Exceptional Aussie mystery

 5 stars  The Valley (aka The Broken River) is Ivan Lucic and Nell Buchanan's fourth outing together and what a cracker it is! Murder, intrigue and a juicy bit of action makes this a novel worth reading for anyone who is a fan of this skilled author. Chris Hammer is in my top five of sure things as his novels are always smart, intricately plotted and complex. Not a simple murder investigation but a deeper dive into the whys and wherefores with an Australian flair. In a cold, dark, wet British winter there is nothing better to heat things up than a new novel written by this fella.

I love the pairing of Ivan and Nell. They have found their groove as partners, now, and bring out the best in each other. Strength meets strength and it's a complement to both of them. In The Broken River (The Valley) there is an intriguing twist that makes the murder investigation of a New South Wales Valley entrepreneur particularly important to solve. An excellent story that takes us to new and interesting places. Even a hint of Martin Scarsden who, I hope, will have another book of his own soon?

If you haven't read any of the books in this series and like a good Aussie noir, start with Opal Country, for these two, or Scrublands to get the very beginning with Martin Scarsden and a gentle introduction to Ivan. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.