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A review by batrock
The Valley by Chris Hammer
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Chris Hammer has only released one truly dodgy book, but his worst excesses are always lurking in the darkness (an APC and a bazooka; more gunfights than anyone would allow in Australia). The Valley is relatively light on dubiously named characters, though there are a couple; instead, Hammer focuses on a split timeline story about a small community that was once wracked by protests and is now haunted by murders both modern and historical.
The dual timeline doesn't always work; after a while it feels no progress is being made in the modern day, and Nell doesn't get much of a chance to be a flagship character. However, despite some ridiculous action scenes — someone gets defenestrated in this one! — Hammer plays to his strengths and presents a novel that works on most levels.
That is, up until the final paragraph, which is criminally sentimental slop. It's just not bad enough to scupper The Valley.
The dual timeline doesn't always work; after a while it feels no progress is being made in the modern day, and Nell doesn't get much of a chance to be a flagship character. However, despite some ridiculous action scenes — someone gets defenestrated in this one! — Hammer plays to his strengths and presents a novel that works on most levels.
That is, up until the final paragraph, which is criminally sentimental slop. It's just not bad enough to scupper The Valley.