Chris Hammer – författare

Martin Scarsden returns in the jaw-dropping and unmissable new blockbuster crime novel from Chris Hammer, the award-winning, million copy bestselling author of Scrublands.MARTIN SCARSDEN IS ON THE RUN. WILL THE DESERT SAVE HIM - OR BURY HIM?A bomb at his book launch. Gunfire in his hometown. Someone wants journalist Martin Scarsden dead.Fleeing for his life into the outback, he learns that nowhere is safe. The killers are closing in, and it's all he can do to survive. But who wants to kill him - and why?With nowhere left to run, Martin finds his fate in the hands of some surprising individuals: a disgraced ex-wife of a footballer, a fugitive wanted for a decades-old murder and two nineteenth century explorers from a legendary expedition, whose fate may hold the key to his own.With his life on the line, one thing is for sure: in the scorching heart of Australia, Martin Scarsden's most dangerous assignment isn't just a story - it's survival.Praise for Legacy:'Vivid descriptions of landscape and an intricate plot make this a beguiling read.' The Times'Exciting, touching and even heart-breaking, this is a story of desperation, greed, love and resentment.' Literary ReviewPraise for Chris Hammer:'A masterful, stunning thriller. A twisting mystery epic in scale yet intricate in detail. Irresistible.' CHRIS WHITAKER'My favourite Australian author' ANN CLEEVES'Epic. Shakespearean in depth and range' THE TIMES'Fierce, gripping and spine-chilling' DAILY MAIL'Shimmers . . . A tortured tale of blood and loss' VAL McDERMID'Stunning - a page-turner which stays long in the memory' SUNDAY TIMES'A leader in Australian noir' MICHAEL CONNELLY

BURIED GOLD, OLD BONES.WHAT SECRETS LURK IN THE DEPTHS?A masterclass of small-town mystery and jaw-dropping twists from Chris Hammer, the international bestselling author of Scrublands, The Times Crime Book of the Year 2023 Dead Man's Creek and Crime Book of the Month for January 2024, Cover the Bones.A body has been discovered on the riverbanks of The Valley, a remote community in the hills of New South Wales. The gold mine at the heart of The Valley was once the lifeblood of this region, but it has been flooded for decades. Over the years, many have tried and failed to bring it back to life. Now, most believe the mine is barren.The victim is Wolfgang Burnside, deputy mayor - a champion of change or local schemer, depending on who you ask. He had been working on plans to take the Valley off-grid with hydro-power using the lake surrounding the abandoned mine. Until he was poisoned, his body dumped in the river for all to see.Detectives Nell Buchanan and Ivan Lucic are dispatched to investigate. The warning is clear - there are secrets lurking in the depths of this Valley, secrets worth more than their weight in gold. What price will this town have to pay to ensure that they never see the light of day?An epic, atmospheric mystery spanning generations set against a luscious backdrop and the twisting veins of gold that lurk beneath.Praise for Chris Hammer:'A masterful, stunning thriller. A twisting mystery epic in scale yet intricate in detail. Irresistible.' Chris Whitaker'Epic. Shakespearean in depth and range' The Times'Fierce, gripping and spine-chilling.' Daily Mail'My favourite Australian detective is Nell Buchanan.' - Ann Cleeves'Hammer is a great writer - a leader in Australian noir' Michael Connelly'Shimmers . . . A tortured tale of blood and loss' Val McDermid'Stunning - a page-turner which stays long in the memory' Sunday Times

You think you know someone...Would you bet your life on it?A detective came to her home, drugged her and kidnapped her. She tries to make sense of it, but only one conclusion is possible: it's the past, come to claim her.His new life seemed perfect - right up until the moment a missed call shatters everything. Ex-journalist Martin Scarsden checks his voicemail, and all he hears is his partner Mandy's terrified scream before the phone cuts off.Racing home, he finds an unconscious man sprawled on the floor and Mandy gone. Someone has abducted her. But who, and why?So starts a riveting tale of intrigue and danger, as Martin probes the hidden past of the woman he loves. But can he trust her, once her shocking secrets are finally revealed? Even if it means putting everything on the line...Praise for Chris Hammer'The best Australian crime novel for years' The Times'Shimmers . . . A tortured tale of blood and loss' Val McDermid'Intelligent, thought-provoking - an almost-perfect crime novel' Ann Cleeves'Hammer is a great writer - a leader in Australian noir' Michael Connelly'Stunning - a page-turner which stays long in the memory' Sunday Times'Hammer's writing is so evocative the heat practically rises off the pages' Guardian'A dark and brilliant thriller' Mail On Sunday

