This is Charles Bukowski s brilliant fantastical pastiche of a detective story. Packed with wit invention and Bukowski s trademark lowlife adventures it is the final novel of one of the most enjoyable and influential cult writers of the last century. Nicky Belane private detective and career alcoholic is a troubled man. He is plagued not just by broads booze lack of cash and a raging ego but also by the surreal jobs he s been hired to do. Not only has been hired to track down French classical author Celine who s meant to be dead but he s also supposed to find the elusive Red Sparrow which may or may not be real.