The author is Bill Fitzhugh, and he has written other books. I used the advanced search in B&N and put in the two keywords "exterminator" and "hitman" and it popped right up.

Kath, I wasn't familiar with Mackellar's poem, thanks for posting it. UK book titles are the same as the Australian ones. Downunder is still a a recognised term for Australia here though I don't suppose they call England 'Upover' anymore than they used to refer to us as home. BTW I felt that Downunder was rather thin on substance. I don't think BB had spent long enough there. I never realised that A Town Like Alice had an American title. I remember when I first heard the book mentioned, as a child, it sounded 'unusual' but can't see why US readers seem not to be expected (by editors/movie folk) to be capable of dealing with the occasional oddity. Whatever the title I think it is still a cracking read. On the Beach is another one with a most unusual 'plot' that works surprisingly well . . . for a story dealing with nuclear fall-out. re Fuller's book. I think the title is Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight which has been well-recommended over here. I haven't read it but usually the expression 'going to the dogs' or if you are from London 'going down the dogs' means spending the evening at the local 'dog track' ie greyhound racing. I think the book is set in Rhodesia and I have no idea if there were any 'dog tracks' or if white people would have been seen there. 'Going to the Dogs' also means a deterioration in ones circumstances/business/way of life. Mary does any of the above appear in the book?

That is it. Thank you so much. Have you read it, by chance? What is your review?

Merry, I read Michael Jenkins' A House in Flanders several years ago . . . and may have recommend it here. Well worth reading with his descriptions of the Aunts, the way of life and the surroundings. Although we think of Flanders as being in Belgium, in fact the 'house' was over the border in France. I was surprised that MJ was able to speak such good French, remembering what French lessons were like in England! I believe he went on to become a diplomat. yoyo, sorry I can't help you with your title. Was the book set in the US?