Urban Hunters Series

FOUR SMALL STONES (book 1) Billy’s gotta find some girls, or he and his brothers face extinction, the last of their kind living a Stone Age life in the Australian bush. The spirits choose Billy to see what he can find in the big city. But he’s never even seen a girl before and all he’s got to wear is a loincloth. His dad wants a fat one to keep him warm in winter and his oldest brother Mallee, wants six! No one knows what Pindaari wants. Before he goes he must pull off the impossible and earn his brother’s respect, outsmarting them at their own game with a stinking dead kangaroo, a flooded cave crawling with bats and a quartz crystal. Could life get any more difficult? Why yes it could, Billy could fall in love ... “AWESOME!!!” Andrew, UK “I was cracking up laughing. It’s really good.” Kris M, Australia “So fun guys I highly recommend it.” Nancy Y, USA URBAN HUNTERS is laugh–out–loud, gut–churning, heart–wrenching storytelling at its best. Unlike anything you’ve ever read, in typical Taaffe fashion. Hilarious as usual. Always surprising. Wonderful!

TRIBAL SCARRING (book 2) The clan face a dilemma - Billy doesn’t want to go on his Walkabout yet and besides, he hasn’t even been initiated into a man. Can hardly blame him, they want to use the slice of a knife where no boy wants a knife to go. The spirit of his mother forces the issue with a violent attack by a giant Red kangaroo. She’s good like that - helpful. The old Magic Man wants to seal Billy’s horrific injuries under the coals of a fire, exactly as he would initiate an Aboriginal Warrior. He’s helpful too. Billy must decide whether to endure the pain of initiation or remain a boy. “Though Tribal Scarring was more serious, it was really great. One of the best YA books I have read! Kudos! I recommend everyone to read it.” JB Cacdac “Great coming of age story. Isn’t Pindaari a loveable character.” Anne, Australia “I can’t wait to see what Billy’s next adventure is!” Jessica B, USA URBAN HUNTERS is laugh–out–loud, gut–churning, heart–wrenching storytelling at its best. Unlike anything you’ve ever read, in typical Taaffe fashion. Hilarious as usual. Always surprising. Wonderful!

WALKABOUT (book 3) Billy leaves his family and the bush for the first time ever, but wolf-whistles and abuse leave him confused about the appeal of his bare bum. A friendly trucker named Turbo, teaches him that he won’t pick up any girls wearing a bright red sundress. And he nearly runs back home after a gruesome discovery in a barrel at the tip. He calls upon his ancestors for help with shocking results, and he’s forced to fight off a mongrel old man in a violent confrontation. A darkened alley full of rats in the city reveals a beautiful girl. Amber’s pyjamas are covered in mud and blood and she’s stained in tears, and Billy falls in love. “It was such a fun and entertaining adventure story. Great gross-out scenes that I loved from the first book. I loved the Aussie lingo. The humor had me laughing out loud in places.” Jessica B, USA “This writer has done something rare - he’s come up with something so original that I can’t even compare it to other books. It stands alone. And his humour is really sensational.” Jack S, Australia “Can’t wait for the next in the series as I couldn’t put it down. They really are good value.” Ann C, UK URBAN HUNTERS is laugh–out–loud, gut–churning, heart–wrenching storytelling at its best. Unlike anything you’ve ever read, in typical Taaffe fashion. Hilarious as usual. Always surprising. Wonderful!

BULLIES (book 5) The son of the mongrel old man who Billy speared wants revenge. Billy could lose the pups. A bloody battle ensues but Diesel doesn’t count on Amber; or Larry, Curly and Moe for that matter. Billy leaves Turbo and Amber gobsmacked with a lesson in respect for Diesel. And with a little help from a hobo, Amber shows Billy how street kids hunt pigeons for brunch. “Mad writing skills you’ve got :)” Jessica B, USA “So many good characters in this book. You just have to wonder what Billy will get up to next.” Ann C, UK “Another brilliant adventure from Billy. The fight is fantastic. Loved it. Making his first phone call - hilarious! Great storytelling.” Jack S, Australia URBAN HUNTERS is laugh–out–loud, gut–churning, heart–wrenching storytelling at its best. Unlike anything you’ve ever read, in typical Taaffe fashion. Hilarious as usual. Always surprising. Wonderful!

