In his latest novel we see him again the faithful portrayer of local colour and life, and again using his gifts in the construction, of a yarn which is typical of bush conditions.
"Bony," as he is familiarly called by his friends, is a lineal descendant of Sherlock Holmes, a true character in his eccentricities, and his own peculiar methods of handling his cases.
The author testified that the two men had earlier discussed a method of body disposal that could destroy physical evidence of a murder, which he later published in this novel.
Rowles was also suspected of having been involved in the earlier disappearances and presumed deaths of two Australian men, James Ryan and George Lloyd.
This book was adapted as a television movie entitled Boney and the Powder Trail (1973), from a screenplay by Tony Morphett, and directed by Peter Maxwell.