Initially I must admit I was slightly offput by the length of this novel but I’m so glad I continued to read. What a great storyline and central character. Really enjoyed getting to follow this through to its conclusion

I don't think I will be reviewing this as I did not enjoy Scrublands. I wish the author all the best though.

I have to hand it to Chris Hammer - he sure knows how to suck you into a story. His writing is meticulous and without fluff. You can feel his journalistic ability on every page because the reader only receives exactly what he wants us to have. With a lead character like Martin Scarsden, this is another strength.

As with prior novels from Hammer the sense of Aussie-ness is immediately clear. I can imagine the port town, the family owned fish and chip shop, the motley cruel of locals and the heat. It's the invocation of heat that is truly impressive. Other writers have attempted to describe the way it feels to be so hot and dry your skin hurts, or to be so humid and sticky you can't stand to be touched, but none have the same quality.

I know I've got another couple of titles in my reading backlog but I'm going to ration myself. Storytellers this good need to be enjoyed slowly.

Thanks to @headlinebooks and @netgalley for the free e-ARC in return for an unbiased review.

I liked book one in this series but I feel like it hasn’t stuck with me, as I couldn’t really remember what happened and that definitely made me like this one less. Good writing, but I did struggle with it. A shame I didn’t like it more, but it was still good.

An enjoyable read but I didn't think it packed as much punch as Scrublands.

I loved THAT map & thought the setting was ace.

The plot was a tad more complicated than I felt it needed to be & I didn't think all the pages were required.

All in all it was great to catch up with Martin & I look forward to book 3!

I'm really sorry to have to say that this just wasn't my kind of book. Reading some of the other reviews, I might have enjoyed it more if I'd read 'Scrublands' first, but I didn't, so instead I found it hard to persevere given that it takes so long to get going. In the end it picks up, so I was glad I stuck with it, but overall, this wasn't really the kind of book I'd normally read due to the prose style.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC without obligation.

Silver by Chris Hammer is a thrilling detective story that had me gripped from the first chapter until the last. I can’t wait to read the other books in the series.

I must start by saying I loved looooved Scrublands by the same author. So I could not have been more excited to read Silver.

This one wasn’t as captivating although the writing and atmosphere is still great.

The thing is, this is a bog book at over 500 pages. And it really only gets going about half way through.
It is worth sticking with though and the story makes more sense, if you’ve read Scrublands first.

I would still recommend this one.
Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.

A thoroughly enjoyable book, good plot, fabulous characterisation, great sense of place, what more could you ask for.
I enjoyed Scrublands and Silver didn't disappoint, if you like this genre you will love this one.

Another great thriller from Chris Hammer, just the way I like them. Characters drive the plot and there is so much atmosphere and tension that I couldn't put it down. To be honest, my memory is so bad I couldn't really remember Scrublands but this didn't detract from the read as the back story is filled in adequately. Seems like Australia has some great crime and this is definitely one of them.

This is a crime thriller there is no doubt about that and one of my favourite kind with its slow, steady pace and sombre atmosphere as the story gradually weaves into a dark tale. But it is also so much more than that, it is full of beautiful writing, and poignant observations. This book is as good as any Scandinavian noir using the Australian landscape to great effect to create and tell this perfectly dark story. The descriptions of the landscape, the environment and the people are pitch perfect creating a sense of desolation in places and a real sense of a struggling coastal town and the dilemmas its community faces. The story gradually builds as we get to know the characters, and some of their dark pasts and present. The second half actually picks up pace and becomes quite explosive! This book is one of my favourite crime thrillers this year. This is the second in the series and although it didn’t effect my enjoyment of this book, I wish I’d known about the first book, as I now feel like I’ve missed out. Definitely a recommended 5 star read.

Finally, the followup to the atmospheric and addictive ‘Scrublands’ is now available as Chris Hammer releases his second epic, ‘Silver’. As with his award debut, ‘Silver’ features the character of Martin Scarsden, a former ‘journo’ who is now returning to his former hometown of Port Silver, after an absence of over two decades. Martin’s reason for returning to join his new family – girlfriend Mandalay Blonde and her baby son Liam. As part of her inheritance, Mandy has received property in Port Silver and is excited to home away after the traumatic events in her hometown. Initially, she is unaware of Martin’s past connection with Port Silver but while settling in, Mandy witnesses a murder and becomes the main suspect. From this point, the story truly kicks off as Martin delves into the dark underbelly of the town to uncover the truth behind a decades old mystery and development scam in order to save Mandy, all the while constantly confronting the past which he has battled so hard to forget.

Hammer’s novel moves at a rapid pace with new storyline threads appearing at a rollercoaster pace, ensuring that despite the size of the novel, the reader does not have the opportunity to become bored by the narrative. There is a continuous movement between Martin battling with his growing knowledge of his past and his current investigations. Each of these threads grows and weaves throughout the book, finally coming together for an explosive conclusion.

Martin also has to deal with a sudden personal growth as he realises the need to put Mandy and Liam before his career. And shows how Hammer is aware of the need to continue the development of the characters throughout the series. I certainly hope that here is more to come in the Martin/Mandy saga. Also, of importance is Martin’s slow discovery of a relation ship with his uncle Vern and family. He now finally has a place to call home and some peace – possibly for the first time since he was 8 years ago and the relationship is beautifully written.

My favourite descriptions in the novel are the vivid and atmospheric descriptions of Port Silver and the surrounding countryside – the language used to evoke the images of the town, beach and countryside are so rich that I can image each place as though I have visited there myself.

I enjoyed ‘Silver’ as much as it’s predecessor and would rate the book, 5 star. Thank you to Headline, Wildfire and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

I loved Hammer's previous book Scrublands so I was eager to get my hands on Silver.