Australia's major river system is collapsing. Parts of it are dying; parts of it are already dead. Australia's most significant river no longer reaches the sea. I look out into the dim autumn light and wonder once again how it has come to this . . . Join award-winning author Chris Hammer on a journey through Australia's largest river system, the Murray-Darling Basin. His travels during the crippling millennium drought take us through riverland communities, sharing the laughter, sadness and reflections of the people he meets along the way. The River looks past the daily news reports and their sterile statistics to reveal the true impact of our rivers' decline on the people who live along their shores, and on the country as a whole. It's a tale that leaves the reader with nostalgia for an Australia that may be fading away forever. First published in 2010, The River continues to be read as a history, as a prophecy - and as both. This updated edition includes a new introduction from the author.

From the winner of the ACT Book of the year Award for his first book, The River, comes this celebration of the Australian seascape, from its natural grandeur to the quirky individualism of those who live beside it. It is also the heartfelt and pertinent story of the issues facing our coast today and the resilience of communities at a turning point. Chris Hammer travels the length of the east coast of Australia on a journey of discovery and reflection, from the Torres Strait to Tasmania; from an island whose beach has been lost forever to the humbling optimism of the survivors of Cyclone yasi; from the showy beaches of Sydney to a beautiful village that endures despite the loss of its fishing fleet. This is a relevant, satisfying and highly readable book, imbued with a sense of optimism and humour. Even as new economic imperatives emerge and the shift in our climate becomes apparent, we can revel in the heritage and character of our shores, reminding us why the coast is so important to all of us.

BURIED GOLD, OLD BONES.WHAT SECRETS LURK IN THE DEPTHS?A masterclass of small-town mystery and jaw-dropping twists from Chris Hammer, the international bestselling author of Scrublands, The Times Crime Book of the Year 2023 Dead Man's Creek and Crime Book of the Month (January 2024) Cover the Bones.A body has been discovered on the riverbanks of The Valley, a remote community in the hills of New South Wales. The gold mine at the heart of The Valley was once the lifeblood of this region, but it has been flooded for decades. Over the years, many have tried and failed to bring it back to life. Now, most believe the mine is barren.The victim is Wolfgang Burnside, deputy mayor - a champion of change or local schemer, depending on who you ask. He had been working on plans to take the Valley off-grid with hydro-power using the lake surrounding the abandoned mine. Until he was poisoned, his body dumped in the river for all to see.Detectives Nell Buchanan and Ivan Lucic are dispatched to investigate. The warning is clear - there are secrets lurking in the depths of this Valley, secrets worth more than their weight in gold. What price will this town have to pay to ensure that they never see the light of day?An epic, atmospheric mystery spanning generations set against a luscious backdrop and the twisting veins of gold that lurk beneath.Praise for Chris Hammer:'A masterful, stunning thriller. A twisting mystery epic in scale yet intricate in detail. Irresistible.' Chris Whitaker'Epic. Shakespearean in depth and range' The Times'Fierce, gripping and spine-chilling.' Daily Mail'My favourite Australian detective is Nell Buchanan.' - Ann Cleeves'Hammer is a great writer - a leader in Australian noir' Michael Connelly'Shimmers . . . A tortured tale of blood and loss' Val McDermid'Stunning - a page-turner which stays long in the memory' Sunday Times

