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 is 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.Praise for Mister Rainbow: ‘Mister Rainbow in the Case of the Cock Robin Killer is a fun and fast-paced read, with lots of twists and turns that will keep you chuckling and wondering who or what will happen next. A cross between classic film noir, Sin City, and John Kennedy Toole’s A Confederacy of Dunces, the story is an absolute riot.’ Red City Review ‘The Mister Rainbow series, in all its glory, is a real little gem.’ Karen Chisholm, The Newtown Review of Books ‘Mister Rainbow is that rare creature a PI with depth. Down at heel, shabby, inept he’s a born loser, at his best when the odds are stacked against him. Somehow, in a taut contest, he wins.’ Barry Oakley, novelist and former literary editor of The Australian ‘Charles Boag’s delightful Mister Rainbow series is a must for lovers of the detective thriller, a setting which is familiar, and a clever use of language in developing both the plot and the characters. The hero’s name is as thought-provoking as is the style of writing itself: quirky and challenging, with an underlying sense of humour which is both dark and memorable. Each of the first three books in the series was hard to put down and leaves the reader anxious for the next.’ Belinda Kendall-White ‘Mister Rainbow is unique among private eyes. Impulsively he trips, darts and weaves through the obstacle course of Sydney’s gambling dens, turf clubs and high-flier casinos, while his own life implodes. Dark themes, yes. But C.S. Boag writes with such wit, humour and deftness, this book is enormous fun.’ Bernadette Williamson ‘Many of C.S. Boag’s sentences and phrases will make you laugh; although some will make you ponder. They are ingenious and very funny.’ Jacob A.J. Taylor