The Tilt

Cadell Tilt is a mysterious place. Nell Buchanan returns to her home town on the Murray River when a skeleton is discovered after a river regulator has been breached. This is obviously not a recent death and the chances of solving the case is not great. However, as Nell and Ivan Lucic investigate they uncover crimes dating back to the Second World War when the area was a camp for Italian Prisoners of War. More bodies are discovered, possibly from different time periods. 

As Nell investigates she learns more about her family. She also begins to supect that family members may have been involved in the mysterious deaths. This is not just an investigation of past crimes. During the investigation, Nell inadvertently discovers that another crime is being planned in the area.

The telling of the story alternates time periods from the present day, 1973 and events that occurred in the early 1940s. It covers several generations with members of the families still living in the area. It becomes apparent that there have been cover-ups but why?

The Tilt by Chris Hammer is an absorbing Aussie Noir crime novel. This is one book that once you start reading it you will want to continue reading to the end of the novel. There is also a family tree at the end of the book if you want to check the interconnections of the characters in the story. I really enjoyed reading this book.

Books by Chris Hammer in this blog.

Shortlisted for the 2023 Australian Book Industry Awards - General Fiction