Martin Scarsden flees an assassination attempt but lands in even more trouble with a deadly family feud leaving him at death's door in Chris Hammer's next blockbuster crime novel.

MARTIN SCARSDEN IS ON THE RUN. WILL THE DESERT SAVE HIM – OR BURY HIM?

The sound hits them, a shock wave…glass smashing ... Somewhere a woman screams. A second explosion, Martin looks towards the hall, what's left of it, flames roaring and smoke pouring skywards.

Someone is targeting Martin Scarsden. They bomb his book launch and shoot up his hometown.

Fleeing for his life, he learns that nowhere is safe, not even the outback. The killers are closing in and it's all he can do to survive.

But who wants to kill him and why? Can he discover their deadly motives and turn the tables?

In a dramatic finale, he finds his fate linked to the disgraced ex-wife of a football legend, a fugitive wanted for a decades-old murder and two nineteenth century explorers from a legendary expedition.

Martin Scarsden's most perilous, challenging and intriguing assignment yet.

'Hammer has confirmed and underlined his reputation as numbering among the very best novelists in detective fiction.' SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

'Chris Hammer is a great writer ... a leader in Australian noir.' MICHAEL CONNELLY