Chris Hammer

"A heatwave of a novel, scorching and powerful. This extraordinary debut... Don't miss it."

Chris Hammer was a journalist for more than thirty years, dividing his career between covering Australian federal politics and international affairs. For many years he was a roving foreign correspondent for SBS TV's flagship current affairs program Dateline. He has reported from more than thirty countries on six continents. In Canberra, roles included chief political correspondent for The Bulletin, current affairs correspondent for SBS TV and a senior political journalist for The Age.

His first book, The River, published in 2010 to critical acclaim, was the recipient of the ACT Book of the Year Award and was shortlisted for the Walkley Book Award and the Manning Clark House National Cultural Award.

Chris has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Charles Sturt University and a master's degree in international relations from the Australian National University. He lives in Canberra with his wife, Dr Tomoko Akami. The couple have two children.

What genre does Chris Hammer write?

He is best known as an Australian crime fiction novelist. He also writes non-fiction about Australian places and issues, for example The River and The Coast.

Which book should I start with if I want to read his fiction?

Start with Scrublands, which introduces the central investigator Martin Scarsden and is widely recommended as the entry point to his crime novels.

What is the reading order for the Martin Scarsden books?

Scrublands is the first Martin Scarsden novel. Trust is a subsequent Martin Scarsden title. It is recommended to read Scrublands first to follow the series chronologically.

Has Chris Hammer received any notable awards or nominations?

His first book, The River, won the ACT Book of the Year and was shortlisted for the Walkley Book Award and the Manning Clark House National Cultural Award.

What themes and settings recur in his work?

His fiction frequently features crime set in regional and rural Australia, with strong journalistic detail. His non-fiction focuses on Australian landscapes and environmental and social issues.