Martin Scarsden returns in the jaw-dropping and unmissable new blockbuster crime novel from Chris Hammer, the award-winning, million copy bestselling author of SCRUBLANDS.'A beguiling read' - THE SUNDAY TIMES'Savage and unpredictable' - THE SUN'Exciting, touching and even heart-breaking' - LITERARY REVIEW MARTIN SCARSDEN IS ON THE RUN. WILL THE DESERT SAVE HIM - OR BURY HIM?A bomb at his book launch. Gunfire in his hometown. Someone wants journalist Martin Scarsden dead.Fleeing for his life into the outback, he learns that nowhere is safe. The killers are closing in, and it's all he can do to survive. But who wants to kill him - and why?With nowhere left to run, Martin finds his fate in the hands of some surprising individuals: a disgraced ex-wife of a footballer, a fugitive wanted for a decades-old murder and two nineteenth century explorers from a legendary expedition, whose fate may hold the key to his own.With his life on the line, one thing is for sure: in the scorching heart of Australia, Martin Scarsden's most dangerous assignment isn't just a story - it's survival.Praise for LEGACY:'Another winner' - CRIME TIME'A beguiling read' - THE SUNDAY TIMES'Savage and unpredictable' - THE SUN'An engrossing thriller' - IRISH MAIL ON SUNDAY'A story that starts with a bang' - CRIME FICTION LOVER'Exciting, touching and even heart-breaking' - LITERARY REVIEW'Hammer is up there with the best Australian novelists' - ASPECTS OF CRIME'Another epic Outback mystery [from] Australia's most exciting crime writer' - DAILY EXPRESSPraise for Chris Hammer:'A masterful, stunning thriller. A twisting mystery epic in scale yet intricate in detail. Irresistible.' CHRIS WHITAKER'My favourite Australian author' ANN CLEEVES'Epic. Shakespearean in depth and range' THE TIMES'Fierce, gripping and spine-chilling' DAILY MAIL'Shimmers . . . A tortured tale of blood and loss' VAL McDERMID'Stunning - a page-turner which stays long in the memory' SUNDAY TIMES'A leader in Australian noir' MICHAEL CONNELLY

Martin Scarsden returns in the unmissable new thriller from Chris Hammer, bestselling author of Scrublands and Times Crime Book of the Year (2023) Dead Man's Creek.MARTIN SCARSDEN IS ON THE RUN. WILL THE DESERT SAVE HIM - OR BURY HIM?The sound hits them, a shock wave...glass smashing ... Somewhere a woman screams. A second explosion, Martin looks towards the hall, what's left of it, flames roaring and smoke pouring skywards.Someone is targeting Martin Scarsden. They bomb his book launch and shoot up his hometown.Fleeing for his life, he learns that nowhere is safe, not even the outback. The killers are closing in and it's all he can do to survive.But who wants to kill him and why? Can he discover their deadly motives and turn the tables?As he gets deeper intwined with the local community, Scarsden finds his fate linked to the disgraced ex-wife of a football legend, a fugitive wanted for a decades-old murder and two nineteenth century explorers from a legendary expedition.With his life on the line, this is Martin Scarsden's most perilous, challenging and intriguing assignment yet.Praise for Chris Hammer:'A masterful, stunning thriller. A twisting mystery epic in scale yet intricate in detail. Irresistible.' Chris Whitaker'Epic. Shakespearean in depth and range' The Times'Fierce, gripping and spine-chilling.' Daily Mail'My favourite Australian detective is Nell Buchanan.' Ann Cleeves'Hammer is a great writer - a leader in Australian noir' Michael Connelly'Shimmers . . . A tortured tale of blood and loss' Val McDermid'Stunning - a page-turner which stays long in the memory' Sunday Times

* * *NOW A MAJOR BBC TV SERIES * * *THE #1 BESTSELLING AUSTRALIAN CRIME NOVEL WINNER OF THE CWA JOHN CREASEY DAGGERSUNDAY TIMES CRIME BOOK OF THE YEAR 2019'Shimmers ... a tortured tale of blood and loss' Val McDermid'Stunning ... Scrublands is that rare combination, a page-turner that stays long in the memory' Sunday Times (Crime Book of the Month)In an isolated country town ravaged by drought, a charismatic young priest opens fire on his congregation, killing five men before being shot dead himself.A year later, journalist Martin Scarsden arrives in Riversend to write a feature on the anniversary of the tragedy. But the stories he hears from the locals don't fit with the accepted version of events.Just as Martin believes he is making headway, a shocking discovery rocks the town. The bodies of two backpackers - missing since the time of the massacre - are found in the scrublands. The media descends on Riversend and Martin is the one in the spotlight.Wrestling with his own demons, Martin finds himself risking everything to uncover a truth that becomes more complex with every twist. But there are powerful forces determined to stop him, and he has no idea how far they will go to make sure the town's secrets stay buried.

