In the desolate outback town of Finnigans Gap, police struggle to maintain law and order. Thieves pillage opal mines, religious fanatics recruit vulnerable young people and billionaires do as they please.

Then an opal miner is found crucified and left to rot down his mine. Nothing about the miner's death is straightforward, not even who found the body. Sydney homicide detective Ivan Lucic is sent to investigate, assisted by inexperienced young investigator Nell Buchanan.

But Finnigans Gap has already ended one police career and damaged others, and soon both officers face damning allegations and internal investigations. Have Ivan and Nell been set up and, if so, by whom?

As time runs out, their only chance at redemption is to find the killer. But the more secrets they uncover, the more harrowing the mystery becomes, as events from years ago take on a startling new significance.

For in Finnigans Gap, opals, bodies and secrets don't stay buried for ever.

Author

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 30 countries on six continents. In Canberra, roles included chief political correspondent for The Bulletin, current affairs correspondent for SBS TV and a senior political journalist for The Age.  His first 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 and the Manning Clark House National Cultural Award.  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.

Country of Origin

Books:

Series: Ivan Lucic / Nell Buchanan

Book Number:
2
2022
Book Number:
1

Series: Martin Scarsden

Book Number:
3
2020
Book Number:
2
2019
Book Number:
1
2018
Blog Australian Book Industry Awards 2020 Longlist Announcement
Karen Chisholm
Monday, March 2, 2020
Review Silver, Chris Hammer
Andrea Thompson
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Review Scrublands, Chris Hammer
Karen Chisholm
Thursday, August 9, 2018
Blog #amreading Scrublands, Chris Hammer
Karen Chisholm
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
Review Scrublands, Chris Hammer
Andrea Thompson
Saturday, July 28, 2018
ISBN
9781760877606
Book Source
Reading Pile
Book Number (in series)
1

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