is on her on in the Waterloo police station while her squeeze, Inspector Hal Challis is on compassionate leave for his father's impending death. Challis becomes embroiled in the investigation of the death of Gavin, his sister's husband who had disappeared, but whose body is discovered while he is there. There is the usual banter and antipathy of the local cops with the city detective who is also in conflict with the homicide squad and he's out of his jurisdiction, yadayadayada. In the meantime Sgt Destry has her hands full with a pedophile ring. If I say more, I'll give away some of the surprise.
I don't mean to sound dismissive because I did like the story and the characters although it's beginning to surprise me how much extra-marital activity there is in British and Australian police departments. The author also has a rather jaundiced view of Australian society. And, as I said, lovely accent.
I don't mean to sound dismissive because I did like the story and the characters although it's beginning to surprise me how much extra-marital activity there is in British and Australian police departments. The author also has a rather jaundiced view of Australian society. And, as I said, lovely accent.
April 25, 2021
It is always hard to pick up a series mid-stream and listening to it as an audiobook made it impossible to flip back and remind myself who the unfamiliar characters are, but I wanted to try a new Australian author and this was what was available. I found it a solid “it’s ok.” The plot was split between two officers (and maybe also romantic partners? It was hard to tell) one returning to distant rural Southern Australia for the death of his dad, the other left to supervise the detectives in a small police station in a beach area near Melbourne. Separately each pursues and solves a crime, leaving me to wonder “why are both plots in the same book?” The thing is, I just didn’t find anything too interesting. The characters aren’t particularly likeable; the crimes are dreary and depressing (but not depicted in too much gory detail which I appreciated); and, the to-an-American exotic locations seem as characterless as any rundown American suburb or bypassed small town. I may try another volume to see if this is typical. Then again, I may not.
July 5, 2021
This was the fourth of the Hal Challis detective series and I thought it the best so far. Initially it seemed that Hal was not going to be much a part of this novel as he takes extended leave to care for his dying father in South Australia. However, he finds himself caught up in a new investigation into the disappearance of his brother-in-law years before. Meanwhile, back on the Mornington Peninsula, his offsider, Ellen Destry is in charge of the investigation into the disappearance of a child. Is a pedophile ring at large?
I enjoyed watching Ellen step into the major investigative role and the connections that she and Hal maintained despite the physical distance between them. Disher is a skilled writer who displays all the aspects of his craft in this novel: descriptions of different environments, nuanced characterisation and a plot with the requisite twists and surprises. An absorbing read.
I enjoyed watching Ellen step into the major investigative role and the connections that she and Hal maintained despite the physical distance between them. Disher is a skilled writer who displays all the aspects of his craft in this novel: descriptions of different environments, nuanced characterisation and a plot with the requisite twists and surprises. An absorbing read.
November 15, 2019
A good (but depressing because of the subject matter) police procedural in which a child abduction case morphs into police corruption, of various kinds. Remind me never to visit Australia. In the meantime, Challis is in his family home with his dying father and looks into the old mysterious disappearance of his brother in law. The paedophilia case is very complicated, in part because the police seem always two steps behind; the disappearance isn’t.
August 30, 2020
Not quite as interesting and exciting to read as the first three books in the series, but still captivating and well written enough to continue. Hal is elsewhere closing the chapter to a few things in his life, leaving Ellen to cope with a missing girl on the Peninsula.
July 22, 2019
A little disjointed due to the two separate story lines.
December 14, 2024
Inspector Hal Challis has been a strong leader and investigator in the Peninsula East Police, southeast of Melbourne, but in this fourth episode of the series he is on compassionate leave visiting his dying father in his home town of Mawson’s Bluff, north of Adelaide. In his absence DS Ellen Destry is acting as temporary head of the Criminal Investigation Unit (CIU) and also staying in Challis’ house while he is away. Her first major case as acting head has her investigating the disappearance of a young girl, Katie Blasko.
While Katie’s mother thinks she might have run away and will be back soon, Ellen is concerned that’s she’s been abducted and it’s already too late to find her. There have been rumours for years of a paedophile ring operating in the area and Katie’s disappearance on her way home from school is ringing alarm bells for Ellen.
