Trevor Newell is a hero, though the world around him in the English Midlands of the 1970s sees only a colourless teller behind the counter of the local bank. In the privacy of his own room in his mother’s house, Trevor lives in an escapist world of violent movies, but when fantasy meets reality and brutal robbers come to his bank, his character is tested as he finds himself drawn into a world of harsh realities. Will the Celluloid Kid grow up and does growing up always mean being physically and mentally tough or is there also room for compassion?

Doug Preston returns to his home on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula late one night to find his wife, Anne, missing without explanation. When threats and violence follow, Doug hires an inquiry agent. The only clue is that Anne apparently returned to England with a mysterious man named John Moore. Despite the danger to his own life Doug follows the trail to England where with the help of old army and police friends he comes close to solving the mystery of Anne's disappearance, until reaching what seems to be a dead end. Or is it? Why do the threats continue? Why does John Moore want to confront Doug? How many more twists can there be before Doug finally discovers the truth about Anne?