Master crime writer Chris Hammer returns with his first standalone blockbuster thriller.
‘If there is enough money involved, truth becomes a tradeable commodity. Like gold, it is malleable; it can be melted down and recast without losing its value.’
Travis Somerland is a man accustomed to danger, but nothing can prepare him for the peril, the intrigue or the ruthlessness that confront him at Montechino. Or the murders.
Montechino: part palace, part fortress, and the secluded estate of the uber-wealthy Claptons, modern-day robber barons who believe business is arithmetic, not morality.
Now Travis finds himself entangled in the ultimate power struggle, generations in the making, as the Claptons challenge the authority of one of the country’s most formidable families. Can he survive the dynastic rivalries to bring some measure of justice to an unjust world?
With echoes of Succession and The Big Short, and a dusting of The Great Gatsby, Full Circle is a thrilling, epic and unforgettable story of intrigue and revenge, love and redemption.
About the Author
Chris Hammer is a leading Australian author of crime fiction with sales of over 1.5 million copies around the world. His first novel, Scrublands, was an instant bestseller when it was published in mid-2018. It won the prestigious UK Crime Writers Association John Creasey Award for best debut crime novel in 2019 and was shortlisted for various awards in Australia and the United States. Scrublands and subsequent books have been sold into translation in multiple languages, and made into a hit television series. His follow-up books—Silver (2019), Trust (2020), Treasure & Dirt (2021), The Tilt (2022), The Seven (2023), The Valley (2024) and Legacy (2025)—are also bestsellers, and many have been shortlisted for major literary prizes.
Before turning to fiction, Chris was a journalist for more than thirty years, dividing his career between covering Australian federal politics and international affairs. He reported from more than thirty countries on six continents with SBS TV, while in Canberra his roles included chief political correspondent for The Bulletin, senior writer for The Age and online political editor for the Sydney Morning Herald.
Chris has also written two non-fiction books, The River (2010; 2025) and The Coast (2012). He holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Charles Sturt University and a master's degree in international relations from the Australian National University.
Industry Reviews
‘The darkly glittering world of Montechino and the family who make war on the wealthy is a fascinating and terrifying ride. Hammer is at his very best in this thrilling depiction of corruption, deception and redemption. I absolutely loved it.’
– MARGARET HICKEY, author of An Ill Wind
'An intricately layered thriller about those who corrupt our most trusted systems, and the danger faced by those who defy them. Just when you think you've figured out the next move, Hammer shakes up the board. To read Hammer is to watch a master at work.'
– LAURA McCLUSKEY, author of The Cursed Road
‘Corporate skulduggery behind the veiled world of high finance. The lawless entitlement of the dynastically privileged – and murder in the gated playground of the super-rich. With Full Circle Chris Hammer takes Australian crime fiction to another stratospheric level. This is his best yet. I relished it.’
– PAUL DALEY, author of The Leap
‘A complex, multi-layered family saga wrapped in a page-turning thriller from the master of Australian crime. Full Circle is an exhilarating tale of money, power, betrayal and moral dilemma. Consistently brilliant. No one does it like Hammer. One of the true greats of Australian crime writing.’
– MICHAEL BRISSENDEN, author of Smoke and Dust
‘With Full Circle, Chris Hammer gives us a seat at the boardroom table and then takes us behind closed doors into the addictive and disorienting world of the uber rich. This story has it all – wealth, privilege, secrets, lies and murder – and a hearty dose of humanity to boot. Hook this book straight into your veins and enjoy the ride.’
– SARAH BAILEY, award-winning author of The Dark Lake and Click
‘A few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and that Chris Hammer has written another winner.’
– BENJAMIN STEVENSON, author of Everyone in my Family Has Killed Someone
‘Succession meets le Carré: a masterclass in tension, power and moral ambiguity. I devoured it. Razor-sharp, compulsively readable, and impossible to predict. Chris Hammer has created a fiercely clever, emotionally flawed hero I want to read again and again. Full Circle had me guessing – and second guessing – the whole way through. A brilliant, high-stakes thriller. Hammer is the master.’
– SHANKARI CHANDRAN, Miles Franklin-winning author of Safe Harbour
‘A thriller of remarkable complexity and irresistible force. Elegant, intricate and deeply compelling – Chris Hammer trusts his readers and rewards them magnificently.’
– DERVLA McTIERNAN, author of Three Reasons for Revenge
