Newly-minted homicide detective Nell Buchanan returns to her home town, annoyed at being assigned a decades-old murder – a ‘file and forget’.
But this is no ordinary cold case, as the discovery of more bodies triggers a chain of escalating events in the present day. As Nell starts to join the pieces together, she begins to question how well she truly knows those closest to her. Could her own family be implicated in the crimes?
The nearer Nell comes to uncovering the secrets of the past, the more dangerous the present becomes for her, as she battles shadowy assailants and sinister forces. Can she survive this harrowing investigation and what price will she have to pay for the truth?
Gripping and atmospheric, The Tilt is a stunning multi-layered novel by the acclaimed and award-winning author of the international bestsellers Scrublands, Silver, Trust and Treasure & Dirt.
Read some great 5-Star reviews from our Preview readers here:
WOW WOW WOW!!! The release of Chris Hammers’s newest standalone book is a marvel. The scene is set in a rural Victorian town and interweaves a multigenerational family and the unfolding of several crime scenes set over 3 time periods into one cracker of a story. Nell Buchanan is a newly appointed detective and has charged with the task of investigating a body that has surfaced in a central setting – the regulator creek based in a forest which divides, hides, and protects families, livestock and the activities of locals. As Nell delves into the investigation the crime opens up and her relationships with her own extended family are questioned. Nell is a strong woman who is a force to be reckoned with, as she manages the solving and unpacking of the crimes whilst managing her fraught relationship with family and walking the tightrope as a newly appointed homicide detective. The book is written in a fast-paced manner with intricate details of how time and life was lived after the war and during the 1970’s. Chris Hammer has done an exceptional job of bring these eras and the challenges met by regional country towns together. If you are a lover of Chris Hammer this one is up with Scrublands! A thoroughly enjoyable read and certainly kept me hanging onto my seat with the unfolding of the intricacies of the crime and family dynamics. I am hoping Chris Hammer makes Nell a regular!! Tracey, NSW, 5 Stars
In this gripping novel, we follow detective Nell Buchanan, called upon to investigate a body found in a regulator in her hometown. What appears to be a decades-old murder headed for the cold case file unveils more mysteries. The investigation brings to light the town’s history, old animosity and family secrets. Too close for comfort for our main character. Multiple storylines have kept me absorbed in this thriller. I keep referring to the family tree and guessing “the ties that bind” long-held secrets. The setting is at once enthralling and foreboding, rich with landscape and historical details. The Tilt is a solid page-turner, immersing me until its satisfying closure. Agnes, NSW, 5 Stars
I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy to review. The 3 storylines switch easily from the war to 1973 and today were well written. The descriptions of the way of life, people, and their dreams were amazing. You felt Tess’s excitement and also the daily struggles just to get to school but it was just the way it was and accepted. The last 100 pages brought the stories together and were more about the mystery part of the book. All came together beautifully and certainly offered some surprises. A wonderful book that should appeal to mystery fans as well as reader who like to know about the life Australians lead. Sandra, NSW, 5 Stars
This is not my usual genre of book but I really enjoyed reading it. I enjoyed the perspective of Nell, and felt like I was right there with her. The story had me hooked and kept me guessing till the end. Interesting characters, with their own stories to tell, and many secrets to be uncovered. I will be seeking out more of Chris Hammer’s books. Highly recommend. Chrissie, WA, 5 Stars
What a fabulous story! I had already read Treasure & Dirt and enjoyed reading another story, this time featuring Nell more so than Ivan. Initially, I did find it a little bit difficult to get into, but it wasn’t long before I was unable to put it down! I also enjoyed the way the tale involved Nell’s family – in clever and really unexpected ways. The WWII history and the way the author wrote about the forest and the Murray River was so evocative and beautiful. I now plan on reading Chris Hammer’s other novels; I have found a new Australian favourite. Thank you very much to Better Reading for providing me with The Tilt. Dariel, WA, 5 Stars
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, Treasure and Dirt, so it was great to see Nell and Ivan again. Seeing Nell with her family added another layer to Nell. I have family in a small town about 45 minutes from Echuca, and all the settings and the interconnections of a small town really rang true. Trying to work out how all the different timelines and murders fitted together was challenging but fun, and things tied together in a very satisfactory way. I hope there will be more books in this series! Helen, VIC, 5 Stars
I was really looking forward to this book due to the location on The Murray (growing up in Victoria I always loved going “up the river ” & am familiar with the area it’s set in, despite the name changes…) I found it fascinating with the different dips into the past, & was amused at the mention of the “River Pirates” ( my great grandfather was a Paddle Steamer Captain & it’s safe to say he never met any!) I expected to find it interesting but it exceeded my high hopes & I can’t wait to experience more of Chris Hammer. Ayesha, NSW, 5 Stars
Thank you Better Reading for the opportunity to read The Tilt by Chris Hammer. Chris Hammer never disappoints!! This is an awesome Aussie murder mystery with heaps of twists and turns!! I loved the different characters with all their different stories and hardships. This story takes you from the war days to the present in the Aussie bush. A great page turner!! Highly recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Judy, NSW, 5 Stars
What a fantastic read. I have loved all of Chris Hammer’s books but this would have to be the best yet. The plot was quite involved but easy to follow with lots of twists. The characters were well developed. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and found it hard to put down. Kirstie, QLD, 5 Stars
Nell Buchanan, now a homicide detective is sent to her home town when a body is discovered after the regulator is blown apart. She hasn’t been back to see her family in many years, but what kind of homecoming will she get? It had it all – Australia described in accurate detail, explosions, homicides, secrecy, missing persons, multiple generations, war and POW’s and of course family secrets. The way the story entwines around different timelines will keep you guessing and draw you in right to the end. An absolutely fantastic read. Nicole, VIC, 5 Stars
New homicide detective, Nell Buchanan returns to her hometown to solve a decades old murder case. But more bodies turn up attatched to the present day. As things start to connect together, secrets involving those closest to her resulting in dangerous consequences for Nell. Chris Hammer’s brilliantly written novel is exciting, fast paced and thrilling. A great storyline woven through with detailed history facts that keep you guessing to the very last page. Hammer’s attention to detail is effortless bringing real issues to light in this riveting edge of your seat crime fiction. The Tilt is faultless leaving the reader wanting to know the ending but never wanting to finish. Arrisarne, VIC, 5 Stars
The Tilt, Chris Hammer’s atmospheric new crime novel is rich with detailed characterisation and geography, the Murray River, and the Barmah Forest. The lead characters from Treasure and Dirt are back; newly promoted Detective Constable Nell Buchanan and Detective Sergeant Ivan Lucic. The river has revealed skeletal remains and an investigation begins. Suddenly there is a second skeleton in the river’s mud. Their investigation takes them from their Dubbo base to Nell’s hometown. Small town people and secrets start to unravel as Nell feels an undercurrent she can’t quite explain. She reunites somewhat reluctantly with her family. This novel is layered with a variety of unforgettable characters, twists and tales sweeping from the days of WWII, to the 1970’s and builds to a cracking conclusion. Even crimes long buried resurface for accountability. The Tilt is very hard to put down and highly recommended. Vicki, VIC, 5 Stars
This is the first Chris Hammer I’ve read but it won’t be the last! The Tilt is a mix of mystery, history, crime and family secrets. The twists and turns keep coming and the storytelling is so intricate, it’s impossible to put the pieces together until they’re eventually revealed. Told from the perspectives of different family members through various generations, the story builds and eventually resolves a range of connected mysteries. An easy read that’s hard to put down, The Tilt features evocative storytelling, rich scene setting and vivid characters. Lara, VIC, 5 Stars