Hammer's protagonist, the investigative journalist Martin Scarsden, returns to his hometown of Port Silver after 23 years absence to start a new life with his girlfriend Mandalay and her ten month old son Liam. Martin experienced trauma in his past, specifically around the loss of his mother and sisters, that he needs to confront along with repairing his relationship with his uncle. However, this is overshadowed by Martin arriving at the townhouse Mandalay has rented to find a dead body in the hallway and Mandalay motionless and silent in the living room.

Hammer manages to pack a lot of intrigue and action into his novels without it becoming implausible. I enjoyed learning more about Martin's past and this tied in well with the theme of consequences and repercussions raised by the murders in the town.

Martin's dilemmas regarding his urge to report on the newsworthy events while acknowledging the intrusive nature of his job demonstrates the ethics and judgement calls faced by journalists.

As with Scrublands, Hammer is great at evoking a strong sense of place. Port Silver's small town rivalries, politics, and business interests have led to a beautiful seaside location being tainted by lies, guilt, greed and corruption.

I thought this was great, thought-provoking, fast-paced, believable characters, an original crime and beautiful setting.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an unbiased review.
Second book I've read by Chris Hammer and if anything this one is even better than the first one.
A classic case of everything is not as it first seems.
Indeed is anything actually what it initially seems to be.
A web of lies and deceit that make for a great read.
Had me reeled in from page one
Thoroughly recommended.

Having read and enjoyed Chris Hammer’s novel “Scrublands”, I was looking forward to this sequel, which follows disaffected former journalist Martin Scarsden and his (wonderfully named) girlfriend Mandalay Blonde who return home to Scarsden’s hometown of Port Silver. I first came across Chris Hammer after reading Jane Harper’s “The Dry” and there are many similarities between both books; gritty Australian noir with well drawn out, interesting and equally gritty characters. Mandalay is implicated in the murder of an old school friend of Scarsden, and while trying to clear her name, he discovers that Port Silver, a town that holds traumatic childhood memories for him, is still hiding secrets.

Throw in strange goings-on in a quasi religious beach retreat, illegal fishing, shady property deals, family secrets and local rivalries and you’ve quite the plot! And this is my problem. I found the multiplicity of plots confusing and difficult to follow and I was repeatedly checking back and forth as to who was who and what the heck was going on, particularly in relation to the property deal storyline. All combined, this made me lose interest and the final third of the book proved a struggle. This is a stand-alone novel and does not require pre-reading of “Scrublands“. A long, sometimes confusing read at over 500 pages, “Silver” was ultimately too much of a slog for me.

Many thanks to @netgalley and @headline for this ebook in return for my honest review.

As a big fan of Chris Hammer's previous novel Scrublands I was thrilled to receive a review copy of Silver his new Martin Scarsden Novel.

This story did not disappoint - Martin is back to his nosy, dogged, hack ways in his hometown of Port Silver where memories of his own past and losses begin to creep up on him. He is joined in Port Silver by the enigmatic Mandalay Blonde and the fun begins when an old school pal of his is found murdered in her house.

What ensues is a tale of betrayal, lies, mistrust, greed and all the worst traits of people in a small town. Thank goodness for Uncle Vern for restoring our faith a little.

Another tense and intelligent read from Chris Hammer.

I can't wait to read the next one.

What first drew me to Chris Hammers first book, ‘Scrublands’, was the Outback setting so I was more than bummed to see this book was a set in a small fishing town. However, I think I enjoyed this read more than Scrublands. I loved the small-town setting and getting more of the main characters back story. Yes, the book was long, 600 pages for a detective mystery, however, the book was completely immersive. The plot, the characters, the setting, the small-town politics and double-crossings. It was a brilliant read.
4.5 STARS

Very disappointing.after a brilliant first book in this series. It's very slow and uninteresting with most of it flashbacks rather than a plot that progressed. I found it a chore to read. Other people appear to have given great reviews so maybe this is a marmite book. Not for me though.

Unfortunately I was hoping to read this book before publication date, but life got in the way I have read the NetGalley reviews which make this book sound like a must read, so I’m hoping to get to it in The not to distant future, when I will update my review.

I have previously read Scrublands by Chris Hammer, which is the first book to feature Martin Scarsden. You don't need to have read Scrublands to enjoy Silver, but I would highly recommend that you do as it's a great piece of crime fiction.

Both books are set in Australia, and Martin is a former journalist who is moving to Port Silver, his childhood home town, following the events that take place in Scrublands. Martin has written a true crime book about the events in Riversend and is now moving to start a new life, with his girlfriend, Mandalay Blonde.

As Martin opens the front door of the house he believes he will be sharing with Mandalay, he finds the dead body of his childhood friend, Jasper Speight and Mandalay is covered in blood. Martin believes that he must help clear Mandalay's name and prevent her being accused of murder.

The book is told in the first person, entirely from Martin's viewpoint, so you make discoveries about the crime and Martin's past in Port Silver at the same time as he does. As with Scrublands, Silver is multi layered and complex, bringing in grasping property developers, environmental crime, a hippy commune that is not all that it seems, and scam artists at work. As in Scrublands, Martin uses his investigative journalism techniques to get to the truth, while frustrating the police, who want him to stay out of the way.

In my view, the first person narrative worked better in Scrublands. In Silver, it leaves some of the other central characters feeling a bit flat, particularly Mandalay, who spends an awful lot of time unseen and unheard being questioned by police. Given that she is a more central character in this book, it seems like a missed opportunity to not develop her more.

On a more positive note, Martin is not cast as a male saviour, Hammer demonstrates how the singleminded obsession which leads him to the truth is also what makes him selfish and arrogant, and nearly destroys his relationship with Mandalay.

Overall, I enjoyed the book, and if you enjoy crime fiction it is a fine example of the genre.