Cafe Puccini

'You’ll fall in love with every single character' — Hayley Mills

What happens when a quirky Australian town faces the imminent arrival of a huge fiery comet? Do the residents embrace all possibilities or run like hell?

WARNING, WARNING, WARNING

Cactus Bob, a grizzled pensioner in a red beanie, thought surviving a death-roll by a monster saltwater crocodile was tough. But now he faces an even more devastating challenge: strange messages are arriving via his clapped-out black-and-white TV, warning of a fiery comet hurtling toward his tiny cottage on the outskirts of Wellsprings.

Café Puccini, the social hub of the colourful community, is abuzz. Is the comet real or just another zany publicity stunt dreamt up by Ah Sow, the town’s crafty trader? Will Angelo, the café owner, reunite with the wife he had somehow 'misplaced' thirteen years earlier? How did a lucky Zulu millionaire and his mysteriously 'top-secret' Norwegian wife become tied to all the comet chaos, and why is a crusty old Scottish boat-builder crafting a unique monument to the stars?

As the comet draws closer, secrets unravel, alliances form, and tensions rise. Join Wellsprings’ oddball residents as they navigate love, cosmic calamities, and outrageous adventures.

Prepare for a wild ride filled with colourful characters, unexpected twists, and a mystery that will keep you guessing in this outlandish tale of resilience, eccentricity, and the sheer magic of the bush.

About the Author

Tony Matthews, a Welsh-Australian author, has devoted much of his adult life to writing nearly forty books, spanning both fiction and non-fiction. His career in the television industry included writing, producing, and directing numerous historical documentaries for the Seven Network and ABC Television, alongside over five hundred historical programs for ABC Radio.