<p><b>**<i>THE TIMES </i>CRIME BOOK OF THE MONTH**</b><br><b>**A <i>SUNDAY TIMES </i>PAPERBACK OF THE YEAR 2022**</b><b><br><br>In the outback, nothing stays buried forever...<br><br>''Classic Hammer. A crime novel that will stay with me for a long time.''</b> Ann Cleeves<br><br><b>''This novel is Hammer''s best work yet.'' </b><i>The Times</i><br><br><b>''A complex, twisty thriller, with nuanced characters and a winding plot all set in the oppressive Australian heat.'' </b>Lisa Hall<br><br><b>''This slice of Australian noir sparkles like an opal in the blistering sun.''</b> Lisa Gray<br><br><b>''<i>Opal Country</i> is a top-notch Aussie Noir with real heat coming off the pages.'' </b>Christopher Fowler<br><br><i><b>Opals...</b></i><br><br>In the desolate outback town of Finnigans Gap, police struggle to maintain law and order. Thieves pillage opal mines, religious fanatics recruit vulnerable youngsters and billionaires do as they please.<br><br><i><b>Bodies...</b></i><br><br>Then an o