This reviewer was living under a rock and only recently discovered bestselling Australian author Chris Hammer, after the ABC started showing the TV adaptation of his book Treasure & Dirt in July 2026.
With that said, perhaps you want to read the book before watching the TV series. The choice can be quite rewarding, as the novel is atmospheric, complex and gripping, and very, very Australian. It cannot be set anywhere else in the world!
The book tells the story of DS Ivan Lucic, who is sent from Sydney to the outback town of Finnegan’s Gap to investigate the death and crucifixion of an opal miner. His partner is DC Nell Buchanan, a local cop highly ambitious yet rather inexperienced – at one stage, the mistake she makes is rather bizarre and inexcusable.
Ivan has his own problems as well, so the two flawed heroes have to prove themselves as proper police officers not just to each other and the townspeople but also to Professional Standards at headquarters. This creates some conflict of interest and a good deal of tension, and the dynamics between them reads well.
The constant switch of POV allows readers to glimpse every side of this intricate case. As the plot thickens, many shades of humanity are revealed – the pitifully hapless, the bewilderingly quirky, the evils who are well connected and/or greased, and the rich and powerful who are brutally ruthless. Not to mention those good honest folks just trying to survive. Those still chasing their dreams. Those whose dreams have died.
Perhaps crime novels are less about the investigations of assaults, murders, corruptions and cover-ups. Rather, they are stories of a few individuals whose ambitions and greed have led to a range of despicable acts that impacted and even destroyed the lives and livelihoods of many ordinary and innocent people.
Hammer explores these issues by weaving together multiple storylines showcasing an expansive ensemble of characters. One of the truly outstanding characters is the town itself, which is gritty, merciless and occasionally deadly, and that is not just because of the challenging landscape and unbearable heat.
More importantly, in contrast to other fictional small towns that are often portrayed as chess boards for big criminal and/or corporate players, the Aussies in Finnegan’s Gap unite and fight back in their own unique ways. Perhaps that is why Treasure & Dirt is so well received by Australian readers.
Chris Hammer will deliver the opening address for the 2026 Dandenong Ranges Literary Festival at Cameo Cinemas in Belgrave on Friday 9 October. He will also be part of a Crime Fiction panel on Saturday 10 October, where he will discuss his forthcoming novel Full Circle. Find more details HERE.
Note: This book review was published under the title “Complex and atmospheric outback thriller” by Ranges Trader Star Mail, September 15, 2026, P.20.
Voices under the Sun 陽光下的聲音 