What’s better than receiving an absolute cracker of a book as an advanced reader copy? Discovering there are 4 previous novels by the same author just waiting to be enjoyed. The Tilt is one of the best Australian (or any) mystery novels I’ve read. Starting with an unknown man running for his life through a dark forest, and a woman preparing an explosion to return the river to its rightful path, multiple time lines from the 1940s, 70s and the present, weave together in an enthralling story where the landscape is as much a main character as the people. The release of the Murray River gives up bodies long hidden and uncovers secrets that remain dangerous. Newly promoted homicide detective Nell Buchanan reluctantly returns to her home town, but soon finds that there could be more than just geography linking her to the case. The characters are engaging and believable, the plot tight and well paced with a number of twists, with the various timelines coming together in a very satisfying conclusion. I cannot wait to get my hands on another Chris Hammer novel! Thank you Better Reading! Juanita, NSW, 5 Stars
Revelling in her recent promotion to the homicide squad, Detective Nell Buchanan heads to her beloved hometown on the edge of the world’s biggest redgum forest. By why, she wonders, have she and her partner, senior homicide detective Ivan Lucic, been sent to investigate a murder that happened decades ago? And could family members be involved in the crime? Award-winning author Chris Hammer has done it again, creating a story that hooks the reader from the first page. Hammer has woven layer after layer of exquisite detail into his tale, providing fascinating stories of the days when charcoal burners dotted the banks of the Murray River near Echuca, and when Italian POWs were shipped in from the Middle East to work at a prison camp. He recalls a time when the surrounding streams were dry, just a putrid remnant of water; so utterly unlike this month’s floods, but just as dangerous. But that’s all just a background to Detective Nell’s story, as more bodies lead to a sinister climax. The Tilt is right up there with Hammer’s other bestsellers and no doubt it, too, is sure to win international attention and acclaim. Don, SA, 5 Stars
The Tilt is the second book in the Ivan Lucic and Nell Buchanan series and very much centered on Nell as a newly minted homicide detective. Hammer takes us again to a small regional Australian town on the Murray River. There are several storylines occurring that are interwoven between the present, the 1970s and way back to WWII that encompass three seemingly separate murders/missing persons cases. I also loved the nod to climate change and impacts of man on the natural ecosystems surrounding the Murray River, very poignant reminder of what we are/have already lost. This is a wonderfully crafted novel with the superb interweave of stories I’ve come to love of Hammers writing style. The scenery and sense of small town life that Hammer evokes in this book is amazing, very authentic. I enjoyed reading the acknowledgments and learning the inspiration for this story. What a book! Highly recommend adding this to your must read list! Laura, QLD, 5 Stars
The Tilt by Chris Hammer is a “ripper” of a read! I have enjoyed all of his previous crime novels and this one had me immersed from the first chapter! The story is set along the Murray River and covers a span of 50 years or more. The reader learns of the hardships of that turbulent time, the horrors of WW11 and generations of secrets and broken dreams. The plot has many twists and turns, but keep on reading! The town map (which are a feature in his previous novels) and the family tree are invaluable in keeping up with the family relationships! This novel is a history lesson, a brilliant crime story as well as a study of the natural habitat of the Murray all rolled into one! Kerrie, NSW, 5 Stars
Never having read a novel by Chris Hammer before, I was blown away at the quality of his writing. The Tilt is a fantastic crime novel with twist and turns I wasn’t expecting. Set in country Australia I loved getting the back story of Nell and her relatives Tessa, and the Buchanan boys history of what they went through during the war and growing up in the junkyard. I couldn’t put the novel down and am looking forward to reading more of Chris hammer again. Lorraine, VIC, 5 Stars
The Tilt, the latest offering by Aussie author Chris Hammer sets the tone and pace with a charged atmosphere from the very first sentence. Jumping back and forth between characters and time periods it keeps you hooked page after page as it twists and turns and the threads all start to link together. I loved this book. It was my first encounter with homicide detective Nell Buchanan and also my first Chris Hammer novel but it certainly won’t be my last. I’ve already started reading his entire back catalogue starting with Scrublands. Happy reading time for me! Thank you so much to Better Reading @betterreadingau for my preview copy. I couldn’t have enjoyed it more. Courtney, QLD, 5 Stars
