• Tanya Chalkin - The Kiss
• Satin - The Kiss Covers

The Kiss Murder (Mehmet Murat Somer) at Booksamillion.com. The Number One Ladies' Detective Agencymeets Pedro Almodovar in this outrageous new series featuring an. The Number One Ladies' Detective Agencymeets Pedro Almodovar in this outrageous new series featuring an ultraglamorous sleuth Bestsellers in Mehmet Murat Somer's home. Istanbul provides an intriguing backdrop for Somer’s highly entertaining and occasionally over-the-top. The Kiss Murder Mehmet Murat Somer, Author.

I will give it 3 stars and actually explain why. Certainly the combination of transvestites and drag queens (working girls, really) with Istanbul places this book on a shelf of its own. It deserves some attention due to the unusual characters and settings, though the descriptions of some seem highly unlikely, having grown up in Istanbul. The 'girls' certainly seem to enjoy a freedom and lack of abuse that I find incredulous. As open-minded as Istanbul dwellers may be.

Uhm, not really. And of c I will give it 3 stars and actually explain why. Certainly the combination of transvestites and drag queens (working girls, really) with Istanbul places this book on a shelf of its own.

It deserves some attention due to the unusual characters and settings, though the descriptions of some seem highly unlikely, having grown up in Istanbul. The 'girls' certainly seem to enjoy a freedom and lack of abuse that I find incredulous. As open-minded as Istanbul dwellers may be. Uhm, not really.

And of course, the men. The copious amount of men running after, pining after the main character seems rather unlikely, no matter how stunningly Audrey Hepburn she may be.

Don't get me wrong, we are talking about an Istanbul where the transvestites were on so much demand (from the married, straight manly men, of course) that the other prostitutes were ratting them out to eh police to take back the market! So I am not saying that it is unlikely that macho Turkish men would be pining after our heroine, here, but rather that they would be so readily accepting it in public when, say, someone mentions it, or they would just simply blush when their desire is found out. We're talking about a highly homophobic society here, and these men, no matter how much they like the 'girls' would be enraged if such things were insinuated about them. So let's leave all that behind, and say that the book is meant to be a romp, in this respect. It's meant to be tongue-in-cheek, with a hint of wishful thinking. The main character and many of the other characters, especially the girls, are all very stereotypical.

Again, let's say this is due to the fact that all of this is a bit like a drag queen show; you go for the over-the-top effect. Some characters, though again a bit too stereotypical, are done well. The nosy neighbor of Sabiha Hanim, for example, is spot on. The main character is well developed and after a while one can start to see the world through his/her eyes. The plot did not bother me as much as it seems to have bothers others. I thought it was plausible (though what happens in the end at the mosque is highly unlikely) and there were enough twists and back stabbings to last for another book.

So why not, say, four stars? Several other people mentioned this and I will try to address it more thoroughly: The writing. I am waiting to get another one of Somer's books to see if the problem might have been the translation. I will read the next one in Turkish and see if the choppy feel that dominates throughout the book is due to translation. Some things in the translation were done well, though. For example, the sen/siz (the familiar you and the formal You) issue is hard to explain, but I thought the translation did a good job with it.

But other times, too many times, the narration fails to flow and sometimes even gets confusing due to awkward language. I don't think translation is the only thing to be blamed here, though. I think the main problem with the narration was that it was told in first person. First person narration is very hard to do well and in many cases it is tiring and flat out annoying to read after a while. The writer could have easily focused on the main character, kept the reader and the main character in the dark just the same, with third person narration, which I think would have helped the flow. I understand that a noir detective story is usually told in first-person, but the limitations of this narrow point of view and the lack of a personal voice (due to the narrator and the main character being the same voice) cause the story to suffer.

