THREE MURDERS. A SECRET WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD. A masterclass of unmissable thrills and
jaw-dropping twists from Chris Hammer the international bestselling author of Scrublands The
Times Crime Book of the Year 2023 Dead Man's Creek and Crime Book of the Month (January 2024)
Cover the Bones. A body has been discovered on the riverbanks of The Valley a remote
community in the hills of New South Wales. The gold mine at the heart of The Valley was once
the lifeblood of this region but it has been flooded for decades. Over the years many have
tried and failed to bring it back to life. Now most believe the mine is barren. The victim is
Wolfgang Burnside deputy mayor - a champion of change or local schemer depending on who you
ask. He had been working on plans to take the Valley off-grid with hydro-power using the lake
surrounding the abandoned mine. Until he was poisoned his body dumped in the river for all to
see. Detectives Nell Buchanan and Ivan Lucic are dispatched to investigate. The warning is
clear - there are secrets lurking in the depths of this Valley secrets worth more than their
weight in gold. What price will this town have to pay to ensure that they never see the light
of day? An epic atmospheric mystery spanning generations set against a luscious backdrop and
the twisting veins of gold that lurk beneath. Praise for Chris Hammer: 'A masterful stunning
thriller. A twisting mystery epic in scale yet intricate in detail. Irresistible.' Chris
Whitaker 'Epic. Shakespearean in depth and range' The Times 'Fierce gripping and
spine-chilling.' Daily Mail 'My favourite Australian detective is Nell Buchanan.' - Ann
Cleeves 'Hammer is a great writer - a leader in Australian noir' Michael Connelly 'Shimmers .
. . A tortured tale of blood and loss' Val McDermid 'Stunning - a page-turner which stays long
in the memory' Sunday Times