BUDGIE SMUGGLERS (book 4) Billy hunts street meat for his first ever dinner date, much to Amber’s dismay. A cranky council worker named Norm, wants them out of his park, but he also wants his park rid of feral cats. Billy makes a weapon for Amber with mixed results and the drunken burp of a hobo sends her crashing back into the life she just escaped. Billy has no clue what to do with an upset Amber but he does try. His bare bum needs to be kept in check so Amber comes up with a gift. And Larry, Curly and Moe make a meal of a dying man, saving his life and making him giggle. Norm is traumatised to find Billy and Amber gone. “This book was just as laugh out loud funny as the first three books in the series. Billy slowly learning about girls and falling in love for the first time in his innocent way was just plain adorable. I can’t get enough of these characters and their adventures. It was AWESOME.” Jessica B, USA “A friend recommended it to me. It was a very different book, but it was enjoyable and fun to read.” Deborah S, Canada “There are some hilarious scenes and some really entertaining dialogue that move this story along at a great pace. The character of Billy is so endearing he stays with you long after the story is over. Looking forward to the next book in the series.” Jack S, Australia URBAN HUNTERS is laugh–out–loud, gut–churning, heart–wrenching storytelling at its best. Unlike anything you’ve ever read, in typical Taaffe fashion. Hilarious as usual. Always surprising. Wonderful!

Final Straw (book 8) It was all so perfect, until the dark side of life paid Amber a visit. Now all she’s got is a bloodied pair of pink pyjamas and a cardboard box down a rat–infested alley. Amber comes face to face with a cruel murderer in the bush. She must decide — kill him now or later? And remain a victim at the hands of her mother, or fight for a life of her own? “I would read ANYTHING this man wrote.” NEW YORK BOOK REVIEW, W. D LaRue “Real and frightening. Great build–up!” Marie, UK “Gripping!” Ethan, USA “Surprising climax. Great ending!” Anne, Australia URBAN HUNTERS is storytelling at its best. Unlike anything you’ve ever read, in typical Taaffe fashion. Always surprising. Wonderful!

BOWELS OF HELL (book 7) Entombed and doomed to digestion down the bowels of hell itself, Billy and Amber must escape or die. The orphans, abandoned again, must set aside their differences and put into practice what Billy has taught them. Or starve. And is the honeymoon over already? Can the Bullies save their relationship with Mel? “WOW! Hauntingly hypnotic. Good enough to set to music. A wickedly graphic conclusion. Loved it.” Anne, Australia “It’s really clever. Very exciting. I love the way you’ve ended it.” Jack, Australia “One minute his chilling descriptions are giving me the shivers and the next, I’m laughing out loud!” Ethan, USA URBAN HUNTERS is laugh–out–loud, gut–churning, heart–wrenching storytelling at its best. Unlike anything you’ve ever read, in typical Taaffe fashion. Hilarious as usual. Always surprising. Wonderful!

THE ORPHANAGE (book 6) Billy and Amber must save Larry from the dog catcher, with a shocking twist for Billy. A pursuit leads them into a creepy, rundown orphanage where they find themselves under attack by a savage pack. They fight to save the lives of many only to fall victim down the bowels of hell itself. “Way beyond wonderful. A spine-tingling experience of anticipation. Fear and terror a plenty. I think it is the best so far.” Anne, Australia “Plenty of laughs, as usual, love it. Great dialogue. The Bullie’s antics are hilarious.” Jack S, Australia “Great ending.” Hermione, Australia URBAN HUNTERS is laugh–out–loud, gut–churning, heart–wrenching storytelling at its best. Unlike anything you’ve ever read, in typical Taaffe fashion. Hilarious as usual. Always surprising. Wonderful!

Billy’s gotta find some girls. The problem is he’s an Aborigine from the Australian bush and all he’s got to wear is a loincloth. Not a good look in the city. And what’s worse, he’s never even seen a girl before. Could life get anymore difficult? Why yes it could. Billy could fall in love ... Amber's idyllic life is turned on its head, landing her in a rat-infested alley wearing nothing more than a bloodied pair of pink pyjamas. And an Aboriginal boy who thinks eating the fat rats is a good solution. Billy and Amber begin a journey that will leave you breathless as life slams them headlong through shocking twists and horrifying turns. Only to leave you smiling for joy at the loveable characters peppering their crazy days.

Every orphan needs a dad, so why not use Billy’s? He’s in the bush somewhere, so Billy leads his new friends into the never–never to find him: nine young shoeless orphans, ten if you include Amber, plus four dogs and a baby kangaroo. What could possibly go wrong? How about a kidnapping? A spear–pointed stand–off with the police? Or what about a run–in with a dangerous gang? You might need oxygen for this one because it’s going to leave you breathless.