Meanwhile, now that he’s back in his home town where his father and sister, Meg live, Hal has decided he should look into the death of Meg’s husband. Ruled as a suicide by the local police, Hal is not convinced that they ruled out murder.
Bringing Ellen into focus as the acting head of CIU is an interesting move by Disher. Ellen is a complex person, with her domestic life currently in turmoil and unsure of herself without Challis to have her back, she gradually steps up to the role and her strong instincts and intuition ensure that she becomes a strong force for justice. There is a lot of disunity amongst the other members of the police department with poor teamwork and many harbouring secrets which often makes it difficult for Ellen. The strong relationship between her and Hal helps with them keeping in touch by phone while he is away. This is a strong addition to the series and I look forward to seeing what is in store for Hal and Ellen in the next episode.
While Katie’s mother thinks she might have run away and will be back soon, Ellen is concerned that’s she’s been abducted and it’s already too late to find her. There have been rumours for years of a paedophile ring operating in the area and Katie’s disappearance on her way home from school is ringing alarm bells for Ellen.
Meanwhile, now that he’s back in his home town where his father and sister, Meg live, Hal has decided he should look into the death of Meg’s husband. Ruled as a suicide by the local police, Hal is not convinced that they ruled out murder.
Bringing Ellen into focus as the acting head of CIU is an interesting move by Disher. Ellen is a complex person, with her domestic life currently in turmoil and unsure of herself without Challis to have her back, she gradually steps up to the role and her strong instincts and intuition ensure that she becomes a strong force for justice. There is a lot of disunity amongst the other members of the police department with poor teamwork and many harbouring secrets which often makes it difficult for Ellen. The strong relationship between her and Hal helps with them keeping in touch by phone while he is away. This is a strong addition to the series and I look forward to seeing what is in store for Hal and Ellen in the next episode.
March 18, 2017
Two mysteries being solved in two parts of Australia by an Australian and Detective Sergeant who normally work closely together. Both are thinking longingly of the other as they both have been experiencing great loneliness and the time apart as they have regular contact about their respective cases and personal lives keeps the spark alive. The detective on the coast is following deaths and abdutions of young girls. The inspector is at his childhood being present as his father is dying and giving a break to his overwhelmed and exhausted sister. The sister's husband disappeared 10 years ago and the inspector wants to close this mystery once and for all. Emotional turmoil in work and personal life plague the detective sergeant and the inspector. This weaves an interesting tale.
June 20, 2021
Inspector Hall Challis has taken some vacation time to be with his father during his last days. But Hal is restless, knows that his sister still suffers the loss of her husband, which is a mystery - no body ever found. Hal can't stand lose ends, so he gets involved while still spending time with his father and his sister and niece. Meanwhile, back at the Peninsula, Ellen Destry is coping with a missing child and a squad full of people she feels don't support her in her role as temporarily in-charge. Fast-paced, and both stories are dark (compared to previous books, anyway). Lots of suspense and a few surprises. Good read.
June 8, 2017
Hooray, a new writer discovered who is quite good! He's Australian and copies of his books seem to be rather scarce on the ground in the good old USA, but we can work with that. This one is a police investigation story; the first one I read was Wyatt, with the criminal's point of view. Looking forward to many more.
March 11, 2023
What a rip snorter! I have been reading through the Peninsula Crime series and I have been really enjoying them. Why I like his books so much is, he is able to place the reader right into the setting. In this case, the Mornington Peninsula. This is so relatable to me, his Australianess really comes out. I find the characters really well developed. Each has human quirks and foibles, making them very 3 dimensional. Well worth the read with an action packed ending.
August 29, 2025
I started reading this then realised I must have first read it many years ago. Still a good read. Lots of dead bodies by the end, with Peter Temple overtones of police corruption and child abuse. Unfortunately, some things never change. Not sure the dual structure, making both detectives' stories equal, really worked. I wanted the main Peninsula mystery to be solved and was not that interested in the Challis family story.
August 2, 2017
The best in the series. It features two very personal investigations. Hal Challis is home visiting his dying father and while there he looks into the years-ago disappearance of his brother-in-law. Ellen Destry comes into her own when a young girl is kidnapped. The mix between character development and procedural is perfect.
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