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Les Norton #16
Mystery Bay Blues
Les Norton travels to a quiet little seaside town on the south coast of New South Wales and uncovers what seems to be some very unsavoury goings-on. Can Les solve the mystery of Mystery Bay? Or will trouble, once again, find him first?
356 pages, Paperback
First published July 30, 2003
5 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
About the author
Robert G. Barrett
47 books66 followersG’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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 31, 2025
Another Les Norton story. Very entertaining, easy to read, enjoyed this one a lot
August 27, 2011
Les Norton is back in this his 16th adventure and what a great cover! This time the South Coast Blues Festival is on and Les heads to Narooma for a few days of drugs, sex, violence and rock and roll, courtesy of a repaid debt from a dodgy acquaintance. Of course Les finds trouble within a few hours of arriving and hands out a violent lesson to some rude fishermen in the first pub he visits. Unfortunately the fishermen have a friend with a bad reputation, and he is now baying for blood. In the meantime Les meets Amazing Grace, becomes acquainted with a ghost, travels back in time after a magic mushroom trip and uncovers a cocaine smuggling drug ring.
I am not sure what has happened to Les. I have previously enjoyed Barrett's humour and the scrapes that Les gets himself into. But this one just didn't live up to expectations. The start of the book was hard to follow, with random references to events that occurred in the previous Norton adventure. Having not read the previous title, I was at a loss. This coupled with the author's note alluding to Les's participation in a date rape means I won't bother either.
And it was generally downhill from there. Sure there was the occasional funny line or comical story, but essentially much of the book was spent describing a blues festival and how 'the grouse' Narooma was through the lecherous, inebriated and/or stoned eyes of Les Norton. And the less said about the padded magic mushroom trip the better.
The old adage of 'never judge a book by it's cover' can be applied to this book. Admire the cover, and move along.
I am not sure what has happened to Les. I have previously enjoyed Barrett's humour and the scrapes that Les gets himself into. But this one just didn't live up to expectations. The start of the book was hard to follow, with random references to events that occurred in the previous Norton adventure. Having not read the previous title, I was at a loss. This coupled with the author's note alluding to Les's participation in a date rape means I won't bother either.
And it was generally downhill from there. Sure there was the occasional funny line or comical story, but essentially much of the book was spent describing a blues festival and how 'the grouse' Narooma was through the lecherous, inebriated and/or stoned eyes of Les Norton. And the less said about the padded magic mushroom trip the better.
The old adage of 'never judge a book by it's cover' can be applied to this book. Admire the cover, and move along.
May 7, 2011
Corny entertainment for blokes, where the all conquering hero, Les Norton, can do no wrong. A bit of light reading fun
November 10, 2012
Definitely a real Aussie Larakin!
Probably the book I have enjoyed the most so far from Robert G.Barrett.
Probably the book I have enjoyed the most so far from Robert G.Barrett.
November 4, 2014
An absolute trip down memory lane. Fascinating reading about my childhood yearly family holiday in such an adult way.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews