The Broken Shore


The Broken Shore is a Duncan Lawrie Dagger award-winning novel by Australian author Peter Temple.

Synopsis

The novel's central character is Joe Cashin, a Melbourne homicide detective. Following serious physical injuries he is posted to his hometown Port Munro, where he begins the process of rebuilding the old family mansion and his physical and mental strength. Against a background of family tragedy, politics, police corruption and racism, he investigates the death of a wealthy local man, Charles Burgoyne. His closest friend and police superior is Villani, who is the central character in Truth.

Style

Written by the award-winning author Peter Temple, the book continues with his trademark stark, staccato dialog, where superfluous words are removed and the meaning of each sentence must be dug out. In a typical example of Temple's flourish he describes a nearby derelict town as “hardcore – the unemployed, under-employed, unemployable, the drunk and doped, the old-age pensioners, people on all kinds of welfare, the halt, the lame".

Awards

The Broken Shore was adapted for television by writer Andrew Knight. It was produced by Ian Collie and Andrew Knight and directed by Rowan Woods. With Don Hany in the lead, it was filmed in Melbourne, Portland, Port Fairy and Port Campbell National Park.
The movie had its world premiere at the Adelaide Film Festival on 15 October 2013. It aired on the ABC on 2 February 2014. It stars Australian actors Don Hany, Claudia Karvan, and Anthony Hayes.

Cast