THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING, CWA GOLD DAGGER-WINNING AND NED KELLY AWARD-RECEIVING CRIME POWERHOUSE: read The Broken Shore and become hooked on Peter Temple.

''A masterpiece'' John Lanchester

''Read page one and I challenge you not to finish it'' Independent on Sunday

Haunted by his last case, homicide detective Joe Cashin has fled Melbourne and returned to his hometown, running its one-man police station while his wounds heal and his nightmares fade.

But when a local man is attacked and left for dead, Cashin's recovery is put on hold. And in a small town where everyone knows everyone, he finds himself standing alone fighting a battle against corruption and prejudice.

Loved The Broken Shore? Then move straight to its award-winning sequel, Truth: ''The Broken Shore was good; Truth is better'' Independent