Dead Man's Creek: A darkly atmospheric, simmering crime thriller spanning generations (Detective Nell Buchanan)

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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. Chris Hammer is at the height of his power here. Dead Man's Creek is a superb piece of storytelling' - William Shaw The opening chapter of The Tilt by Chris Hammer is prefaced by a map and a family tree. Now, I know many people LOVE a good map but I'm spatially challenged so tend to avoid them at all costs. And the family tree had me worried that there were so many players we'd need help remembering who was who. But thankfully it's not the case at all. Instead it gives us context and a reminder how complex lives can be in small communities. As the investigation proceeds and more facts regarding the remains become known we also start to learn more about Nell’s family, particularly her mother and her grandfather whose own stories are told in separate, alternating chapters. Nell will get around to visiting her family in due course and strands will start to form an overall picture but it’ll take some time. In the meantime, we’re left to sift through what feels like a fascinating but impenetrable series of discoveries and accounts of past events. A commanding, consuming and outright thrilling mystery. Chris Hammer's first-class series goes from strength to strength.' - Chris Whitaker

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! The nearer Nell comes to uncovering the secrets of the past, the more dangerous the present becomes for her, as she battles shadowy assailants and sinister forces. Can she survive this harrowing investigation and what price will she have to pay for the truth?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? 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 Chris Hammer is at the height of his power here. Dead Man’s Creek is a superb piece of storytelling’– William Shaw A complex, twisty thriller, with nuanced characters and a winding plot all set in the oppressive Australian heat.’ Lisa Hall

The descriptions of small town life on the Murray River are brilliantly evocative and, as well as delving into the tragic mysteries of the past, the novel highlights the concerns of the present, especially the rise of right-wing political extremism and the ecological devastation the river and surrounding forests. As the story unravels, Nell has to face up to some devastating truths, not just about her family history but also about her personal identity. Utterly brilliant, a darkly simmering mystery .' - Dervla McTiernan, bestselling author of The Ruin Tessa as a teenager was my favourite character. I have seen many young women like Tessa grow to be a much more limited person in their older years. A complex, twisty thriller, with nuanced characters and a winding plot all set in the oppressive Australian heat.' Lisa Hall MY THOUGHTS: Geologic tilting, also known as tectonic tilting, occurs when the earth's surface layers begin to tilt or slant irregularly.Hammer successful jumps from time period to time period. He has again done the research to give authenticity to his writing. From my clear knowledge of the 1970s he is accurate in his description of the arts and culture at that time. The music, musicians, films and politics are all accurately placed in the story. Having been born in 1960 he would have been 12 years when this part of the story is set, again he must have relied on extensive research. The authenticity of the story impressed me.