Runner is set in 1919. Author Robert Newton has included slang from that era.
It represents the poorer areas of Melbourne. The book is set in Richmond. People were struggling financially at that time and many of them weren’t educated so when the spoke, they used a lot of slang.
Here is a glossary of some of the words you may find difficult to understand:
toff Noun – derogatory (a put down) meaning: A rich or upper-class person
back·hand·er Noun – meaning
1. A backhand stroke or shot in a game.
2. A hit made with the back of the hand.
fair dinkum meaning – really
hang on a jiff meaning – wait a minute
a penny for your thoughts meaning – can you tell me what you are thinking