The Billionaire's Curse

The world's most valuable diamond has been stolen and its police constable guard lies unconscious in the British Museum, two sedative darts protruding from his backside.

Not something Gerald Wilkins knows or cares anything about. Not until he finds himself on a private luxury jet heading for London to attend the funeral of a great aunt he has never met. Not until he inherits her estate, worth twenty billion pounds. Not until he opens a bundle of envelopes from his dead great aunt.

Was she murdered? Who stole the diamond? And what is the mysterious casket that everyone seems to be looking for?

With the help of the Valentine twins, the rat-fearing Sam and the gymnastic champ Ruby, Gerald's got a mystery to solve. A mystery that will take them into secret passageways, a musty jumbled bookshop, an ancient crypt, the tower of a ruined church and a colossal cavern where the secret of a priceless treasure lies protected by deadly booby traps.

The Billionaire's Curse is an irresistible adventure story with an array of curious characters, some ancient folklore and an engrossing whodunit. It will keep young and not-so-young adults up late.

About the Author

Richard Newsome (1964 - still kicking) was born in Wanganui, New Zealand and lived the first few years of his life on a small farm among the sheep and pigs. His family moved to Australia when he was two-and-a-half and generously took him along as well.

He enjoyed school but despite decent grades chose to become a journalist. He spent many years chasing police cars, ambulances and politicians. He eventually went to university and graduated with a first class honours degree in economics, which still doesn't get him decent tables at restaurants. He worked in business for a bunch of years but decided that ditching his career and becoming an author was more dignified than buying a red convertible.

His debut novel The Billionaire's Curse, which won the Text Prize for Young Adult and Children's Literature in Australia, is the first in a trilogy and is being published in seven countries.

Richard stands six foot two in his socks and one day hopes to afford some shoes.