Legacy

Martin Scarsden is once again the main character in this novel by Chris Hammer. We first met Martin in Scrublands, Silver and Trust. In this latest novel, Legacy, Martin and his family attend the launch of his latest book involving the investigation of a Melbourne crime family when the police evacuate the hall before a bomb explodes. Martin fears for the welfare of his family who are removed to a place of safety. On the advice of Jack Goffing from ASIO, Martin takes on a new identity and then disappears to Paroo in outback New South Wales where he hopes he will not be recognised.

So begins a fast paced thriller with Martin attempting to remain incognito as he tries to discover who has set out not just to kill him but also to totally discredit his reputation. He also discovers a long standing feud between two families - the Carmichaels and the Stantons. He considers this as a possible topic for a new book but his investigations lead to additional danger including an attempt on his life.

There are parallel stories in the book. As well as Martin's story we meet Ecco who has been employed by Clay Carmichael to write the family story. Her investigations lead to the discovery of a mystery that occurred more than one hundred years earlier. She also learns about a murder committed twenty years ago and the disappearance of  Clay's daughter, Chloe. Information from Chloe's diaries provide additional information.

Once again, when the police become involved, we again meet Ivan Lucic and Nell Buchannan from the Homicide Squad who have featured in other Chris Hammer novels. The environment of the outback is a feature of the story, especially the flood waters travelling into New South Wales from northern Queensland, hopefully resulting in the regrowth of pasture for any livestock remaining after a drought.

Legacy is another excellent addition to the genre often referred to a Aussie Noir.

Trust

Trust, the new novel by Chris Hammer is definitey a novel that is difficult to put down. Fortunately I borrowed a copy from the library on Friday so was able to spend the weekend reading. Trust is the third book in a series about journalist and author, Martin Scarsdale and Mandy Blonde. Scrublands and Silver were set in rural Australia but the city of Sydney is the setting for Trust. A map at the front of the book allows the reader to follow where the action is taking place. 

The novel begins with Martin playing on the beach with Mandy's son, Liam when he receives a voicemail message from Mandy - a scream. Rushing back to their house Martin discovers that Mandy has disappeared and there is a man lying on the floor.

The plot of the novel contains two main stories that as investigations proceed emerge into one. Martin soon realises that there is a large part of Mandy's former life that she has not revealed to him and the past has now come to confront her. Meanwhile Martin's former editor, Max, has asked him to help investigate and write a potentially explosive story but will not reveal any details until they meet. Martin heads to Sydney to find and support Mandy but also agrees to meet Max. When he discovers that Max has been murdered he knows that he must continue to investigate the story that has cost Max his life.

This is a story of large scale corruption in many spheres, a police undercover investigation, duplicity, nepotism, surveillance, computer fraud, kidnapping and, of course, murder. As well as investigating what has and is currently occurring, Martin has to write the story and get it out to the public before authorities prevent him from making it public or the opposition publish first. 

Mandy also has to decide to come to terms with what has happened in the past and to move on with her life. She also has to learn to trust again. 

This book is another great read in the Aussie noir genre.

Silver

Silver, the new book by Chris Hammer, is the sequel to Scrublands.

When journalist Martin Scarsden returns to Port Silver, the coastal town where he lived as a boy, he did not expect to find the body of his best friend lying in a pool of blood in the apartment. He also did not expect his girlfriend, Mandy Blonde, to be the main suspect.

Martin and his lawyer assist the police with their inquiries but also work to try and find not only who murdered Jasper but what is happened at a settlement on the beach resulting in the deaths of another seven people. Martin has a strict deadline in which to work as his newspaper wants to be the first to break aspects of the story.

This is a story with many twists and turns as the plot is revealed. Martin is also forced to revisit his past and come to terms with previous family relationships and events that occurred as he was growing up. As in Scrublands, the town of Port Silver and the surrounding environment and its community are crucial to the story.

Scrublands

In Scrublands, Chris Hammer, has contributed to the growing list of excellent crime stories set in an Australian location - usually the outback. In this case the story is set in the fictional town of Riversend on the road to Hay in New South Wales. The town is suffering from a severe drought with many of the businesses closed or only open for a few hours a week. But the drought is not the only issue to be faced by the remaining population in Riversend.

Journalist, Martin Scarsden, arrives in Riversend to write a story of how the town is coping after the massacre of five men outside a church in the town almost twelve months previously. However as he interviews people for his story he discovers that the story of the massacre written and published by a colleague may not be correct. Different people in the town have a variety of views on what happened that day and repercussions from the events are still being played out in the community.

The gripping story told in this book makes it difficult to put the book down as the the journalist uncovers what is really occurring in this region. The story also provides a commentary on media, both print and television. This book is definitely, to use a well used cliche, a good read.