Wow. I’ve loved Chris Hammer’s work since Scrublands. He has the ability to make fictional places teem with life, from the detailed map of The Valley, to its people’s thoughts, struggles and way of life. Combine that with an uncanny knack of weaving in plot twists - turning expectations on their head just when you were sure of what’s happening. But the genius is not only in the unravelling of a sprawling, epoch-traversing, place-based mystery with juicy crimes of corruption, gang heists, murder and fraud. It’s in the marionetting of the emotional and relationship threads of the characters so that you are highly invested till the very last page. AND throw in meticulous research on the industry of mining! It all made for an enjoyable read with a payoff that was resonant and fulfilling. All bow to Chris, the Hammer of crime fiction.
Wow. I’ve loved Chris Hammer’s work since Scrublands. He has the ability to make fictional places teem with life, from the detailed map of The Valley, to its people’s thoughts, struggles and way of life. Combine that with an uncanny knack of weaving in plot twists - turning expectations on their head just when you were sure of what’s happening. But the genius is not only in the unravelling of a sprawling, epoch-traversing, place-based mystery with juicy crimes of corruption, gang heists, murder and fraud. It’s in the marionetting of the emotional and relationship threads of the characters so that you are highly invested till the very last page. AND throw in meticulous research on the industry of mining! It all made for an enjoyable read with a payoff that was resonant and fulfilling. All bow to Chris, the Hammer of crime fiction.