LoveReading Says
LoveReading Says
Another compelling and brain-sizzling thriller from the masterly and eloquent pen of author Chris Hammer. This forms part of the Nell Buchanan series and she first starred in the fabulous Opal Country which is linked to the award-winning Martin Scarsden series, in other words these two sets of novels are first-rate reads and come as highly recommended by our team. You could most definitely read The Broken River as a standalone, but the other books are truly too good to miss! Nell and Ivac are sent to deal with a body that has been discovered in The Valley, they haven’t been given all the information and on arrival realise they will be treading on the toes of the local police, secrets and knowledge are dangerous in this town. I aways love the maps that feature at the beginning, they help settle you in place and this particular little oasis off the beaten track is a hotbed of intrigue and secrets. The sense of place is vivid, it’s easy to picture where you are. Different time frames and characters slide in and out of view, while the plot snakes and simmers with suspense. Information links and then breaks, and my thoughts went a little haywire as I tried to work out the connections. This is a beautifully readable novel even as tension vibrates through the pages and so it joins its sisters as a LoveReading Star Book and Liz Pick of the Month. Punchy, intriguing, and thrilling, The Broken River is an immensely enjoyable and rewarding novel.
Liz Robinson
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The Broken River Synopsis
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.
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Press Reviews
Chris Hammer Press Reviews
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
Author
About Chris Hammer
Chris Hammer was a journalist for more than thirty years, dividing his career between covering Australian federal politics and international affairs. For many years he was a roving foreign correspondent for SBS TV's flagship current affairs program Dateline. He has reported from more than thirty countries on six continents.
Chris's non-fiction book, The River, published in 2010 to critical acclaim, was the recipient of the ACT Book of the Year Award and was shortlisted for the Walkley Book Award. Scrublands, his first novel, was published in 2018 and won the CWA John Creasey Debut Dagger Award, as well as being shortlisted for Best Debut Fiction at the Indie Book Awards, and Best General Fiction at the ABIA Awards. It has also been longlisted for the Ned Kelly Best Crime Novel of the Year. Scrublands was optioned for television by Easy Tiger (a FremantleMedia company).
Chris has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Charles Sturt University and a master's degree in international relations from the Australian National University. He lives in Canberra with his wife, Dr Tomoko Akami. The couple have two children.
You can find Chris at @thehammernow on Instagram
Photo credt: Alex Ellinghausen
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