AN ENTHRALLING AND PROPULSIVE NEW THRILLER FROM THE ACCLAIMED AND BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF SCRUBLANDS'Compelling, original and brilliantly executed - an excellent thriller from a new master of Australian noir' CHARLES CUMMING'Dark, twisty and atmospheric, with writing so real you can almost feel the blistering heat of the Australian summer' LISA HALL*A HOMECOMING MARRED BY BLOODJournalist Martin Scarsden returns to Port Silver to make a fresh start with his partner Mandy. But he arrives to find his childhood friend murdered - and Mandy is the prime suspect. Desperate to clear her name, Martin goes searching for the truth.A TERRIBLE CRIMEThe media descends on Port Silver, compelled by a story that has it all: sex, drugs, celebrity, and religion. Martin is chasing the biggest scoop of his career, and the most personal.A PAST HE CAN'T ESCAPEAs Martin draws closer to a killer, the secrets of his traumatic childhood come to the surface, and he must decide what is more important - the story or his family...*Praise for SCRUBLANDS:'Shimmers . . . A tortured tale of blood and loss' VAL MCDERMID'Stunning . . . That rare combination, a page-turner that stays long in the memory' SUNDAY TIMES (CRIME BOOK OF THE MONTH)'An almost perfect crime novel ... Intelligent, thought-provoking, greatnarrative energy' ANN CLEEVES

**THE TIMES CRIME BOOK OF THE MONTH****A SUNDAY TIMES PAPERBACK OF THE YEAR 2022**In the outback, nothing stays buried forever...'Classic Hammer. A crime novel that will stay with me for a long time.' Ann Cleeves'This novel is Hammer's best work yet.' The Times'A complex, twisty thriller, with nuanced characters and a winding plot all set in the oppressive Australian heat.' Lisa Hall'This slice of Australian noir sparkles like an opal in the blistering sun.' Lisa Gray'Opal Country is a top-notch Aussie Noir with real heat coming off the pages.' Christopher FowlerOpals...In the desolate outback town of Finnigans Gap, police struggle to maintain law and order. Thieves pillage opal mines, religious fanatics recruit vulnerable youngsters and billionaires do as they please.Bodies...Then an opal miner is found crucified and left to rot down his mine. Nothing about the miner's death is straight-forward, not even who found the body. Homicide detective Ivan Lucic is sent to investigate, assisted by inexperienced young investigator Nell Buchanan.But Finnigans Gap has already ended one police career and damaged others, and soon both officers face damning allegations and internal investigations. Have Ivan and Nell been set up, and if so, by whom?Secrets...As time runs out, their only chance at redemption is to find the killer. But the more they uncover, the more harrowing the mystery becomes, and a past long forgotten is thrown into scorching sunlight.Because in Finnigans Gap, nothing stays buried for ever.Praise for Chris Hammer:'Hammer is a great writer - a leader in Australian noir' Michael Connelly'Shimmers . . . A tortured tale of blood and loss' Val McDermid'Stunning - a page-turner which stays long in the memory' Sunday Times

