Chris Hammer is a leading Australian author of crime fiction. His first book, Scrublands, was an instant bestseller when it was published in mid-2018. It won the prestigious UK Crime Writers Association John Creasy Award for a debut crime novel in 2019 and was shortlisted for various awards in Australia and the United States.

Scrublandshas been sold into translation in several foreign languages, and a television series based on the novel is scheduled for completion in late 2023. His follow up books -Silver(2019),Trust(2020),Treasure & Dirt(2021) andThe Tilt(2022) - are also bestsellers, and all have been shortlisted for major literary prizes.


Before turning to fiction, Chris was a journalist for more than thirty years, dividing his career between covering Australian federal politics and international affairs. He reported from more than thirty countries on six continents with SBS TV, while in Canberra his roles included chief political correspondent forThe Bulletin, senior writer forThe Ageand online political editor for theSydney Morning Herald.


Chris has also written two non-fiction books,The River(2010) andThe Coast(2012). He has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Charles Sturt University and a master's degree in international relations from the Australian National University.