Cirrus@Austlit

'Robert G. Barrett's latest Les Norton adventure is action, humour, and intrigue with a diabolical twist, proving once again why Barrett is called the king of Australian popular fiction. If it wasn't for a letter lost in the system for decades landing on his lap, Les would never have known he wasn't the only Norton to gain notoriety thanks to Kings Cross. there was another - even worse than him: devil - worshipping artist and occultist Rosa-Marie Norton, the Witch of Kings Cross. Rosa was so bad the police arrested her for lewd behaviour and obscenity, and the customs department burnt her paintings - paintings now worth thousands of dollars. Yet according to the lost letter, a bundle of her paintings had been secreted at an old church in Victoria. By sheer coincidence, Les is asked to help with a hit in Melbourne on a shonky art dealer named 'Latte' Lindsey. After the hit, Les decides to take a trip down the Great Ocean Road, call in to the Church of the Blessed Madonna, and see if he can finds 'mum's' painting. Along with plenty of trouble, Les finds sexy Sonia and staunch Stepha. He also finds there's a lot of deja vu getting around in Victoria. And when it comes to violence south of the border, there are no Mexican stand-offs.' (Publication summary)