The Billionaire’s Curse should be put on shelves with a label that reads WARNING: THIS BOOK IS BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH! If you think I’m joking read the book and find out for yourself but don’t blame me when you finish reading the last page and almost bite the book in half for ending on such a cliffhanger. Then you look at the clock and realise that you haven’t moved since you opened the first page. Well, now that’s out of the way.

The Billionaire’s Curse is set in the present day and is centred around a 13-year-old boy called Gerald. It’s the last day of school before the mid-year holidays and Gerald is looking forward to driving up to the snow with his best mate when his is suddenly called to the Principal’s office and told by his parents that his great aunt (who he has never met) is dead and he is to go to the England to attend her funeral. Gerald soon finds himself on board a private luxury 747 jumbo jet with his parents and a decidedly sour butler named Mr Fry. From this point on Gerald finds himself slowly be entangled in a dark web involving money, corruption, robbery and a murder most foul.

The Billionaire’s Curse was lovingly written by Richard Newsome and is to be realised at the Melbourne Writer’s Festival. I would suggest this book to anyone who likes a good mystery and is willing to risk a disrupted sleep pattern. An enthralling read.