Chris Hammer is a leading Australian author of non-fiction and fiction, including the bestselling crime fiction Martin Scarsden series: Scrublands, Silver and Trust, and the Ivan Lucic and Nell Buchanan series Treasure & Dirt, The Tilt, The Seven and The Valley.

Before turning to fiction, Chris was a journalist for over thirty years. He reported from more than 30 countries on six continents for SBS TV. In Canberra, his roles included chief political correspondent for The Bulletin, senior writer for The Age and online political editor for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.

The River, his first book, was released by MUP in 2010 to critical acclaim. It won the ACT Book of the Year Award and was shortlisted for the Walkley Book Award and the Manning Clark House National Cultural Award. His second book, The Coast, was also published by MUP in 2012.

Hammer has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Charles Sturt University and a master's degree in international relations from the Australian National University. He lives in Canberra.