YOU might just start looking a little suspiciously at every small Australian country town you drive through, thanks to this novel.
That's because strange things are happening in the township of Munni-Munni, author Derek Hansen's creation of a flourishing community where everyone seems to drive the same model white Camry and own a cheeky Jack Russell dog.
- A Man You Can Bank On, by Derek Hansen. Hachette Australia, rrp $29.99
The new policeman in town, Duncan "Stretch" Beddington, has been sidelined from his big city job in Sydney, and isn't sure just how he'll handle the not-so-exciting crimes of rustling, poaching, and illegal hunting he's told will now take up his time.
But he quickly notices that, while the towns around battle drought and hard times, Munni-Munni is doing just fine, and all the residents seem to be keeping the secret of its success to themselves.
The secret involves $3 million in stolen money uncovered by the town's former bank manager, Lambert Hampton, and used cleverly to turn Munni-Munni's financial status around and keep it on an even keel.
But just when everything is ticking along nicely for the town, the robbers who scored the money in the first place from a bookie robbery, have been released from prison with a wily plan to head back to Munni-Munni to retrieve their treasure.
Only problem is it's not there, as Lambert Hampton well knows.
This is part mystery, part comedy caper.