Detective Nell Buchanan is pleased to be called into the Dubbo office and promoted to homicide where she will be working with Detective Sergeant Ivan Lucic. She isn’t so sure about being sent down to a suspected homicide near her home town though. Nell hasn’t been home for a very long time and since her family weren’t happy with her career choice she isn’t sure how they will react to her promotion. A body has been found in a regulator and the situation just seems to go from bad to worse as they set up a crime scene, assess the situation and discover more evidence. It becomes very obvious that it is a very tangled web they are trying to unravel. For Nell it is a new insight into her whole existence and for that reason she has to tread carefully. Having said that she has been able to make a major breakthrough discovering the information they needed to finally solve not only the case but a lot of secrets that have been buried for a very long time. Satisfying for the team but a little unsettling and too close to home for Nell. This is an excellent book with many twists and turns to keep the reader alert and well worthy of five stars. Laurel, NSW, 5 Stars
What a triumph!! I’ve read all Chris’ books and this one is absolutely the best of them all, and that’s saying something because I have LOVED the others, especially Scrublands. This was so beautiful to read, landscapes and locations are always done so well by Chris, this was exceptional. The weaving of past and present was perfect and so engaging. I didn’t want it to end, so great! Sherridan, SA, 5 Stars
Author Chris Hammer skillfully weaves 3 narratives to a neat ending in this complex thriller. Set in the Barmah Forest, “The Tilt” speaks beautifully of the environment and the topography of the forest and river lands, whilst twisting through the family histories of the Waters and Buchanan families. Policewoman Nell Buchanan was introduced in Hammer’s earlier book, “Treasure and Dirt”. In “The Tilt” now-Homicide detective Nell Buchanan’s past & present collide with the discovery of a skeleton, bringing to light old rumours and rearranging family fractures. It is Nell’s first case as lead detective, and she is determined to find the murderer even though 80 years have passed. One narrative thread provides a look at military history, finding characters heading off to fight in WWII, exploring the impact on those left at home, and shining a light on prisoners of war and how they were treated. In another narrative thread for anyone who grew up in the Riverina in the 1970s, the background , story-line, and emotions feel very familiar. Mentions of actual 1970s local icons such as the Border Morning Mail newspaper make the book ring true. You will find it hard to put this book down. Michele, VIC, 5 Stars
This book was another installment from one of Australia’s best crime writers Chris Hammer. It was as good as his earlier books, so engrossing I didn’t want to put it down. Jessica, NSW, 5 Stars
Gather round & shout it from the rooftops, Chris Hammer is back with what I consider to be, his best yet, The Tilt. Set in a small town in Australia, where the heat blisters everything it touches, we are joined again by Nell Buchanan, newly promoted homicide detective, who is sent back to the home town she avoids like a hot dinner on a 42 degree day, to solve a decades old murder that now ties into a current missing person with surprisingly familiar connections. The twists (that I never see coming), the history and the stellar cast of characters had me immersed in this Aussie Crime Noir that Hammer does so well. If you haven’t read anything by Chris Hammer before, then here is a good place to start with this brilliant read! #BRPreview Penne, NSW, 5 Stars
To put it bluntly, another very good read from the author of Scrublands! The three interwoven storylines are intriguing but you may have to remain vigilant (& refer back to the family tree diagram as a reminder of some of the characters). However, the characterisations are top notch with very plausible & entertaining storylines especially the one from the war. Some may find some of the characters border on stereotypical (young female officer with a wise but weary partner), Trump bashing & the ASIO byline but these are minor negatives for a fantastic read. My recommendation – get your hands on this book as soon as you can! Dallas, NSW, 5 Stars
The Tilt, by Chris Hammer is an absolutely brilliant read, fast paced, captivating, could not put it down! The landscape, characters , mystery, intrigue was so well executed that the author kept you in suspense until the very end. Set along the Murray River and interweaving various timelines the story unfolds into unbelievable family connections between a cold case/ cases and a current murder investigation. Nell Buchanan is an engaging strong character who stops at nothing to seek the truth and find justices for those who no longer have a voice. Highly recommend this book! Ilona, VIC, 5 Stars
Unputdownable. I simply loved this book. The landscape and the characters are beautifully rendered. I could picture it all, right down to the leaf litter and the snapping twigs. I could feel the tension and did not see that twist coming. Brilliant. Carol, VIC, 5 Stars
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