A dam breaks. A body rises from the flood.Hidden for decades, can this small town face the secrets that will surface?**THE TIMES CRIME BOOK OF THE YEAR****SUNDAY TIMES CRIME BOOK OF THE MONTH**Young detective Nell Buchanan uncovers a deadly, decades-old mystery at the heart of her rural hometown in this stunning thriller from award-winning author Chris Hammer.'A commanding, consuming and outright thrilling mystery. Chris Hammer's first-class series goes from strength to strength.' - Chris Whitaker'Utterly brilliant, a darkly simmering mystery.' - Dervla McTiernan'Chris Hammer is at the height of his power here. Dead Man's Creek is a superb piece of storytelling' - William Shaw'I doubt I'll read a better novel this year.' - The TimesNewly-minted homicide detective Nell Buchanan returns to her hometown, annoyed at being assigned a decades-old murder - a 'file and forget'.But this is no ordinary cold case, her arrival provoking an unwelcome and threatening response from the small-town community. As more bodies are discovered, and she begins to question how well she truly knows those closest to her, Nell realises that finding the truth could prove more difficult - and dangerous - than she'd ever expected.The nearer Nell comes to uncovering the secrets of the past, the more treacherous her path becomes. Can she survive to root out the truth, and what price will she have to pay for it?Gripping and atmospheric, Dead Man's Creek is a stunning multi-layered thriller from Chris Hammer, the award-winning author of Sunday Times Crime Book of the Year Scrublands (2019) and Times Crime Book of the Month Opal Country (January 2022).Praise for Chris Hammer:'Classic Hammer. A crime novel that will stay with me for a long time.' Ann Cleeves'Chris Hammer is one of the leading proponents of Outback Noir and Dead Man's Creek is another stellar offering. A big, meaty, complex crime story.' Vaseem Khan'This may well be Hammer's best work yet. Atmospheric and thrilling. I was gripped.' Victoria Selman'A complex, twisty thriller, with nuanced characters and a winding plot all set in the oppressive Australian heat.' Lisa Hall'This slice of Australian noir sparkles like an opal in the blistering sun.' Lisa Gray'Opal Country is a top-notch Aussie Noir with real heat coming off the pages.' Christopher Fowler'Hammer is a great writer - a leader in Australian noir' Michael Connelly'Shimmers . . . A tortured tale of blood and loss' Val McDermid'Stunning - a page-turner which stays long in the memory' Sunday Times

The ensnaring new thriller from award-winning Chris Hammer, author of Sunday Times Crime Book of the Year Scrublands and Times Crime Book of the Month Opal Country.

NO ONE IS EVER INNOCENT IN PARADISE.**THE TIMES CRIME BOOK OF THE MONTH****A TIMES CRIME BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024**A small town. A closely guarded secret, stretching back decades. And blood in the water.'A masterful, stunning thriller. A twisting mystery epic in scale yet intricate in detail. Irresistible.' Chris Whitaker'Epic. Shakespearean in depth and range' The Times'Fierce, gripping and spine-chilling.' Daily MailA body has washed up in an irrigation canal, the artery running through Yuwonderie, a man-made paradise on the border of the Outback. Stabbed through the heart, electrocuted and dumped under cover of night, there is no doubt that detectives Ivan Lucic and Nell Buchanan are dealing with a vicious homicide. The victim is Athol Hasluck, member of one of the seven dynasties who have controlled every slice of bountiful land in this modern-day Eden for generations.But this is not an isolated incident. Someone is targeting the landed aristocracy of this quiet paradise in the desert. Secrets stretching back decades are rising to the surface at last - but the question remains, who stands to gain most from their demise? Can Ivan and Nell track down a killer before the guilt at the heart of these seven families takes the entire town down with it?Praise for Chris Hammer:'My favourite Australian detective is Nell Buchanan.' - Ann Cleeves'Hammer is a great writer - a leader in Australian noir' Michael Connelly'Shimmers . . . A tortured tale of blood and loss' Val McDermid'Stunning - a page-turner which stays long in the memory' Sunday Times'Utterly brilliant, a darkly simmering mystery.' - Dervla McTiernan'Chris Hammer is at the height of his power here.' - William Shaw'This novel is Hammer's best work yet.' The Times'This may well be Hammer's best work yet. Atmospheric and thrilling. I was gripped.' Victoria Selman'A vivid and gripping thriller' Gytha Lodge'A complex, twisty thriller, with nuanced characters and a winding plot all set in the oppressive Australian heat.' Lisa Hall'This slice of Australian noir sparkles like an opal in the blistering sun.' Lisa Gray'Top-notch Aussie Noir with real heat coming off the pages.' Christopher FowlerScrublands was named Sunday Times Crime Book of the Year 2019 and won the CWA John Creasey Dagger Award in the same year.Dead Man's Creek was named the Times Crime Book of the Year in 2023.