BURIED GOLD OLD BONES. WHAT SECRETS LURK IN THE DEPTHS? A masterclass of small-town mystery
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