Basically, it it were written better, either a better translation and/or better narration, it would have been a four. Despite the fact that I never read murder mysteries or spy thrillers, I picked this one up because the stylish cover illustration promised something a bit more exotic. I was expecting a cross-pollination of 'The Avengers,' 'To Wong Foo' and that madcap international caper film, 'Topkapi,' but what I got was a pretty standard whodunnit with a fairly engaging heroine and an ending that, unfortunately, I had figured out by page eight. Not that the book is entirely devoid of charm.

The steamy Istan Despite the fact that I never read murder mysteries or spy thrillers, I picked this one up because the stylish cover illustration promised something a bit more exotic. I was expecting a cross-pollination of 'The Avengers,' 'To Wong Foo' and that madcap international caper film, 'Topkapi,' but what I got was a pretty standard whodunnit with a fairly engaging heroine and an ending that, unfortunately, I had figured out by page eight.

Not that the book is entirely devoid of charm. The steamy Istanbul locales brought to mind the atmosphere of a Bollywood film, the secondary characters are colorful, the writing style is brisk, and, of course the alluring drag queen protagonist is able to throw shade with the best of them. But none of those things entirely outweighed the fact that this is still pretty formulaic stuff. I probably would not read other books in the series, although I enjoyed this well enough for what it is - a literary palate cleanser. Η Μπουσέ (=φιλί στα τούρκικα) είναι μια αξιαγάπητη αλλά ελαφρόμυαλη τραβεστί που εξομολογείται στο αφεντικό της ότι συνήψε σχέσεις με σημαίνον πρόσωπο της σημερινής πραγματικότητας. Σε λίγες μέρες η Μπουσέ βρίσκεται δολοφονημένη και το αφεντικό της μπλέκεται σε μια μεγάλη συνωμοσία. Η πρώτη ιστορία του τραβεστί-ντετέκτιβ είναι εδώ!

Ο ανώνυμος αφηγητής της ιστορίας είναι ένας γοητευτικός προγραμματιστής υπολογιστών το πρωί και μια πανέμορφη, προκλητική τραβεστί το βράδυ, με δικό της gay club και α Η Μπουσέ (=φιλί στα τούρκικα) είναι μια αξιαγάπητη αλλά ελαφρόμυαλη τραβεστί που εξομολογείται στο αφεντικό της ότι συνήψε σχέσεις με σημαίνον πρόσωπο της σημερινής πραγματικότητας. Σε λίγες μέρες η Μπουσέ βρίσκεται δολοφονημένη και το αφεντικό της μπλέκεται σε μια μεγάλη συνωμοσία.

Η πρώτη ιστορία του τραβεστί-ντετέκτιβ είναι εδώ! Pga tour golf. Ο ανώνυμος αφηγητής της ιστορίας είναι ένας γοητευτικός προγραμματιστής υπολογιστών το πρωί και μια πανέμορφη, προκλητική τραβεστί το βράδυ, με δικό της gay club και αυστηρούς κανόνες και για τους πελάτες και για τα «κορίτσια» της. Έχει ολοκληρωμένη και συγκροτημένη προσωπικότητα κι όσο αθώο τον βλέπεις τόσο καλά μπορεί να σε εξοντώσει στο δευτερόλεπτο χάρη στις πολεμικές τέχνες που γνωρίζει! Κι όλα αυτά στην Κωνσταντινούπολη, την ουσιαστική πρωτεύουσα της Τουρκίας, με τον μουσουλμανικό νόμο πάνω από τα κεφάλια όλων των πολιτών της.

Το κείμενο, χωρίς να γίνεται πουθενά χυδαίο, περιγράφει με ωμότητα τις συνήθειες και τα σεξουαλικά ενδιαφέροντα ευυπόληπτων κατά τα άλλα, παντρεμένων και διάσημων αντρών της Πόλης. Ειδικά ο αφηγητής έχει τα δικά του ας το πούμε «βίτσια» που τον έδειχναν τόσο ανθρώπινο και αληθινό (ρόφημα από μάραθο, κλασιή μουσική, ύπνος αργά το πρωί.). Η τελευταία παράγραφος του μυθιστορήματος ήταν από τις πιο ωραίες ερωτικές περιγραφές που έχω διαβάσει ως τώρα. Τέλος, ο αφηγητής έχει καταπληκτικές και διορατικές παρατηρήσεις πάνω στο αντρικό φύλο και τα βίτσια που ικανοποιούν την ερωτική του λίμπιντο. Ως προς το αστυνομικό κομμάτι, η εξέλιξη της πλοκής δεν είναι ανατρεπτική αλλά κλιμακούμενη.

