The Seven, by Chris Hammer

Ivan Lucic and Nell Buchanan head to a wealthy irrigation town on the Murrumbidgee River in western NSW to investigate the murder of a local accountant in this third tale of their exploits. Seven squatter families established the town and its irrigation scheme in the early 20th century, setting themselves up for power, wealth and influence. As in Hammer’s previous tale of murder and water politics, The Tilt, the story flashes back to two earlier time periods – 1910s, when the irrigation scheme originated and the 1990s, when two young people disappear after looking into its history. Hammer’s depth of research and broad knowledge contribute to a rich story of modern day robber barons continuing the legacy of their colonial forebears. This time its Ivan’s personal and family issues that impinge on the homicide investigation, but this element of the story is a tad perfunctory and wholly unnecessary. A reunion of sorts makes for an unusually upbeat postscript.