James Ellroy's latest effort inflates familiar sleaze in exhausting style, writes Scott Murray. Blood's a Rover By James Ellroy Century, $32.95

FOURTEENTH place at Donington Park in July was the final straw for frustrated MotoGP star Casey Stoner, who returns to Phillip Island this weekend in a bid to win his third straight home race.

BRAMBLES has forced out its embattled chief executive, Mike Ihlein, after just over two years, replacing him with the boss of its European pallet division, who has been given the tough task of reviving its under-performing US business.

Ex-Ford Australia chief to take over

BORAL has expressed hope the heavily depressed US and Australian housing sectors could stage a recovery next year, after the building materials group reported a 42 per cent fall in full-year net profits to $142 million.