Ξεκινάμε με τη δολοφονία της Μπουσέ και μιας γειτόνισσας της θείας της κι από κει ξεδιπλώνεται το κουβάρι που θα οδηγήσει σε ένα υψηλά ιστάμενο πρόσωπο που ντρέπεται για το παρελθόν του αλλά και σε μια συμμορία εκβιαστών. Ποιος λοιπόν διάσημος δε θέλει να δημοσιευτούν οι φωτογραφίες του με τραβεστί; Ποιος δολοφονεί αδίστακτα; Ποιοι αποτελούν τη συμμορία των εκβιαστών; Πόσο κινδυνεύει ο ίδιος ο αφηγητής; Ένα ωραίο, διαφορετικό αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα που εκτυλίσσεται στα σκοτεινά στενά της Κωνσταντινούπολης. Hop-�iki-Yaya Un tentativo giallo di inscenare omosessuali al di l� delle convenzionali macchiette o stereotipi omofobi. Una ragazza viene uccisa. Risulta invece un transessuale, quindi o la polizia di Istanbul se ne fregher�, o avr� pretesti per rovinare un bel po' di persone nell'ambiente. Egli frequentava un locale, tipo la Cage aux Folles, il cui gestore, cosplayer d'Audrey Hepburn o altre icone cinematografiche di notte, e che di giorno campa la vita del programmatore IT borghesemente, � co Hop-�iki-Yaya Un tentativo giallo di inscenare omosessuali al di l� delle convenzionali macchiette o stereotipi omofobi. Una ragazza viene uccisa.

Tanya Chalkin - The Kiss

Risulta invece un transessuale, quindi o la polizia di Istanbul se ne fregher�, o avr� pretesti per rovinare un bel po' di persone nell'ambiente. Egli frequentava un locale, tipo la Cage aux Folles, il cui gestore, cosplayer d'Audrey Hepburn o altre icone cinematografiche di notte, e che di giorno campa la vita del programmatore IT borghesemente, � costretto - en travesti o con gli abiti genericamente accettati, ad indagare. Pensare che i sessi fossero due, � molto lontano da questa realt�. Travestiti, gay, lesbiche, transessuali, transiliconati o transempreuguali, criptonormali, criptogay, dragqueen, dragqueer, finocchi (termine qui frequentemente usato come insulto entro i vari sessi, come nigger tra i neri), transgender, bisessuali salomonici, wannabe bisessuali per salvare le forme sociali, eccetera, sono declinati in tutte le combinazioni che il corpo, la psiche, le costrizioni sociali e le oscillazioni stagionali geografiche e borsistiche permettono. Di che perdersi. Rischio che corre pure il personaggio principale - che deve tener debito conto delle categorie, essenziali per capire se credere alle informazioni e in che senso procedere. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.

To view it, I picked up this book mainly because I'm interested in seeing Turkey through many different eyes, and a drag queen amateur detective's eyes seemed about as different as anyone could possible get. Also, the author graduated with an engineering degree from the same university as my husband (who also has an engineering degree), and this was privately amusing to me. Similarities to my husband end there, of course, because he would never have any knowledge of Audrey Hepburn or other classic film heart I picked up this book mainly because I'm interested in seeing Turkey through many different eyes, and a drag queen amateur detective's eyes seemed about as different as anyone could possible get. Also, the author graduated with an engineering degree from the same university as my husband (who also has an engineering degree), and this was privately amusing to me. Similarities to my husband end there, of course, because he would never have any knowledge of Audrey Hepburn or other classic film heartthrobs. Nor would he be at all familiar with the subtleties of dressing as a woman, making oneself up to be a woman, or the transvestite subculture.

