The plotline is complex, with the hard work taken to keep up rewarded at the end. All the distinct voices of each character felt so real, the familial bonds and secrets all so emotive, cumulating to a palpable conclusion. So many people harbouring secrets with many reasons, and I loved the goodies v. baddies concept here, as there were many grey areas leaving Nell to distance herself many times as this is all to do with her own family.

Her uncle Gene writes an inflammatory article implicating a former (crooked) cop from nearby Hatheson in Stannard’s murder, while Nell’s mother makes an enigmatic observation that has her wondering at her own family’s involvement. An altercation with a publican who takes offence sees Professional Standards questioning Nell use of her martial arts skills And then, another body turns up… The Tilt is a complex multigenerational story set over three time periods: the 1940s, the 1970s and the present day. The storyline gradually unfolds when newly promoted Nell Buchanan and her boss Ivan Lucic are called in to investigate the discovery of a skeleton when a water regulator is sabotaged. Neither Nell nor Ivan have high hopes of solving this historic case, but then a second and more recent body is discovered close by. 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.

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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

The Tilt is the second stunning crime fiction novel from bestselling author Chris Hammer to feature Detective Sergeant Ivan Lucic and Detective Constable Nell (Narelle) Buchanan, who were introduced in Treasure and Dirt (Opal Country).

But this is no ordinary cold case, as the discovery of more bodies triggers a chain of escalating events in the present day. As Nell starts to join the pieces together, she begins to question how well she truly knows those closest to her. Could her own family be implicated in the crimes? I loved this book, and didn't want it to finish but with so many facets to the story I will definitely read it again. 5 stars don't do this justice as it hit every single spot for me and is easily one of my top reads of 2022. I hope Nell and Ivan will return at least once more as I'm sure Lucic too has a story to tell. A commanding, consuming and outright thrilling mystery. Chris Hammer's first-class series goes from strength to strength.' - Chris Whitaker Although the case begins with the appearance of being the coldest of cold cases, it turns out that there is far more at play here. One murder, as is so often the case, is intertwined with other crimes and as the divergent tales draw together, we find ourselves suddenly facing a far more complex story.

The story is told through multiple narrative styles; Jimmy Waters statement running from his childhood in the 40’s to the 70’s, Tess Waters in 1973 and the present day investigation by Nell. I enjoyed each era of the story; Jimmy’s childhood attending the cattle and supporting his family while his father was at war and Tessa’s story in 1973 was so quintessentially 70’s, the cars, the music, the language. It was all so spot on! This is my first Chris Hammer novel and definitely won’t be my last as I’ve just got one word to sum up his writing abilities and that is talent. For a start, he absolutely transports me to Australia (I wish) as it oozes Aussie atmosphere, there are some superbly evocative descriptions of the locations especially the river and the surrounding forest but also the wildlife. In a country where the most exciting thing to cross the road is either a pheasant, a hedgehog or the occasional fox or deer that stand more chance of survival than the first two, I revel in what car headlights reveal to Nell!!! It has taken me much too long to have finally read a book by this author, and what a writer he is. Recommended highly by my father who loves good quality Aussie fiction, I knew I needed to get to it. I found the audio, grabbed the physical book to assist with the map which he mentioned as a must, and off I went. A complex, twisty thriller, with nuanced characters and a winding plot all set in the oppressive Australian heat.' Lisa HallNell eats her roll, looking past Ivan. The streetscape seems vaguely familiar, the outer reaches of her childhood. But all the towns out here look the same: roads that are too wide, trees that are too far apart, air that is too dry.

They intend to sell them to raise money for their families at a POW camp in the nearby forest. The prisoners are captured Italian soldiers and are guarded by members of the Australian military. We meet a vile and vicious Aussie officer and guard, and also a soldier wounded in New Guinea who lost an eye along with other injuries. An Italian POW commits an act of heroism. The two guards disappear and are thought to have gone AWOL after stealing army money. Deftly plotted, the story has many threads which are intricately woven together as the story progresses and tied off neatly at the end. This is Hammer's best. He lived in the area the text is set and has applied that knowledge and his research to create a most valid and real setting. After reading “The Tilt” I have decided I must visit this area of the Murray and see how regulators operate and see the great Red River Gum Forest. I have read Margaret Simmons “Cry Me a River: The Tragedy of the Murray Basin.” (Quarterly Essay #77) so have some idea of the challenges environmentalists have had saving water for places like the forest.

Netgalley Approved

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 The Tilt (aka Deadman’s Creek) is the second book in the Ivan Lulic and Nell Buchanan series by award-winning Australian journalist and author, Chris Hammer. The audio version is narrated by Dorje Swallow. Detective Constable Narelle Buchanan sees her inclusion in the Rural Homicide team with DS Ivan Lulic as a promotion, although the remains they’ve been sent to investigate in Tulong on the Murray River turns out to be eighty years dead, so really not their remit. Ivan sees the team as more of a demotion, which is perhaps why he leaves Nell to tidy up the details and close the case. This may well be Hammer’s best work yet. Atmospheric and thrilling. I was gripped.’ Victoria Selman From 1st July 2021, VAT will be applicable to those EU countries where VAT is applied to books - this additional charge will be collected by Fed Ex (or the Royal Mail) at the time of delivery. Shipments to the USA & Canada: