Stephen Smith — Stranger

Vintage Books 2006 Paperback, 249pp. Gav's a dope-grower - the best gear in Sydney - and he's connected to the local kingpin, Biggsy. But it's a world that's starting to bore him stupid. Then he gets a hysterical call from Julie, his girlfriend, saying his best friend Wayne has her at knifepoint and is threatening to rape her if he doesn't come round with $10 000.Wayne is insane, a speed addict from hell. Gav doesn't know it, but Wayne and Julie have been sleeping together and the phone call is the start of a plot to get their hands on Gav's stash: his money and his dope. When Gav turns up, Wayne goes ballistic and beats him to a pulp. He and Julie race out west from Sydney in Gav's car - further and further into the bush, till all they get is red dust and barred-up towns, suspicion and madness.Gav's heart is broken, his nose has been beaten into his face, his business is destroyed, and all he can think of is revenge - on the both of them. Lucky he's met one of Biggsy's debt collectors who boasts of the hits he's done. Trouble is he's never actually killed anyone. But for $10 000 he'll give it a go. No worries.What unravels is a wild saga of out-of-control speed freaks; pig-shooting drug parties; a schizophrenic hitman, lecherous hippies, appalling violence, and a disturbing and gripping insight into a horrible but strangely compelling and hilarious world beyond the city limits. (ISBN: 9781741664768). Good.