David Franklin

A crime comedy that centres on a group of misfits in Australia all struggling to make better lives for themselves. Perth. It's thousands of kilometres from anywhere, it's got a really rubbish Bell Tower and not enough of the placid locals are being eaten by sharks. Well, that's what grumpy expat reporter Paul Lewis thinks, but after a lonely Manic Street Preachers fan reveals her disastrously unlucky life suddenly nothing's the same... Manic Streets of Perth- Where a snake-wielding robber is just the start of your troubles. Gentler and warmer than Franklin's other novels, Manic Streets of Perth is an easy to read comedy. 'The storytelling is deft, sweet and funny; Brookmyre-esque without the gore, and is recommended. Manics fans, especially Richeyites, will enjoy the frequent references to the band, and the recurring theme of Kim's obsession with Small Black Flowers.' - Forever Delayed (Manic Street Preachers website) 'Franklin crafts the central players with great ease to such an extent that the hot and mundane Perth streets are secondary. In fact, this enthralling tale could be set in any Australian town or city.' - Quest Newspapers 'I loved Manic Streets - there was a great story underlying a slightly madcap series of events and characters that really pulled the reader through. There are some great characters in this story - the self-pitying, slightly idiotic journalist Paul, Kim's father (sans both legs), the support group for people with very unfortunate names, and Kim herself. Kim's just fabulous - real - strong - vivid.' - Australian Crime Fiction 'The title may make Dullsville sound exciting, but the protagonist of Manic Streets of Perth is defiantly less than flattering about our fair city. Still, if you like fiction offbeat and on the edgy side, there's plenty of humour, pathos and plain speaking.' - Scoop magazine Length: 67,000 words

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