Or the club scene, spa treatments, classical music, gay porn, vodka, and so on. I should have taken more note of the 'amateur' detective part because this really isn't so much a mystery, or an attempted solving of a mystery, as it is a tantalizing dip into the world of the nameless narrator. Somer may not be much of a mystery writer here, but he does descriptives and sensation quite well. I could picture exactly the appearances of the characters, the way they moved, their mannerisms, and the various sensations the hero(ine) luxuriated in.

According to Somer's Wikipedia (or Vikipedi, as they say in Turkish), he is not a drag queen himself, so he also deserves kudos for the amazing first-person narration he does as the transvestite detective. I found it quite believable and thought for sure the author must have some firsthand experience, somehow. How many Turkish men out there, really, know anything about lotions, or hairdos, or shoes?

And lovely descriptions of handsome men? A criticism I have would be about the many references to (I assume) classic film stars or older celebrities. The narrator referenced many people I have never heard of when describing someone's looks or style of dress, which sadly made it difficult to relate to in those particular instances.

The narrator, who is quite fond of Audrey Hepburn, also alludes to her style of dress or look in specific scenes of her films. Well, unfortunately, I don't think I've seen a single Hepburn film, so all of this was lost on me.:( Perhaps the intended reader of this book is meant to be a bit older or more cultured than I am. Well, I have no pretensions about the campy things I choose to read. They're hardly highbrow and very rarely 'fine literature.' This was a light, fun read that I flew through in one sitting, though the mystery itself wasn't too gripping or satisfactory.

I don’t know if he’s aware of it, but the relentless pursuit to outdo Mark David Bradshaw is the only reason I read anything. That’s why I picked up this strange little mystery, the first installment in a series translated from Turkish, hoping to find a gem I could evangelize as cheerfully as he’s spread the word of Will Thomas, Louis Bayard, and Christopher Fowler. Lucky for my quest, “The Kiss Murder” indeed sparkles—like the Audrey-Hepburn-inspired finery favored by its nameless transvestite I don’t know if he’s aware of it, but the relentless pursuit to outdo Mark David Bradshaw is the only reason I read anything. That’s why I picked up this strange little mystery, the first installment in a series translated from Turkish, hoping to find a gem I could evangelize as cheerfully as he’s spread the word of Will Thomas, Louis Bayard, and Christopher Fowler. Lucky for my quest, “The Kiss Murder” indeed sparkles—like the Audrey-Hepburn-inspired finery favored by its nameless transvestite detective. Part owner of a nightclub/brothel in Istanbul’s underworld, she (though provided with male anatomy, our hero/ine prefers the feminine pronoun) lends a broad shoulder to cry on to the establishment’s other girls, including one named Buse who confesses she’s being blackmailed about a past relationship (one that could mean career death to the man involved). When Buse turns up dead—and the police aren’t inclined to investigate—it’s up to our protagonist to solve the crime, while fending off the attentions of an overzealous taxi driver and occasionally kickboxing in heels.

“The Kiss Murder” is a unique hybrid: simultaneously frothy and sordid, it’s sometimes almost a “cozy” with its lighthearted depictions of pretty dresses and tea, while not shying away from the abuse and ostracism suffered by gay and transgendered youth in the secular but predominantly Muslim country. Now that the game’s up, I expect Mark to dredge up some fantastic Middle Eastern mysteries for our enjoyment. But I found this one first. Turkish thriller writer Mehmet Murat Somer followed his intriguing debut novel 'The Prophet Murders' with this second entry into his quirkily titled Hop-Ciki-Yaya thriller series featuring an unnamed catsuit clad amateur detective bent in protecting Istanbul's gay subculture from external attack.

The high-kicking Turkish transvestite club manager is drawn into a complex web of deceit following the murder of titular tranny Buse (the Turkish word for kiss) who had previously claimed to have comprom Turkish thriller writer Mehmet Murat Somer followed his intriguing debut novel 'The Prophet Murders' with this second entry into his quirkily titled Hop-Ciki-Yaya thriller series featuring an unnamed catsuit clad amateur detective bent in protecting Istanbul's gay subculture from external attack. The high-kicking Turkish transvestite club manager is drawn into a complex web of deceit following the murder of titular tranny Buse (the Turkish word for kiss) who had previously claimed to have compromising photographs and letters of a now celebrated individual. As with it's predecessor the mystery element of this thriller isn't really up to much and even now the memory of who-actually-dunit has begun to fade but what remains is a fascinating insight into the Turkish fear of the deep state and a far better intro to the hidden underbelly of Istanbul. The author actually wrote this volume prior to its predecessor but, lacking the highly marketable prophet motive hook, it was unceremoniously relegated to second in publication which is actually to the detriment of the series it so ably introduces and the quirky characters at its heart.

'Like the proverb goes, pricks or prying.' I picked this book up at my library's 'bag sale' and it took quite a while for it to rise to the top of the 'to read' pile.

At the book sale buyers have a split second to decide on a book before it either disappears or you are trampled by the hoard of other book lovers. So, the cover blurb was the catalyst for my split-second decision-it read 'a whip-smart Istanbul crime series.' The word Istanbul was enough to capture me and the book landed in my bag. I love an off-beat novel and also like a b I picked this book up at my library's 'bag sale' and it took quite a while for it to rise to the top of the 'to read' pile. At the book sale buyers have a split second to decide on a book before it either disappears or you are trampled by the hoard of other book lovers.

So, the cover blurb was the catalyst for my split-second decision-it read 'a whip-smart Istanbul crime series.' The word Istanbul was enough to capture me and the book landed in my bag. I love an off-beat novel and also like a bit of humor in my characters, but I wasn't really prepared for a transvestite sleuth who channeled Audrey Hepburn.

I guess the character was a little too coy for my taste but it was kind of fun reading the descriptions of her outfits and the introduction to demi-monde she inhabited were interesting. But, if prospective readers are looking for a neat resolution of a complicated puzzle, this is not the book for you. The crime was unravelled at the story's conclusion but there were still many loose ends. Perhaps it reflects the life-style of the protagonist: life goes on. Murder committed; issue somewhat resolved; problem still exists. Not terribly satisfying to me. I do wish I could do.5 with Goodreads.

I'm a very grey girl in my thinking. And this is definitely more than a 2. I read this book as part of my investigation of world mystery writing.

Satin - The Kiss Covers

Set off by Wallender and the Girl with the Dragon Tatoo. Interested in world detectives (after all I think it's arguable that Dickens and Wilkie Collins were there at the birth of the detectie). And here we have a Turkish (Instanbul) detective who is computer wiz by day, cross-dresser diva running a club at n I do wish I could do.5 with Goodreads. I'm a very grey girl in my thinking. And this is definitely more than a 2. I read this book as part of my investigation of world mystery writing.

Set off by Wallender and the Girl with the Dragon Tatoo. Interested in world detectives (after all I think it's arguable that Dickens and Wilkie Collins were there at the birth of the detectie). And here we have a Turkish (Instanbul) detective who is computer wiz by day, cross-dresser diva running a club at night. Who wouldn't read at least one. It's always difficult with translations to know what of the clunkiness in the writing was there at the beginning and how much is the translation.

There was something very clunky about the prose and plotting of this novel. But the entry into a world I would never have imagined in contemporary Turkey was intriguing. And this is only one book in a fairly extensive series. I don't know if I should resent or admire the main character, she (a born he) is a bitch and very judgemental and she actually seems very closeminded towards all people who aren't men in dresses, obviously gay men, or clear cut straight men. The rest seems, in her mind, to be either below her notice or in line with her contempt.

But on the other hand. She is a transvestite in the middle of Istanbul who solves crimes inbetween seducing policemen and actually working as a computer programmer. It I don't know if I should resent or admire the main character, she (a born he) is a bitch and very judgemental and she actually seems very closeminded towards all people who aren't men in dresses, obviously gay men, or clear cut straight men. The rest seems, in her mind, to be either below her notice or in line with her contempt. But on the other hand. She is a transvestite in the middle of Istanbul who solves crimes inbetween seducing policemen and actually working as a computer programmer.

It's a brilliant premises and she is quite awesome. Just a few more chapters until I'm done.and done. Okay, I liked it better after I finished it. That isn't to say that what I said earlier isn't true, it is, but the bitch won me over in the end. Hers is a flavour that needs to be accumulated. Pick it up, read it, if nothing else you're bound to learn something about crossdressers in an Islamic country.

This was just super fun and I tore right through it. A rare window into a subculture you never even hear about: Turkey's underground gay culture, drag queens, trannies, nightclubs, prostitution etc. The nameless main character - a Turkish dead ringer for Audrey Hepburn - makes for a very droll and entertaining narrator and amateur sleuth. Did I mention 'she' also possesses fierce thai boxing skills? And is devoid of flaw throughout?

Not surprisingly, the actual mystery is really beside the point This was just super fun and I tore right through it. A rare window into a subculture you never even hear about: Turkey's underground gay culture, drag queens, trannies, nightclubs, prostitution etc. The nameless main character - a Turkish dead ringer for Audrey Hepburn - makes for a very droll and entertaining narrator and amateur sleuth. Did I mention 'she' also possesses fierce thai boxing skills? And is devoid of flaw throughout?

Not surprisingly, the actual mystery is really beside the point. The real fun is tagging along for what is an intentionally borderline ludicrous plot. It's also surprisingly poignant at times. The double (and triple) lives many gay people have to lead in order to survive in a Muslim society is fascinating. If not a bit depressing and sad. It was also interesting to learn how universal many aspects of gay culture are, despite the geography.

I'm definitely going to read more of this series once it appears in translation. This book verged on a 3, but just ended too abruptly. This is the story of a transvestite in Turkey who owns/hostesses a bar by night and works as a male IT Consultant by day. One of the 'girls' who frequents her club is murdered and she takes it upon herself to investigate. The investigation itself is interesting, but the ending still felt unresolved to me. Granted, this book is only one in a series and I jumped into the middle so maybe if I read the next one in the series I would feel better. St This book verged on a 3, but just ended too abruptly.

This is the story of a transvestite in Turkey who owns/hostesses a bar by night and works as a male IT Consultant by day. One of the 'girls' who frequents her club is murdered and she takes it upon herself to investigate. The investigation itself is interesting, but the ending still felt unresolved to me. Granted, this book is only one in a series and I jumped into the middle so maybe if I read the next one in the series I would feel better. Still, there were priceless moments - I loved her penchant for dressing and making up as Audrey Hepburn.

Unfortunately, that touch of class was often wasted on her associates. Talk about being born in the wrong time, wrong place, wrong body! I would like to read some of the other mysteries - I think they might get better as you go along. This book is a departure from my norm: I don’t read much mystery. I read The Kiss Murder because I will be meeting Mehmet Murat Somer at a reception at the ABA’s Winter Institute at the end of the month. After reading the book I’m not sure what to expect at this reception. Thai kick-boxing?

An Audrey Hepburn film retrospective? The Kiss Murder truly is a mystery!

Narrated by a computer programmer/transvestite club owner who never provides his or her names, this is a gender and mind This book is a departure from my norm: I don’t read much mystery. I read The Kiss Murder because I will be meeting Mehmet Murat Somer at a reception at the ABA’s Winter Institute at the end of the month.

After reading the book I’m not sure what to expect at this reception. Thai kick-boxing? An Audrey Hepburn film retrospective? The Kiss Murder truly is a mystery! Narrated by a computer programmer/transvestite club owner who never provides his or her names, this is a gender and mind-bending mystery.

She never gives her name, but she provides multiple names (combined with terms of respect and affection) for many of the other characters, and I found myself losing track of some in the labyrinth of Istanbul. Like its narrator, this book is slim but packs a deceptive wallop! Perhaps that is what I should be expecting at this upcoming reception! The Kiss Murder is about club owning drag queen resembling Audrey Hepburn, who uses her inner detective skills to find out who has murdered her transvestite friend, Buse. The night before Buse's murder she told the drag queen that she was scared and someone was after her. Audrey's look a like sets out to find the murderer but soon finds that this is no easy task. What she uncovers is a shocker.

WIll she be able to connect the dots and find out who the killer is or will she end up dead as well? Th The Kiss Murder is about club owning drag queen resembling Audrey Hepburn, who uses her inner detective skills to find out who has murdered her transvestite friend, Buse. The night before Buse's murder she told the drag queen that she was scared and someone was after her. Audrey's look a like sets out to find the murderer but soon finds that this is no easy task. What she uncovers is a shocker.

WIll she be able to connect the dots and find out who the killer is or will she end up dead as well? This was a very fun, quick paced read. I will definitely be picking up the next book 'The Gigilo Murders' which comes out in September. A murder mystery solved by a Audrey Hepburn loving transvestite could have gone south quickly.

However, this one is both tense and humorous and you come to love the protagonist quickly (I don't think she was ever named, come to think of it.). The book also gives an interesting look into Turkish culture - by the way, there is a short, but not comprehensive, glossary of Turkish words in the back of the book. The words that aren't defined are not essential to understand the story, but I'm stil A murder mystery solved by a Audrey Hepburn loving transvestite could have gone south quickly.

However, this one is both tense and humorous and you come to love the protagonist quickly (I don't think she was ever named, come to think of it.). The book also gives an interesting look into Turkish culture - by the way, there is a short, but not comprehensive, glossary of Turkish words in the back of the book. The words that aren't defined are not essential to understand the story, but I'm still glad I have a Turkish dictionary at home. My only gripe (and it's minor) with the book is the ending was not as firm as I'd hoped.

I agree with the other reviewer-this was a well written book, with an interesting twist (a transgendered hero who runs a drag queen club in Istanbul-where such things put one on the margins of society)-but the story, which was cooking along quite well (influential man who had a prior relationship with a cross-dresser-someone wants the evidence to blackmail him, all quite orderly and beleivable)-then suddenly the whole thing ends without any sort of resolution. DId the last chapter or two ge I agree with the other reviewer-this was a well written book, with an interesting twist (a transgendered hero who runs a drag queen club in Istanbul-where such things put one on the margins of society)-but the story, which was cooking along quite well (influential man who had a prior relationship with a cross-dresser-someone wants the evidence to blackmail him, all quite orderly and beleivable)-then suddenly the whole thing ends without any sort of resolution. DId the last chapter or two get lopped off by accident? Did the editor not read it the whole way through? Or is this some Turkish style? A Turkish transvestite club owner with a flair for duplicating Audrey Hepburn's style leads us along the paths of murder, blackmail, passion, and social snobbery.

The protagonist, with her unerring common sense and determination, tries her darnedest to reveal the truth about her friend's murder. Along the way, her kickboxing skills and unflappable nature serve her well. A quirky mystery that is well-paced and cleanly written, The Kiss Murder introduces a character I would definitely like to read A Turkish transvestite club owner with a flair for duplicating Audrey Hepburn's style leads us along the paths of murder, blackmail, passion, and social snobbery. The protagonist, with her unerring common sense and determination, tries her darnedest to reveal the truth about her friend's murder. Along the way, her kickboxing skills and unflappable nature serve her well. A quirky mystery that is well-paced and cleanly written, The Kiss Murder introduces a character I would definitely like to read more about.