Les Norton And The Case Of The Talking Pie Crust

Les Norton #19

by Robert G. Barrett

Set in Bondi and the Central Coast, this is vintage Les Norton - who has been called in to help Albanian would-be filmmaker, Bodine Menjou locate a missing script. Les is giving advice to Bodine, dealing with an enraged ice addict who won't stay down, and confronting a shot gun and an exploding building. Les is quite happy resting up after the flu, when Warren has to tip him into an earn. Norton's mate from the Albanian Mafia, Bodene Menjou, is planning to make the most politically correct movie ever made in Australia, Gone With the Willy Willy, and has a script stolen. If Les can find it, a lazy $50,000 could fall in. How can Norton say no? After almost getting his head blown off in a drug lab, being attacked by crazed women with broomsticks, and beaten up by monstrous drag queens, Les is wondering if it is all worth it. The trip to Terrigal and the magical mystery tour with Marla is good. And Topaz with her chicken soup is an unexpected delight. But apart from that, Les doesn't find much joy at all in his search for the missing film script. Especially not trapped in a fight for his life with a sadistic giant, where only one thing can save the Mongolian Death Lock.

Genres: Crime, Audiobook, Action

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

G’day.
You’ve no doubt read a lot of things about me and my books over the years written by other people. Well, this is the truth. I grew up in Bondi in Sydney, Australia. I went to Bondi Beach Public School then on to Randwick Boys High. I left school at 14, did a few odd jobs then a trade as a butcher, mainly in the Eastern suburbs before finally working as a boner in various meatworks around the inner city with two trips to Ross River meatworks at Townsville, Queensland thrown in. I gave up boning after a hindquarter fell on me tearing the tendons in my right arm. I always liked writing letters and reading, so while I was on worker’s compensation I did three writing courses at the WEA, Worker’s Education Authority.

Robert died of cancer at his home in Terrigal, New South Wales.

Reviews

[Christine Cornwell · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not the worst book I've ever read but in the top 5. Predictable, repetitive, hackneyed and full of uninteresting descriptions of food, alcohol and clothing. Go back where you came from Les.
..Wait a minute. Is that Queensland? On second thoughts stay in Sydney.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not a book I would normally read, but I picked it up from a free library shelf to kill time. It's unrepentantly bizarre with meandering prose and ridiculous sex scenes. All of which seems completely deliberate, so I'll give it 3 stars instead of 2 since it's outside my wheelhouse.

[Luke Stonestreet · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very underwhelming. Very basic plot line and predictability makes this a dull read. Saving grace was that it was very short. I just found the humour a bit tired and cliche.

[Andrew Walton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reasonable romp with a simple plotline that twists around a few blocks of Bondi and a coastal trip inserted. Enjoyable, easy and worthwhile.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

As usual, Aussie Les from Bondi (bouncer on the door of an illegal casino in Kings Cross) pours himself a delicious, has a good feed, gets in a few fights, has a couple of good roots, solves a mystery, gets some baddies nabbed and there's a good earn in it for him. However this time, Barrett left a few loose ends in the yarn that really annoyed me. Like what was with the cave with hieroglyphics that good sort Marla took him to? Don't bother. Just re-read some of the earlier ones instead and you'll get the same thing - some light entertainment for a couple of hours.

[Barry Simiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Typical Norton book. They're bubblegum, quick and easy and a light break between the heavy stuff. And they're fun. Les goes to the Central Coast while on the lookout for a missing script regarding the titular pie crust. While he's there he roots a few shields, has a lot of expensive lattes and gets into a few prerequisite fights. There's some crooked dealings in Bondi that has him in the middle but as usual, Norton wades through it all, head held high. the usual Norton shit. Always fun.

And we miss Bob. He made reading fun.

[Warren Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yet another great Barrett/Les Norton tale - probably a little hard going if your not an Aussie or familiar with the land of the kanga's ; but a great fun read if you are !

[Jeremy Cartner · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining read in a great series. However I found the pace dragged badly in places. A decent time waster