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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The story starts slowly. At around a third of the way through, the pace of the plot picks up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Minor: Drug use, Toxic relationship, Death of parent
5 Stars.
"In Finnegan's Gap, opals, bodies and secrets don't stay buried forever."
I just want to start by saying that I've never read a Chris Hammer book that I didn't like, and this was no exception. When Ivan Lucic is sent to the rural opal mining town of Finnegan's Gap to investigate a homicide case, he knows that there's more going on than meets the eye. Firstly, because his boss, Morris Montifore is kept back in Sydney, pending investigation, and secondly, because everywhere he turns, the case just keeps getting more and more complicated.
Far out, I loved this. Hammer's writing is so evocative, I could feel the heat of the Finnegan's Gap in my bones. I had really disliked Lucic in the earlier novels but I really enjoyed getting to know him as a character, and I wish I could be friends with Nell! Somehow this novel felt less complicated than Hammer's other novels, and yet still had enough twists and turns that it wasn't at all boring. I absolutely recommend this, it's definitely one of the best novels I've read in 2021!
"In Finnegan's Gap, opals, bodies and secrets don't stay buried forever."
I just want to start by saying that I've never read a Chris Hammer book that I didn't like, and this was no exception. When Ivan Lucic is sent to the rural opal mining town of Finnegan's Gap to investigate a homicide case, he knows that there's more going on than meets the eye. Firstly, because his boss, Morris Montifore is kept back in Sydney, pending investigation, and secondly, because everywhere he turns, the case just keeps getting more and more complicated.
Far out, I loved this. Hammer's writing is so evocative, I could feel the heat of the Finnegan's Gap in my bones. I had really disliked Lucic in the earlier novels but I really enjoyed getting to know him as a character, and I wish I could be friends with Nell! Somehow this novel felt less complicated than Hammer's other novels, and yet still had enough twists and turns that it wasn't at all boring. I absolutely recommend this, it's definitely one of the best novels I've read in 2021!
I am a huge Chris Hammer fan, have read Scrublands, Silver and Trust - loved them all. Treasure and Dirt is no exception. Its Hammertime!
The book really brings out the remoteness of the Australian outback and the characters that live out there. The harshness of the landscape, the hardness of the people but also the compassion that can be exposed behind the tough façade.
We have Ivan Lucic, detective, being sent out to Finnegan's Gap in the middle of nowhere, to investigate a murder. His offsider, Nell, a new detective, had been posted out here a few years back so knows the lay of the land and the locals.
The investigation of the death of an opal miner, Jonas, is not straightforward. As Ivan and Nell dig deeper, more is discovered: local rivalries, scores to be settled, lies and corruption, past loves and a car accident that ripped apart so many lives. Of course, Professional Standards (the guys who investigate the police) also turn up unannounced, uninvited, unwanted, causing tension as they dig into Ivan's past.
Hammer writes with such depth, weaves so many plotlines across the story that you are hooked after only a few pages. This is another fabulous read and I can't wait for the next one!
The book really brings out the remoteness of the Australian outback and the characters that live out there. The harshness of the landscape, the hardness of the people but also the compassion that can be exposed behind the tough façade.
We have Ivan Lucic, detective, being sent out to Finnegan's Gap in the middle of nowhere, to investigate a murder. His offsider, Nell, a new detective, had been posted out here a few years back so knows the lay of the land and the locals.
The investigation of the death of an opal miner, Jonas, is not straightforward. As Ivan and Nell dig deeper, more is discovered: local rivalries, scores to be settled, lies and corruption, past loves and a car accident that ripped apart so many lives. Of course, Professional Standards (the guys who investigate the police) also turn up unannounced, uninvited, unwanted, causing tension as they dig into Ivan's past.
Hammer writes with such depth, weaves so many plotlines across the story that you are hooked after only a few pages. This is another fabulous read and I can't wait for the next one!
In a remote opal mine in outback Australia, a miner is found crucified at the bottom of his mine. Initial examination shows that he was dead for a number of hours before being crucified, so it's not clear whether he was murdered - maybe he died of nature causes and someone found him and decided to crucify him? Or the murder and crucifixion might have been committed by different people?
A detective from Sydney is assigned to work with a young investigator who'd left the town under a shadow a few years ago. In addition to the mystery, they need to deal with police politics, self-interested mining magnates and a lot of small town attitudes.
There really was a lot going on in that little town, so it's important to pay close attention near the end, to unravel all the threads.
A detective from Sydney is assigned to work with a young investigator who'd left the town under a shadow a few years ago. In addition to the mystery, they need to deal with police politics, self-interested mining magnates and a lot of small town attitudes.
There really was a lot going on in that little town, so it's important to pay close attention near the end, to unravel all the threads.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Set in the outback opal mining town of Finnigans Gap in northern NSW, a miner is found dead and crucified in his mine. Sydney detective Ivan Lucic and outback local DC Nell Buchanan are sent to investigate. A cast of unusual characters and an interesting plot.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
medium-paced