The Tilt

The latest stunning thriller from the bestselling author of Scrublands and Treasure & Dirt. 



'Chris Hammer is in the platinum class of Australian Detective writers. He is an undeniable master of the carefully layered novel, which unfolds remorselessly to reveal the perpetrators of murder on the arid frontier.' - The Weekend Australian on Treasure & Dirt


A man runs for his life in a forest. 


A woman plans sabotage.


A body is unearthed.


Newly-minted homicide detective Nell Buchanan returns to her home town, annoyed at being assigned a decades-old murder - a 'file and forget'. 


But this is no ordinary cold case, as the discovery of more bodies triggers a chain of escalating events in the present day. As Nell starts to join the pieces together, she begins to question how well she truly knows those closest to her. Could her own family be implicated in the crimes?


The nearer Nell comes to uncovering the secrets of the past, the more dangerous the present becomes for her, as she battles shadowy assailants and sinister forces. Can she survive this harrowing investigation and what price will she have to pay for the truth? 


Gripping and atmospheric, The Tilt is a stunning multi-layered novel by the acclaimed and award-winning author of the international bestsellers Scrublands, Silver, Trust and Treasure & Dirt.


Praise for The Tilt


'Chris Hammer at the height of his powers … absolutely not to be missed!' Hayley Scrivenor, author of Dirt Town


'A darkly simmering mystery, gorgeously told … Utterly brilliant.' Dervla McTiernan, author of The Ruin and The Murder Rule


'Ominous, pacy and intricately plotted. The Tilt hits the ground running and never lets up. Hammer's best yet!' Emma Viskic, author of Those Who Perish


'It would be unfair to say Chris Hammer is at the top of the crime writing game. Chris Hammer IS the game. Full Tilt may be a better title, given the speed with which readers will devour Chris Hammer's exceptional novel.' Benjamin Stevenson, author of Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone 


'Like everything Chris Hammer writes, The Tilt is a rich, complex thriller, packed with detail and intrigue. There's a reason why this guy is on my auto-read list!' Christian White, author of The Nowhere Child 


'Chris has an another absolute cracker on his hands here. Chris is without a doubt one of the best active Australian crime writers, and a new book from him is always an unmissable event. I'm glad I started reading it on my day off, because it's one of those stories you don't want to put down once you've started. The way he weaves three different timelines without ever losing focus, and creates such a broad cast of compelling and emotionally complex characters is truly impressive.' Shelley Burr, author of Wake


Praise for Chris Hammer


'Chris Hammer is a great writer … a leader in Australian noir.' - Michael Connelly


'If you haven't read Hammer before, this is the perfect time to experience one of the best writers Australia has to offer. Rife with intrigue, murder, and small-town secrets, Treasure and Dirt is a spectacular thriller that delivers some unforgettable characters with twists and turns you won't see coming. Hammer has raised the bar for Australian crime, and this is a must-read.' - Better Reading


'Chris Hammer has excelled himself with Trust…a thriller strong on character development, social insights, ethical issues and dramatic action.' - The Weekend Australian


'The best Australian crime novel since Peter Temple's The Broken Shore.' - The Times on Silver


'Shimmers with heat from the sun and from the passions that drive a tortured tale of blood and loss.' - Val McDermid on Scrublands