What joy in finding a new author, well, new to me. Paul Thomas, has apparently, been writing for a while in his native New Zealand and I have two more of his books on my shelf now. It's like having gold bullion. He is one of the wittiest writers I have ever read. "Plugge didn't lose his composure very often but when he did, he had to send a search party to get it back." and he describes a handshake as "sufficiently protracted to convey and enthusiastic welcome without suggesting freemasonry or arousal." I mean this guy makes poetry. It took me twice as long to get through the book as it normally does for a story this size because many of the sentences I had to read twice and three times just to savor. Oh and the story is excellent - slackers and Down Under Mafia and all sorts of wonderful characters working together and apart on a 20 year old murder. ( )