Wonderful complex story. This is a very engaging read with a complex but fascinating plot one of the things that makes this writer stand out is his very skilfully story telling which is outstanding here. Wonderfully descriptive, great characterisation and one that keeps you guessing. Don’t miss out on this great read.

I enjoyed Scrublands, the first book featuring Martin Scarsden, and was looking forward to reading Silver. I was not disappointed. I was enthralled from beginning to end. A totally different location for this book and you get an insight into Martin’s roots and what happened in his childhood years. I would have no hesitation in recommending Silver as a great book to lose yourself in.

Finally, the followup to the atmospheric and addictive ‘Scrublands’ is now available as Chris Hammer releases his second epic, ‘Silver’. As with his award debut, ‘Silver’ features the character of Martin Scarsden, a former ‘journo’ who is now returning to his former hometown of Port Silver, after an absence of over two decades. Martin’s reason for returning to join his new family – girlfriend Mandalay Blonde and her baby son Liam. As part of her inheritance, Mandy has received property in Port Silver and is excited to home away after the traumatic events in her hometown. Initially, she is unaware of Martin’s past connection with Port Silver but while settling in, Mandy witnesses a murder and becomes the main suspect. From this point, the story truly kicks off as Martin delves into the dark underbelly of the town to uncover the truth behind a decades old mystery and development scam in order to save Mandy, all the while constantly confronting the past which he has battled so hard to forget. Hammer’s novel moves at a rapid pace with new storyline threads appearing at a rollercoaster pace, ensuring that despite the size of the novel, the reader does not have the opportunity to become bored by the narrative. There is a continuous movement between Martin battling with his growing knowledge of his past and his current investigations. Each of these threads grows and weaves throughout the book, finally coming together for an explosive conclusion. Martin also has to deal with a sudden personal growth as he realises the need to put Mandy and Liam before his career. And shows how Hammer is aware of the need to continue the development of the characters throughout the series. I certainly hope that here is more to come in the Martin/Mandy saga. Also, of importance is Martin’s slow discovery of a relation ship with his uncle Vern and family. He now finally has a place to call home and some peace – possibly for the first time since he was 8 years ago and the relationship is beautifully written. My favourite descriptions in the novel are the vivid and atmospheric descriptions of Port Silver and the surrounding countryside – the language used to evoke the images of the town, beach and countryside are so rich that I can image each place as though I have visited there myself.

One of the joys of book reviewing is having the privilege of enjoying a tremendous debut novel – such was Shrublands. It is very rare that a writer is able to follow up with the second novel of similar quality but Hammer has excelled with the publication of Silver. Martin Scarsden, the investigative journalist, is once again the main character. In this thriller, he follows his on/off partner Mandy Blonde to the coast and to the small town of Silver where Mandy has inherited some property. Coincidentally, the town is the one in which Martin grew up. His delay in returning might have something to do with the painful memories the town holds for him. The action starts immediately on his arrival when he discovers Mandy frozen over the bloodied body of one of his childhood friends. The book is a long one but the quality of writing such that the pages almost seem to turn themselves. The 500 odd pages also allow Hammer to interweave subplots and all storylines coalesce in the final pages when the reader gets to enjoy finding out who did what and when. All life can be found within the pages – crooked cops, an Indian guru and a hippy colony, a TV soap star plus of course money-grabbing businessmen and their families. All that suggests a very complex storyline but the facts are well ordered and logical so that there is no problem following the plot development. A useful map of the town is also included which adds to the realism. The reader is engaged from the start. The events which are experienced are felt as if they have happened to someone the reader knows well – maybe a relative or family. The sense of injustice and impotent rage is very real and tangible. Both Shrublands and Silver can be very highly recommended if this genre is a favourite. It would be useful to read them in the right sequence but both stand alone in their own right. mr zorg Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book for review

Chris Hammer's follow-up to his marvellous Australian crime fiction début, Scrublands, proves his remarkable talent in this gritty hard-hitting novel. In this instalment, the action moves to Port Silver, a coastal town in New South Wales, where ex-journalist Martin Scarsden endured a very traumatic childhood. He vowed never to return to his hometown, but his new partner, Mandalay Blonde (Mandy), has inherited an old house in the seaside town and Martin believes another opportunity of a new life together won't come again. Martin arrives to find his best friend from school, Jasper Speight, has been brutally murdered, and Mandy is the prime suspect. With the police reluctant to pursue other avenues and convinced of Mandy's innocence, Martin goes searching for the killer himself. He finds the past waiting for him and uncovers a town saturated with corruption, greed, drugs, sex, religion, and murder. Chris Hammer's novel of Australian noir is a wonderfully riveting and atmospheric crime read. The story-line is complex with exemplary characterisation including a host of characters that made a real impact. I particularly appreciated the parts of the story that included the initial stages of Martin's reconnecting with his Uncle Vern, and the revelations of the various happenings in his difficult past. The author's focus on the relationship between Martin and Mandy, with all their doubts and flaws, felt true-to life and very convincing and I revelled in the meticulous and painstaking forensic detailing of the criminal investigation. I also loved the way in which Chris Hammer transported me into the beautiful coastal region of Port Silver and its surrounding area with his rich descriptions and vivid and atmospheric portrayals. This is quite a long novel at over five hundred pages which seems daunting, however, no word is wasted and the first class writing meant I never lost interest, Gripping throughout, I adored Silver and I’m already looking forward to Chris Hammer's next offering. I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my request, from Headline via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.