"Riding towards Daybreak, a one-pub town in Western Australia, comes Nat Bonnar, a half-aborigine horse-breaker, in search of a job. Better known as Detective-Inspector Bonaparte, "Bony" is, in fact, intent on unmasking a murderer who has struck down three victims--each time apparently without motive. And on the outskirts of Daybreak Bony sees a young man with a long-bladed knife bending over the body of a girl. Yet, in spite of this promising start to his task, Bony needs all the cunning and patience of a cat before he can corner and hypnotise his prey."

"Daybreak is a one-pub town owned lock, stock and barrel by Mr. Samuel Loader, known as Melody Sam. He is universally honored if not loved. Three people have been murdered: an aboriginal girl, Mary; Mrs. Mavis Lorelli, the wife of a cattleman; and a garage apprentice. Then Detective-Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte is called in. He wanders into the town as Nat Bonnar looking for horse work and is taken on as a yard man by Katherine Loader, Melody Sam's granddaughter. Bony has a good friend and ally in Sister Jenks. The murders seem haphazard and motiveless and the only clue is the plaster casts of the footprints of a man who limps. Terrible, tormenting silence and solitude finally make the murderer happy to confess." – from "The Armchair Detective"

Bony and the Mouse was printed in Britain in 1959 by Heinemann. The same year it was printed in America by the Doubleday Crime Club. Pictured above is the 1996 German edition printed by Goldman.