The Wind And The Monkey

Les Norton #14

by Robert G. Barrett

A week's holiday in Shoal Bay courtesy of Price Galese? Sweet.

Help Eddie Salita pop a bent copper named Fishcake Fyshbyrne while you're up there? No worries.

Solve a mystery on Virgin Island with a sweet little girl named Digger? You beauty!

Les Norton, the lovable larrikin from the sunshine state, is back and is heading north, with a little bit of work and a hell of a lot of play in mind. But he had better watch out for hungry sharks and local louts with no manners; and gung-ho federal police with no bloody idea! As the saying goes, he don't go looking for trouble, trouble comes looking for him.

Genres: Audiobook, Crime

306 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

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

[Cameron Smith]

Whenever I enter a Les Norton romp, I often forget that the bloke is not your everyday goodie. The story starts out with Les going on holiday, assisting with a murder while up the bay. Not the average undertaking of a relatable hero in the real world. He then goes on to lie about himself to an attractive sheila, who, instead of being a one or two-night fling, Les ends up falling for. While it was easy for the listener (or reader) to tie together the connection between Digger and one of Les' murder victims early on, Les doesn't, and he continues to spin his web of lies while falling harder for the girl.

The story was certainly more romantic than other Les Norton books I've listened to. That said, I wouldn't recommend the book to fans of the romance genre. It still runs on old-school Aussie humour, detached from political correctness, chock full of violence and sex... even if Les is a deacon. There's plenty of laughs to be had; after the romp with the feminist and her huge cave I was almost choking, my laughs couldn't get out of my throat fast enough!

As Les and Digger's relationship grew, I cringed with each lie and how hard some of the things Digger said hit Les. When Digger spilled her guts at the very end, the cringes shattered to laughter! Everything came together beautifully at the end, and, despite the murder and lies, Les doesn't seem like such a bad bloke at the story's climax.

[Tricia]

This book really wasn't my kind of book. I found it a bit crude and I didn't really find it funny.

[Tracy Smyth]

Actual rating 2 1/2. Not a bad book. Got a good laugh in places. Les is rough around the edges but with a soft heart. Easy read

[Peter]

A great read, highly recommend

[Elaine]

Definitely a Man’s book to read. Strong language. Not a great story. Only likes were the mention of places I’ve been and the reminder of Aussie slang and phrases. A language on its own.

[Geoff]

More Barrett goodness...as always, he delivers everything he promises...laughs, violence and sex...

[PRJ Greenwell]

Les Norton heads up to Shoal Bay to help take out a crooked cop and his equally corrupt buddy. Gets involved with a strange young lady and has some pretty involving adventures. Great stuff.

[Georges Bureau]

it's an awful and nasty Australian book that does not bring much but at least, it's easy to read and has its moments. won't recommend though outside Aussie.

[Marion Brownlee]

typical crudeness

[Karin]

I found it was a fun read with some good twists