In the desolate outback town of Finnigans Gap, police struggle to maintain law and order. Thieves pillage opal mines, religious fanatics recruit vulnerable young people and billionaires do as they please.

Then an opal miner is found crucified and left to rot down his mine. Nothing about the miner's death is straightforward, not even who found the body. Sydney homicide detective Ivan Lucic is sent to investigate, assisted by inexperienced young investigator Nell Buchanan.

But Finnigans Gap has already ended one police career and damaged others, and soon both officers face damning allegations and internal investigations. Have Ivan and Nell been set up and, if so, by whom?

As time runs out, their only chance at redemption is to find the killer. But the more secrets they uncover, the more harrowing the mystery becomes, as events from years ago take on a startling new significance.

For in Finnigans Gap, opals, bodies and secrets don't stay buried for ever.

A superb standalone thriller from the acclaimed and award-winning author of the international bestsellers Scrublands, Silver and Trust.

'Shimmers . . . A tortured tale of blood and loss' VAL MCDERMID on Silver

'Compelling, original and brilliantly executed - an excellent thriller from a new master of Australian noir' CHARLES CUMMING on Silver

Praise for Chris Hammer:

'The best Australian crime novel for years' The Times

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

'Stunning - stays long in the memory' Sunday Times

'Intelligent, thought-provoking - an almost-perfect crime novel' Ann Cleeves