Treasure and Dirt

In the desolate outback town of Finnigans Gap, an opal miner is found crucified and left to rot down his mine. Nothing about the miner's death-or the town-is straightforward. Sydney homicide Detective Sergeant Ivan Lucic is sent to investigate, assisted by the enthusiastic but inexperienced Detective Constable Nell Buchanan.

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

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.

'Hammer has confirmed and underlined his reputation as numbering among the very best novelists in detective fiction.' Sydney Morning Herald

'Chris Hammer at the height of his powers ... absolutely not to be missed!' Hayley Scrivenor

'A darkly simmering mystery, gorgeously told ... Utterly brilliant.' Dervla McTiernan

'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