A dam breaks. A body rises from the flood. Hidden for decades, can this small town face the secrets that will surface?**THE TIMES CRIME BOOK OF THE MONTH****SUNDAY TIMES CRIME BOOK OF THE MONTH**Young detective Nell Buchanan uncovers a deadly, decades-old mystery at the heart of her rural hometown in this stunning thriller from award-winning author Chris Hammer. 'A commanding, consuming and outright thrilling mystery. Chris Hammer's first-class series goes from strength to strength.' - Chris Whitaker, bestselling author of We Begin at the End'Utterly brilliant, a darkly simmering mystery.' - Dervla McTiernan, bestselling author of The Ruin'Chris Hammer is at the height of his power here. Dead Man's Creek is a superb piece of storytelling' - William Shaw, bestselling author of the DS Alexandra Cupidi series'I doubt I'll read a better novel this year.' - The TimesNewly-minted homicide detective Nell Buchanan returns to her hometown, annoyed at being assigned a decades-old murder - a 'file and forget'. But this is no ordinary cold case, her arrival provoking an unwelcome and threatening response from the small-town community. As more bodies are discovered, and she begins to question how well she truly knows those closest to her, Nell realises that finding the truth could prove more difficult - and dangerous - than she'd ever expected. The nearer Nell comes to uncovering the secrets of the past, the more treacherous her path becomes. Can she survive to root out the truth, and what price will she have to pay for it?Gripping and atmospheric, Dead Man's Creek is a stunning multi-layered thriller from Chris Hammer, the award-winning author of Sunday Times Crime Book of the Year Scrublands (2019) and Times Crime Book of the Month Opal Country (January 2022). Praise for Chris Hammer:'Classic Hammer. A crime novel that will stay with me for a long time.' Ann Cleeves'This novel is Hammer's best work yet.' The Times 'This may well be Hammer's best work yet. Atmospheric and thrilling. I was gripped.' Victoria Selman'A vivid and gripping thriller' Gytha Lodge'A complex, twisty thriller, with nuanced characters and a winding plot all set in the oppressive Australian heat.' Lisa Hall'This slice of Australian noir sparkles like an opal in the blistering sun.' Lisa Gray'Opal Country is a top-notch Aussie Noir with real heat coming off the pages.' Christopher Fowler'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; 496 pages; 05/01/2023