I’m going to state at the outset that I think it was a fantastic call on Chris Hammer’s part to move on from Martin Scarsden (protagonist of previous novels Scrublands, Silver and Trust) as his lead character, and instead follow Ivan and Nell, the detectives, into new novels. Martin was getting to be annoyingly omniscient, and ever so slightly… overbearingly self righteous about it. Following the detectives means we have a legitimate entry point into each new murder, and allows Hammer to mine the back stories of two new, complex characters.
Hammer’s novels can be a little overcomplicated at times. I often think that novelists don’t need to throw every single thing they think of into each novel, and Hammer has been guilty of this behaviour more than once. This has improved over time (I wonder if he is now more secure in the knowledge that he can save it for the next novel?), and The Seven is tightly plotted, and doesn’t diverge too crazily or converge too conveniently.
There is some jumping back and forth in time, which may or may not work for you. I am finding that Hammer’s mastery of this particular narrative gambit is improving, but not quite there yet – it can be jarring and occasionally drains momentum, but overall works for the story rather than against it.
The short(er) version of this review is “well done, good book, stick with Ivan & Nell, love them, see you for the next one.”
However. The problem with this one is the MacGuffin. Readers of Chris Hammer will be used to uncovering one type of conspiracy or another, but this one… I have not yet met anyone who was actually engaged with or interested in the water rights ownership tangle at the centre of this book. Do I accept it as something justifiably crucial enough to murder for? Yes. Did I pay any attention to it whatsoever? Also no. Some people are greedy; some people are aggrieved – that’s all I’ve got for you.
I enjoyed this, but I won’t come back to it. Its not worth slogging through all the exposition again. I will look forward to his next book, though, perhaps read Scrublands again before I watch the mini series.