Jack Irish Books in Order
Jack Irish, a former criminal lawyer, collects debts, finds people, gambles on horses with Harry Strang and learns cabinetmaking in Fitzroy. Peter Temple’s Melbourne is funny, sad and full of people on the edge. The books were adapted for television with Guy Pearce as Jack.
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Series facts
The reading order
Every Jack Irish book in publication order. Choose a title for its cast and summary.
- 1Bad Debts1996With Jack IrishJack Irish, a former criminal lawyer now collecting debts and betting on horses, gets a message from Danny McKillop, a client he barely remembers representing years earlier.Buy on Amazon
- 2Black Tide1999With Jack IrishAn old family friend asks Jack Irish to find his son, who has disappeared owing him money.Buy on Amazon
- 3Dead Point2000With Jack IrishJack Irish is hired to find a missing barman who has taken something a senior judge badly wants back.Buy on Amazon
- 4White Dog2003With Jack IrishJack Irish is asked to help with the defence of a woman charged with murdering her former lover, a man with links to Melbourne’s rich and powerful.Buy on Amazon
Do you need to read them in order?
Start with Bad Debts and read in order. Each book has its own case, but Jack’s friends, his relationship with Linda Hillier and his slowly mending life carry through.
Who appears in which book
The series’ main characters, book by book. Lead means the book is told around them; minor covers cameos.
| Book | Jack Irish | Harry Strang | Cam Delray | Linda Hillier | Charlie Taub |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Bad Debts | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor |
| 2 Black Tide | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor |
| 3 Dead Point | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor |
| 4 White Dog | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor |
Characters in the Jack Irish books
5 characters from Peter Temple’s chart, with the number of Jack Irish books each appears in.
| Character | Books | First in this series |
|---|---|---|
| Jack IrishFormer criminal lawyer turned debt collector and gambler | 4 | Bad Debts 1996 |
| Harry StrangRacehorse owner and gambler | 4 | Bad Debts 1996 |
| Cam DelrayHarry’s associate | 4 | Bad Debts 1996 |
| Linda HillierJournalist and Jack’s partner | 4 | Bad Debts 1996 |
| Charlie TaubCabinetmaker who employs Jack | 4 | Bad Debts 1996 |