Les Norton

Les Norton is the main protagonist in a series of fiction books written by Australian author Robert G. Barrett.

A likeable and laconic Aussie battler, Norton first appears in You Wouldn't Be Dead For Quids (1984) and is described as stockily built with the signature feature of red hair. He doesn't mind a fight, a punt or a root. He was born in Dirranbandi, and lived there until he was involved in a pub fight, when the local police officer told him to leave before investigators from Brisbane could arrive when he was identified as a person of interest in a subsequent murder investigation. He moved to Sydney, and ended up living in Bondi, working as a bouncer in an illegal casino in Kings Cross. In later books it turns from an illegal casino to a bridge club, as the club's owner Price Galese has further trouble bribing Police and Government officials to ignore the casino's presence. Les played rugby league for Easts during his early days in Sydney.

His brother in his home state of Queensland owns a dog called "Grungle" who loves to fight as much as Les and his brother.

Les' career with Galese's illegal casino in Kings Cross provides many opportunities for training, fighting, porking, dancing, photography, reflection and the odd mystery solving. Les could be said to be extremely lucky with circumstance. He has buried more money and other items of value than most Lebanese jewellers.

In the later stories he has a house in Bondi which he shares with an advertising executive called Warren who loves to smoke pot and whose job takes him away from time to time.

Les likes to drink a cocktail called a "delicious", a mix of Jack Daniels and Coke.

He loves to exercise in the morning to wring the piss out of his body after a big night on the turps. There are also many mentions of the Hakoah (a Jewish club) where he gets a great feed.

Les refers to his penis as Mr. Wobbly (which is referred to in every story).

Les drives around in an old 1968 Ford Falcon utility in the early stories. In later stories he drives a late model Holden Commodore Berlina. The car belonged to fellow who had a bit of his brain shot out in the car. Les tolerates the smell which persists despite having the car regularly detailed.