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Dead Man's Creek

The Times Crime Book of the Year 2023

Chris Hammer author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Headline Publishing Group

Published:5th Jan '23

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Dead Man's Creek cover

In this gripping thriller, a young detective returns to her rural hometown to investigate a long-forgotten murder. As secrets resurface, she realizes uncovering the truth may come at a dangerous cost.

"Dead Man's Creek" is a gripping thriller by award-winning author Chris Hammer, renowned for his previous works such as "Scrublands" and "Opal Country." The story follows young detective Nell Buchanan as she returns to her rural hometown, where she is unexpectedly assigned to investigate a decades-old murder case. Initially viewing it as a mundane task, Nell soon realizes that this cold case is anything but ordinary, as her investigation stirs up long-buried secrets within the tight-knit community.

As Nell delves deeper into the mystery, she faces increasing hostility from the townspeople, revealing the complexities of her relationships and the hidden truths that lie beneath the surface. With each new discovery, more bodies emerge, forcing her to confront the unsettling reality that those she thought she knew may be hiding dark secrets. The tension escalates as she grapples with the dangers of uncovering the truth, leading her down a perilous path.

"Dead Man's Creek" is a multi-layered narrative that masterfully combines elements of suspense and psychological depth. Hammer's atmospheric writing captures the essence of small-town life while exploring themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the impact of the past on the present. As Nell races against time to unravel the mystery, readers are drawn into a world where the quest for truth comes at a high cost, making it a must-read for fans of crime fiction.

A commanding, consuming and outright thrilling mystery. Chris Hammer's first-class series goes from strength to strength. * Chris Whitaker, bestselling author of We Begin at the End *
My favourite Australian detective is Nell Buchanan. Dead Man's Creek is a richly textured novel. * Ann Cleeves *
Utterly brilliant, a darkly simmering mystery - an Australian Where The Crawdads Sing. * Dervla McTiernan, bestselling author of The Ruin *
Chris Hammer is at the height of his power here. Dead Man's Creek is a superb piece of storytelling - a dark and compelling saga brilliantly rooted in a rich Australian landscape. * William Shaw, bestselling author of the DS Alexandra Cupidi series *
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 *
Dingo noir at its finest. This may well be Hammer's best work yet. Atmospheric and thrilling. I was gripped. * Victoria Selman, bestselling author of Truly Darkly Deeply *
Chris Hammer has surpassed himself in Dead Man's Creek. I doubt I'll read a better novel this year. * The Times *
Hammer is at his best in this panoramic novel * Sunday Times *
Exceptional. This is storytelling that grasps the reader like poison ivy, never once losing its hypnotic grip: both compelling and masterful. * Daily Mail *
An excellent, multi-layered and atmospheric thriller * Mail on Sunday *
A sprawling and gripping new crime novel from the Australian noir master, * Peterborough Telegraph *
A delight from start to finish * Irish Independent *
Dead Man's Creek has it all-a vivid setting, characters that live and breathe and feel utterly real, and an epic mystery stretching across decades that thrills and surprises. This is a perfect crime novel. * Lisa Gray, bestselling author of the Jessica Shaw series *
A vivid and gripping thriller where long-buried secrets were interwoven brilliantly with current threat. I loved it! * Gytha Lodge, bestselling author of She Lies In Wait *
Chris Hammer at the height of his powers ... absolutely not to be missed! * Hayley Scrivenor, author of Dirt Town *
It would be unfair to say Chris Hammer is at the top of the crime writing game. Chris Hammer IS the game. Readers will devour Chris Hammer's exceptional novel. * Benjamin Stevenson, author of Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone *
Chris has an another absolute cracker on his hands here. Chris is without a doubt one of the best active Australian crime writers, and a new book from him is always an unmissable event. One of those stories you don't want to put down once you've started. * Shelley Burr, author of Wake *
Timely and timeless, Dead Man's Creek is some of the finest crime fiction out there. Chris Hammer just gets better. * Dominic Nolan, author of Vine Street *
A fantastic rural crime story with a huge family saga running through it all * Tariq Ashkanani, author of Welcome to Cooper *
Chris Hammer has another hit on his hands. Great characters, a riveting plot, and an evocative setting. Hammer is a modern-day master, and this book has it all. * Peter Papathanasiou, author of The Stoning *
This a superb book, a totally compelling story of small town secrets, multi-layered and beautifully written. * Kevin Wignall, author of Those Who Disappeared *
The publication of Chris Hammer book has become one of those events that you eagerly await. Dead Man's Creek is no exception. Mesmerising and unputdownable from start to finish, Chris is a master at work. * James Delargy, author of 55 and Vanished *
A rich, complex thriller, packed with detail and intrigue. * Christian White, author of The Nowhere Child *
Gripping * Heat *
Sleek, savage and addictive * Woman's Own *

A complex, twisty thriller, with nuanced characters and a winding plot all set in the oppressive Australian heat.

* Lisa Hall *
Opal Country is a top-notch Aussie Noir with real heat coming off the pages. * Christopher Fowler *
A brilliantly atmospheric mystery. * Heat *
This novel - tighter, tougher, tenser - is Hammer's best work yet. * The Times *
Chris Hammer is regarded as one of Australia's best new noir crime writers, and this immersive and lyrically written thriller copper-fastens this well-deserved reputation. * Irish Independent *
Gold standard Outback noir [...] Chris Hammer's best writing to date. * Crime Fiction Lover *
Nobody does Australian outback crime better. Hammer nails it again. * Peterborough Telegraph *
Opal Country is richly rewarding. Hammer is quite brilliant. * Shots Magazine *
A fast-paced and thrilling read. * Brown Flopsy's Book Burrow *
Keeps you stuck to the story like an Outback miner's shirt to his back * The Sun *
A sharp thriller * Woman's Own *
A master of the crime genre * South Africa Sunday Times *

ISBN: 9781472295668

Dimensions: 236mm x 158mm x 42mm

Weight: 760g

496 pages