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Mister Rainbow #4
The Case of the Bullets at the Ballet
A trip to Paris in the company of a beautiful dame would be many men's idea of heaven. But a flight to France with the gorgeous Helen Damnation rapidly spirals into a journey to hell. Rainbow's daughter's missing and he doesn't know who's taken her - or why. Nor does he know where she might have gone, until he enlists the help of a childhood mate - now a spy - Ace Mollema. But can he trust the spook? Or the beautiful dame, for that matter? Above all, can he save the kid? Sparks fly when Rainbow assumes a temporary identity to get a passport - and those sparks quickly turn to fire. Can Rainbow rescue his daughter? And if he does, can he work out the significance of the Bullets at the Ballet ... The Case of the Bullets at the Ballet, the fourth novel in the sensational Mister Rainbow series, is a modern story with a wink and a nod to the golden age of pulp fiction. With its memorable characters, witty dialogue and fast-paced plot, it signals the arrival of an arresting new Australian talent.
228 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2014
17 people want to read
About the author
C.S. Boag
9 books165 followersOver a long writing career, C. S. Boag's work has featured in numerous publications, including The Sydney Morning Herald, the former Sydney Sun newspaper and The Bulletin magazine. His first story appeared in Sydney University's Honi Soit magazine and a number of his short stories have been published since.
A former columnist and feature writer, he is a winner of the Walter Stone Memorial Prize for Literature. In the Mister Rainbow series the Hood with No Hands, Death of a Ladies' Man, Horses for Corpses and Bullets at the Ballet have already been released by Xoum publishers, with The Cock Robin Killer to be released later this year.
C. S. has travelled extensively and lived both here and overseas. He feels he speaks enough French not to die there.
He says he has renovated too many houses, driven too many taxis and bulldozers. He was a councillor on the Sydney City Council for what he calls a "chilling couple of years"; and has also worked in a hamburger bar, taught English, laboured and performed other tasks "too arduous to mention". He has five children and now lives with his wife Judith on a small holding near Bathurst.
The inspiration for Mister Rainbow stems from that time but also from when Charles was living illegally on a boat in the harbour; The idea of a boat dwelling detective with attitude, issues and principles .
But it wasn't until 3 years later and move to the central west of NSW on a small green holding that Mister Rainbow was published.
Two historical novels - one about a visionary woman in 19 th century Sydney and the other based on a real life English traveller in revolutionary France - are in the works along with the series of Rainbow books.
A former columnist and feature writer, he is a winner of the Walter Stone Memorial Prize for Literature. In the Mister Rainbow series the Hood with No Hands, Death of a Ladies' Man, Horses for Corpses and Bullets at the Ballet have already been released by Xoum publishers, with The Cock Robin Killer to be released later this year.
C. S. has travelled extensively and lived both here and overseas. He feels he speaks enough French not to die there.
He says he has renovated too many houses, driven too many taxis and bulldozers. He was a councillor on the Sydney City Council for what he calls a "chilling couple of years"; and has also worked in a hamburger bar, taught English, laboured and performed other tasks "too arduous to mention". He has five children and now lives with his wife Judith on a small holding near Bathurst.
The inspiration for Mister Rainbow stems from that time but also from when Charles was living illegally on a boat in the harbour; The idea of a boat dwelling detective with attitude, issues and principles .
But it wasn't until 3 years later and move to the central west of NSW on a small green holding that Mister Rainbow was published.
Two historical novels - one about a visionary woman in 19 th century Sydney and the other based on a real life English traveller in revolutionary France - are in the works along with the series of Rainbow books.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 19, 2015
Rainbow is a Private Eye based in Sydney. In retro “pulp fiction” style, C S Boag takes the reader on a hectic, dangerous journey, the clues piling up but the solution elusive. In this fourth book about Rainbow, his daughter, Imogene, has gone missing leaving hints which lead him to Paris via a succession of mysterious deaths. Accompanied by Hélène Damnation, a “sloe-eyed” attractive blonde who is probably not to be trusted, he travels under an assumed name, shadowed by members of a crime syndicate. They search for a male ballet dancer from the Ukraine and a mysterious French man who according to Rainbow’s estranged wife is “the perfect man.”
Everyone is suspect. Rainbow’s Aunt Rube had warned him, “You’ll keep coming across familiar faces. It doesn’t mean you’re being followed. They’re just people on the same journey,” but why do the old Australian couple Harold and Madge keep turning up when dramatic events take place such as a death in the Louvre?
Without giving anything else away, the plot is complex and full of action. Rainbow is brave but also has a wry sense of humour. It took me a while to get used to the writing style but the adventure is an enjoyable read, peopled with fascinating characters.
Everyone is suspect. Rainbow’s Aunt Rube had warned him, “You’ll keep coming across familiar faces. It doesn’t mean you’re being followed. They’re just people on the same journey,” but why do the old Australian couple Harold and Madge keep turning up when dramatic events take place such as a death in the Louvre?
Without giving anything else away, the plot is complex and full of action. Rainbow is brave but also has a wry sense of humour. It took me a while to get used to the writing style but the adventure is an enjoyable read, peopled with fascinating characters.
April 6, 2015
For readers of the Mister Rainbow series, THE CASE OF THE BULLETS AT THE BALLET does not disappoint. In this latest of C.S. Boag's satirical noir novels, his colourful private eye heads to Paris, a city of the worst possible nightmares. Desperately seeking his missing daughter, Imogene, on the flimsiest of clues, Mr Rainbow tangles with crime syndicates who will stop at nothing. But somehow, C.S. Boag writes with such wit, humour and deftness, this book is enormous fun. I highly recommend THE CASE OF THE BULLETS AT THE BALLET and can't wait to read more in this highly original series.
April 1, 2015
THE CASE OF THE BULLETS AT THE BALLET is book number 4 in the Mr Rainbow series, which I reread recently. Because you do. Think of these as good, fun, spare moment fillers and you've got it in one. For my full review of the entire series please head over to Newtown Review of Books - http://newtownreviewofbooks.com.au/20...
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews