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Cross Dressed To Kill
2011 CGD Award Winner! Gripping, Thrilling, Compelling, Hilarious! Set in small town Middle England where nothing nasty should happen, this witty thriller will make you laugh, cry, and question one or two of lifes quirkier realities. 'Cross-dressed to kill' picks up the story of a likeable rogue, a mildly neurotic hairdresser who, disappointed with life and disillusioned with his once glittering career begins chatting to his vengeful reflection in a salon mirror and starts disposing of his more irritating clients. The novel follows its 'hero' through the course of one turbulent year, charting half a dozen 'unfortunate' murders, a host of twists and turns, and ultimately a devastating revenge.... www andrewlucas.co.uk'Easy reading at its very best, a captivating writing style'. Petra Kitto - CGD July 2011 ---- 'Fab holiday reading, had me laughing on the sand and on the edge of my bed last thing before sundown' Ava Gale - Feb 2011 ---- 'In 'Cross dressed to kill' Andrew Lucas presents us with a baddy indeed, but a nicer, more appealing villain, a serial killer to love, a Sweeney Todd for the 21st century' . Max Southwell - Read/Write, May 2011. ----
414 pages, Paperback
First published June 5, 2011
53 people are currently reading
142 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
January 31, 2025
Bought this book by mistake, I must have been looking for the very different one with the same title that looks interesting and is about women dressing up as men over history to engage in combat. So first warning This is not That book.
Second warning - this book is really appalling. It isn't funny (in fact I did not suspect it was meant to be until I cam here to review it and saw the description). It is in very poor taste - the main character is a suspected (but probably not) bisexual, cross-dressing hairdresser who has mental health problems (anxiety and depression, undiagnosed schizophrenia), is very self-absorbed, and under a lethal combination of prozac and vodka kills a number of his clients and ultimately people who just got in the way. Not nice. Not a good presentation of people with mental health problems, or transvestites (in fact for a while I was thinking this was a blow in the Culture Wars aiming deliberately at putting down cross dressers and people with mental illness - but no, it's not, it's just a jejune book with no such strategic intent).
Most of the characters and particularly the narrator are unlikeable, and unpleasant - in the sense that it's just unpleasant being in the same virtual room with them.
For a comedy, it's not funny. For a crime novel, it's bizarrely unrealistic (at one point, his solicitor visits him in prison, without appointment, and gets to sit in his cell with him - this is not how prison visits work, but it's only the easiest to describe of a bunch of things that seem to break the rules of social dynamics all over the place). For a depiction of mental illness its pure stereotype. And for entertainment it's just boring.
Good grief how it is boring as hell, and so long! Read the other one and two star reviews here (and look with suspicion at the positive ones), everything they say is right. I simply had to skip from 81% to 95% because it was like reading Vogon poetry. Only "finished" it so I could in good faith write this review.
Second warning - this book is really appalling. It isn't funny (in fact I did not suspect it was meant to be until I cam here to review it and saw the description). It is in very poor taste - the main character is a suspected (but probably not) bisexual, cross-dressing hairdresser who has mental health problems (anxiety and depression, undiagnosed schizophrenia), is very self-absorbed, and under a lethal combination of prozac and vodka kills a number of his clients and ultimately people who just got in the way. Not nice. Not a good presentation of people with mental health problems, or transvestites (in fact for a while I was thinking this was a blow in the Culture Wars aiming deliberately at putting down cross dressers and people with mental illness - but no, it's not, it's just a jejune book with no such strategic intent).
Most of the characters and particularly the narrator are unlikeable, and unpleasant - in the sense that it's just unpleasant being in the same virtual room with them.
For a comedy, it's not funny. For a crime novel, it's bizarrely unrealistic (at one point, his solicitor visits him in prison, without appointment, and gets to sit in his cell with him - this is not how prison visits work, but it's only the easiest to describe of a bunch of things that seem to break the rules of social dynamics all over the place). For a depiction of mental illness its pure stereotype. And for entertainment it's just boring.
Good grief how it is boring as hell, and so long! Read the other one and two star reviews here (and look with suspicion at the positive ones), everything they say is right. I simply had to skip from 81% to 95% because it was like reading Vogon poetry. Only "finished" it so I could in good faith write this review.
December 6, 2012
It started off quite well, light and funny, but towards the middle of the book things started bogging down. The author gets mired in a sea of meticulous descriptions that add nothing to the story but rather subtract from the rhythm. There is a scene where it takes the protagonist five pages to walk a couple of blocks. It's tedious and unnecessary.
There are also a number of coincidences that ultimately lead nowhere. A number of encounters that you spend the rest of the book waiting for them to resurface yet they never do.
I think if the book and been half as long it might have been a good read.
There are also a number of coincidences that ultimately lead nowhere. A number of encounters that you spend the rest of the book waiting for them to resurface yet they never do.
I think if the book and been half as long it might have been a good read.
November 25, 2012
Had this book been about 150 pages shorter and far more carefully edited, it would have been much more enjoyable. I simply can't stand constant typos, misspellings, and poor capitalization, and the "plot" meandered for quite a bit longer than necessary. Had a few funny moments, though.
August 25, 2014
It's really hard for me to like a book when I don't like / affiliate with any of the characters. I just didn't care about the main character(s), or any of the people he "offed."
Add to that the numerous typos and grammar mistakes, and this became a difficult read for me.
Add to that the numerous typos and grammar mistakes, and this became a difficult read for me.
October 19, 2011
A surprisingly good read for 99p!
November 16, 2012
Light-hearted, dark humor fun and fast read. Just when the book slowed down in the last quarter Mr Lucas injected an unexpected twist. A feel great read that would make an killer movie
October 24, 2020
I laughed out loud often and thoroughly enjoyed this dark, yet entertaining story. But this is not for everyone as I found I was the only one of my friends who were entertained by the book.
November 14, 2016
Ridiculous sick, a great detour from real life. Unless your village has a cross dressing hairdresser who is a serial killer, then maybe skip this one.
February 11, 2018
3 1/2 * Would be a fairer reflection.
An amusing murder romp.
An amusing murder romp.
June 18, 2018
Different
Read
June 21, 2019Hilarious!
July 22, 2021
Throughly enjoyed this, funny and very clever. Brilliant read
July 6, 2024
Enjoyable story that is well written with likeable characters and good world building.
July 9, 2019
Local author
I think I've had my hair cut at this author's salon! Thank goodness I didn't see his reflection winking!! Very clever story - you can't judge a book by its (very glamourous, quiet, Mark looking) cover!
I think I've had my hair cut at this author's salon! Thank goodness I didn't see his reflection winking!! Very clever story - you can't judge a book by its (very glamourous, quiet, Mark looking) cover!
June 7, 2014
I just reread this book for our book club. It is one that I just couldn't forget as it was so fresh and different from any other crime/murder/ thriller I have ever read. The story is told in the first person by the main character who is a male hairdresser that has dual personalities - one who kills people and the other that doesn't. What is so fresh about the writing is the author makes the guy who is killing people, the one who is more likeable. Lucas makes the reader root for the hairdresser that kills! (Perhaps that is the 'cross' in the tittle?)
There are times when you are laughing out loud at his antics and others when you are on the edge trying to figure out what the main character is going to do next. Lots of twists and black humor is this book. Some parts of the plot are so unreasonable that you are sure the author is pulling your leg, but the character stays true to his quirkiness, so stick with it!
If you want something different and you can tolerate a lot of black humor you will enjoy this very different book. I certainly am looking forward to the sequel which I understand will be coming out in the next year.
There are times when you are laughing out loud at his antics and others when you are on the edge trying to figure out what the main character is going to do next. Lots of twists and black humor is this book. Some parts of the plot are so unreasonable that you are sure the author is pulling your leg, but the character stays true to his quirkiness, so stick with it!
If you want something different and you can tolerate a lot of black humor you will enjoy this very different book. I certainly am looking forward to the sequel which I understand will be coming out in the next year.
November 3, 2011
This novel was released as a 575 KB Amazon Kindle eBook and was written in 2011. This is not your usual crime thriller but a humorous anthropological study of Britain today. This story is written in the first person, from the point of view of a male hairdresser working alone in a fictitious small British town. He is a lovely, likeable character with a sharp wit about anybody and everything. This book covers a lot of ground and confronts lifestyles and people's prejudices. Andrew Lucas has a good writing style which is very similar to Mark Steel .
This hairdresser has a good rant about life and people which is very entertaining. He has his finger on the pulse by capturing the zeitgeist of Britain, with it's trends and frustrations of urban life.
This hairdresser has a good rant about life and people which is very entertaining. He has his finger on the pulse by capturing the zeitgeist of Britain, with it's trends and frustrations of urban life.
September 7, 2013
I was reading another book at the time when I saw this book on an Amazon recommendations email. I hadn't heard of the author before but I like crime books so as it was only 77p I thought I would give it a go. As a different genre to my other book the idea was I'd read both of these as one a traditional book and this one on my kindle. I had a bit of a dip into this book and just couldn't put it down. It's got murder in it and at times is quite funny. I know it shouldn't be but it was just some of the quirky obsessive ways the murderer has you couldn't help but chuckle and had to find out what happens next. Some reviewers haven't got the point saying that it's not funny- it is- just not to be taken too seriously. Enjoyed it and would read the follow up when it is released
October 30, 2011
I bought this book by mistake on my Kindle (pressed the wrong button...) but having bought it, I then settled down to read it no knowing quite what to expect! It took some time to get into the story but once I did I have to say that I enjoyed it. At points the storyline was very black but the author somehow still managed to retain humour. The main character was very realistic - very definitely a hairdresser under stress and I'm sure I've come across a few of his obnoxious customers! The only thing I wish is that the editing and layout had been done with a little more care. I like the way Andrew Lucas writes and I'm sure he'll go from strength to strength!
April 7, 2012
This book was something I downloaded off of my Kindle for only £1.99, the best £1.99 I have ever spent.
This book had me gripped from beginning to end, it was fab. The characters are so vivid that you can imagine most of them living in your town or on your street. The descriptive language that Andrew Lucas uses actually made me feel like I personally knew the characters. The situations I can actually feel like I'm in them.
This book is not the kind of book that I usually read but the reviews made me want to read it. It made me laugh aloud on the bus.
I promise if you read this book you will not be dissapointed.
This book had me gripped from beginning to end, it was fab. The characters are so vivid that you can imagine most of them living in your town or on your street. The descriptive language that Andrew Lucas uses actually made me feel like I personally knew the characters. The situations I can actually feel like I'm in them.
This book is not the kind of book that I usually read but the reviews made me want to read it. It made me laugh aloud on the bus.
I promise if you read this book you will not be dissapointed.
September 26, 2012
An interesting novel about a serial killer... Strangely, the author manages to keep your sympathy with the killer, in spite of what he does, right until the end. I enjoyed it tho did find a few typos in it (not sure if that's to do with Kindle or if they're in the book proper). Definitely worth a read... :-D
December 8, 2012
Couldn't actually finish it. I realised I'd been avoiding my kindle for about two months because I was struggling to get through this book, so at 26% of the way through I decided to call it quits and give up. It started off well and I thought it would be something I would enjoy but I just couldn't relate to the character or his elderly clients. Shame really, I hate not being ale to fish a book!
October 12, 2012
4 stars for this book simply because it really surprised me. It is a murderous romp about a hairdresser who starts killing off his annoying customers and is really funny. Definitely not to be taken too seriously, but some very good turns of phrase and characterization. 4 stars for entertaining me thoroughly.
December 7, 2012
Poor. I'm not sure why I bothered to keep going with this book. It vaguely entertained, but the story is weak, the characters only semi-believable, .... and there are a vast number of irritating typos scattered throughout the text. Was this book self-published? It certainly hadn't been properly edited.
September 1, 2011
A thoroughly enjoyable read. Macabre topic ofcourse-but the unusual and humourous treatment is so refreshing. It's an incredibly insightful profile of tortured, lonely souls and the weird worlds seemingly normalpeople can inhabit.Loved it.
April 9, 2012
Isle of Wight author .... but it's not set on the island. Good if slightly strange read. Not a typical thriller ... you know 'who-dunnit' ... it's a will-he-do-it-more-&-get-caught plot. A bit like a Tom Sharpe style farce.
July 12, 2012
Found it quite disappointing. Mildly entertaining only beginning about half way through. I've never not finished a book I've started, but I had to force myself multiple times to keep going. Picked up in the second half, but I never did find it to be as funny as was suggested.
May 11, 2013
This book was one I thought what have I let myself in for but I soon got gripped by it and enjoyed it - the descriptions throughout the book were fabulous and I could understand the lead character. I had to get to the end to find out what happened - u couldn't guess the ending :)
August 31, 2012
This book was funny and kept me guessing throughout. I learned to like the crazy main character and warmed to his vast array of friends and family.
The ending felt a little rushed bit was great. Definitely had laugh out loud moments and gripping killings! Highly recommended by me.
The ending felt a little rushed bit was great. Definitely had laugh out loud moments and gripping killings! Highly recommended by me.
September 2, 2011
As the number of stars indicates, it was OK. The characters were flat and two dimensional, the plot was plodding and predictable. May read more by this author but not in a hurry.
September 29, 2011
Amusing but not amazing! Cross dressing, apparently schizophrenic, hairdresser who murders nasty ladies. He's no Dexter, but it's a fun read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews