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Invisible Women: Powerful and Disturbing Stories of Murdered Sex Workers
When news of a murdered woman hits the headlines in Australia, people sit up and take notice. Unless that woman happens to be a sex worker.
Invisible Women tells the stories of several murdered sex workers – all of whom are somebody’s mother, daughter, wife or sister – whose identities have been erased. Why do we see some lives as less valuable than others, and what price do we all pay for this shocking lack of care? These amazing stories of incredible women are both deeply moving and shocking in their insight and clarity. And definitely way overdue.
Invisible Women tells the stories of several murdered sex workers – all of whom are somebody’s mother, daughter, wife or sister – whose identities have been erased. Why do we see some lives as less valuable than others, and what price do we all pay for this shocking lack of care? These amazing stories of incredible women are both deeply moving and shocking in their insight and clarity. And definitely way overdue.
- GenresTrue CrimeCrime
308 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2016
9 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
Kylie Fox
6 books2 followersKylie Fox is a writer, editor, transcriptionist and mother-of-five. Her short crime fiction stories have won awards, including the Dorothy Porter Award, part of Sisters in Crime’s annual Scarlett Stiletto Awards, and are published in anthologies. Kylie is currently undertaking a degree in criminal justice and looks forward to studying further in the field of criminal psychology. Invisible Women is Kylie’s first true crime book.
Kylie is also one half of comic-fantasy duo AK Wrox, author of Arrabella Canellarbra and the Questy Thing to End All Questy Things.
Kylie is also one half of comic-fantasy duo AK Wrox, author of Arrabella Canellarbra and the Questy Thing to End All Questy Things.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
February 4, 2016
A very informative and powerful book written by two wonderful female authors (must reveal that I do count them as my friends!). This subject is very topical at this time, where violence against women seems to be out of control and the media appears to be very particular about which cases hit the headlines. Violence against any woman, no matter her age, race or occupation is NOT acceptable. No woman asks to be raped, bashed or murdered. Some of the cases in Invisible Women we have heard about, but then maybe only if you are an avid Crime reading or viewer of true Crime shows on the television, but most of the women depicted have simply been ignored, slipped through the cracks, not worthy of being in the "news". Every single one is a daughter, maybe a mother, wife, sister, auntie or even a grandmother, someone loves them and will miss them forever. Do not forget them. To Kylie and Ruth..... great job!
January 7, 2019
Stacked up in every corner of this house are piles of books that I should have read by now, with INVISIBLE WOMEN being one of them. As the sub-heading puts it: "Powerful and Disturbing Stories of Murdered Sex Workers". The tardiness was regretted even more once I finished the book.
A lot of the power behind these stories is down to the sheer numbers. The index lists 65 women's names - murdered or gone missing since 1970 (the book was published in 2016). To put that into perspective, 46 years, 65 women listed. God knows how many more died during that period, how many more since, and how many more will continue to die until we do something about the scourge of violence in our society.
In a lot of cases quite a bit is known about the circumstances in which the women died, there are examples cited where perpetrators have been brought to justice. There are a frightening number that remain unsolved, despite knowing quite a bit of detail about what happened to the victim's, and then there are those that are particularly chilling as little is known and little seems to have been done to resolve. The way that Fox and Wykes, mostly, recount these stories in a matter-of-fact, no frills manner telegraphs respect for these women. Nothing sensationalised, nothing undignified, with an underlying sense of loss.
INVISIBLE WOMEN provides insight on different levels. It's clearly outlining the injustice and unfairness of a society that views some victims as less important, less worthy of efforts to solve the crimes committed against them. It provides remembrance for those victims and has ensured that their names, and their fates aren't forgotten, and are listed in a publicly accessible manner. Hopefully there's also something in some of these stories that has triggered a memory or tweaked a conscience.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
A lot of the power behind these stories is down to the sheer numbers. The index lists 65 women's names - murdered or gone missing since 1970 (the book was published in 2016). To put that into perspective, 46 years, 65 women listed. God knows how many more died during that period, how many more since, and how many more will continue to die until we do something about the scourge of violence in our society.
In a lot of cases quite a bit is known about the circumstances in which the women died, there are examples cited where perpetrators have been brought to justice. There are a frightening number that remain unsolved, despite knowing quite a bit of detail about what happened to the victim's, and then there are those that are particularly chilling as little is known and little seems to have been done to resolve. The way that Fox and Wykes, mostly, recount these stories in a matter-of-fact, no frills manner telegraphs respect for these women. Nothing sensationalised, nothing undignified, with an underlying sense of loss.
INVISIBLE WOMEN provides insight on different levels. It's clearly outlining the injustice and unfairness of a society that views some victims as less important, less worthy of efforts to solve the crimes committed against them. It provides remembrance for those victims and has ensured that their names, and their fates aren't forgotten, and are listed in a publicly accessible manner. Hopefully there's also something in some of these stories that has triggered a memory or tweaked a conscience.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
July 31, 2018
I don't read a great deal of true crime - I guess having investigated it for a hefty chunk of my career, reading it doesn't attract me as much as it does many people.
I got on to this title from chatting with one of the authors, Ruth Wykes, for one of her current book projects. Combined with my last year and a half as a detective being in the Vice Squad, the subject of murdered sex workers was immediately of interest to me.
This book is simply excellent. It is horrendous to read of one murder after another of these women, generally street-based sex workers and therefore some of the very most vulnerable women in society. The authors, Kylie Fox and Ruth Wykes, tackle this difficult subject with skill, writing in an informative and objective way, but displaying great compassion. A book like this, in less adept writing hands, could all too easily become a feminist-style polemic, but Fox and Wykes avoid this pitfall, and instead deliver a very readable, although incredibly sad, collection of accounts of the lives and brutal deaths of 65 sex workers around Australia since the 1970s. The appalling violence in these deaths, almost exclusively perpetrated by males, is spelled out, as it should be to illustrate its horror. The fact that only about half of these murders have ever been solved is also highlighted, with the point being clearly made that society as a whole, and the media and the cops in particular, often regard the lives of sex workers as somehow less valuable than other people. This, of course, is the central tragedy in the lives of these women and girls. Along with the perils of drug addiction, which walk hand-in-hand with sex work for many. Fox and Wykes have the breadth of understanding to see the true tragedy of the drug problem: that it is a health and welfare issue above all, rather than the crime problem that the Establishment in our society dictates it should be. As an ex-cop who has believed in drug legalisation, combined with harm-minimisation strategies, for a very long time, these accounts of the dead women so strongly underscore taking a radically different approach to drugs in our society. If drugs had been legally available to these women, many of them would not have been street-based sex workers, and therefore many of them would probably still be alive, enjoying their families and friends and a much better life. There is a very sad irony here: the conservative forces, usually male-dominated, which control Australian society and create the moral taboo around sex work (despite so many of them being customers of the industry), are also the same forces who insist on prohibition of drugs (some of them are major beneficiaries of the drug trade, too). And the authors here manage to capture the hypocrisy of those in power with the corrupt links between police, politicians and the sex industry.
On a final note, there was an added poignancy for me with this book: one of the murdered girls, Clare Garabedian, was a street-based sex worker in Perth when I was working vice there in the late 90s. I met Clare several times, another very young, drug-addicted human tragedy; someone whose life could potentially have been so different.
I can't recommend this book enough. All credit to the authors for their delivery: they have illustrated all the brutal and tragic aspects of these 65 cases, made many valid points of social commentary, highlighted all the hypocrisy and failings in our society, and yet none of these aspects have been overplayed. The lingering effect of this book for me is the sheer humanity of it - this book is about many themes, but overwhelmingly it is about 65 people, women and girls who tragically are no longer with us.
ABP
I got on to this title from chatting with one of the authors, Ruth Wykes, for one of her current book projects. Combined with my last year and a half as a detective being in the Vice Squad, the subject of murdered sex workers was immediately of interest to me.
This book is simply excellent. It is horrendous to read of one murder after another of these women, generally street-based sex workers and therefore some of the very most vulnerable women in society. The authors, Kylie Fox and Ruth Wykes, tackle this difficult subject with skill, writing in an informative and objective way, but displaying great compassion. A book like this, in less adept writing hands, could all too easily become a feminist-style polemic, but Fox and Wykes avoid this pitfall, and instead deliver a very readable, although incredibly sad, collection of accounts of the lives and brutal deaths of 65 sex workers around Australia since the 1970s. The appalling violence in these deaths, almost exclusively perpetrated by males, is spelled out, as it should be to illustrate its horror. The fact that only about half of these murders have ever been solved is also highlighted, with the point being clearly made that society as a whole, and the media and the cops in particular, often regard the lives of sex workers as somehow less valuable than other people. This, of course, is the central tragedy in the lives of these women and girls. Along with the perils of drug addiction, which walk hand-in-hand with sex work for many. Fox and Wykes have the breadth of understanding to see the true tragedy of the drug problem: that it is a health and welfare issue above all, rather than the crime problem that the Establishment in our society dictates it should be. As an ex-cop who has believed in drug legalisation, combined with harm-minimisation strategies, for a very long time, these accounts of the dead women so strongly underscore taking a radically different approach to drugs in our society. If drugs had been legally available to these women, many of them would not have been street-based sex workers, and therefore many of them would probably still be alive, enjoying their families and friends and a much better life. There is a very sad irony here: the conservative forces, usually male-dominated, which control Australian society and create the moral taboo around sex work (despite so many of them being customers of the industry), are also the same forces who insist on prohibition of drugs (some of them are major beneficiaries of the drug trade, too). And the authors here manage to capture the hypocrisy of those in power with the corrupt links between police, politicians and the sex industry.
On a final note, there was an added poignancy for me with this book: one of the murdered girls, Clare Garabedian, was a street-based sex worker in Perth when I was working vice there in the late 90s. I met Clare several times, another very young, drug-addicted human tragedy; someone whose life could potentially have been so different.
I can't recommend this book enough. All credit to the authors for their delivery: they have illustrated all the brutal and tragic aspects of these 65 cases, made many valid points of social commentary, highlighted all the hypocrisy and failings in our society, and yet none of these aspects have been overplayed. The lingering effect of this book for me is the sheer humanity of it - this book is about many themes, but overwhelmingly it is about 65 people, women and girls who tragically are no longer with us.
ABP
February 18, 2016
I saw this in the airport's best seller list and felt a bit ill. What is it about the murder of sex workers that fascinates readers so?
When it later landed on my desk, I felt compelled to read it. I feel like the authors had a good intention, and tried to present a solid case for sex workers to be valued as equal to other human beings. However as I moved through the book I found the multiple writers annoying and very disjointed. I particularly hated the sections that ventured into stereotypical true crime prose.
Some parts of the book were thoughtful. I was pleased to see the authors discuss the media construction of Mayang Prasetyo who was killed at home by her partner, but discussed in the Courier Mail as a 'she-male prostitute'. Other parts of the book I hated - for example, the reasons and feelings about being a street-based sex worker are likely as many and varied as there are street-based sex workers, and too often in the book they were lumped together as all hating their jobs.
Overall it's probably useful in showing the level of unsolved crimes against sex workers in Australia. I was also sad about how few of the names I remembered, as most of these murders took place during my life time. Hopefully that makes you as mad as it made me, because all women are equally important.
When it later landed on my desk, I felt compelled to read it. I feel like the authors had a good intention, and tried to present a solid case for sex workers to be valued as equal to other human beings. However as I moved through the book I found the multiple writers annoying and very disjointed. I particularly hated the sections that ventured into stereotypical true crime prose.
Some parts of the book were thoughtful. I was pleased to see the authors discuss the media construction of Mayang Prasetyo who was killed at home by her partner, but discussed in the Courier Mail as a 'she-male prostitute'. Other parts of the book I hated - for example, the reasons and feelings about being a street-based sex worker are likely as many and varied as there are street-based sex workers, and too often in the book they were lumped together as all hating their jobs.
Overall it's probably useful in showing the level of unsolved crimes against sex workers in Australia. I was also sad about how few of the names I remembered, as most of these murders took place during my life time. Hopefully that makes you as mad as it made me, because all women are equally important.
March 2, 2016
In a way, this book frustrated me because there were few conclusions and in most cases hardly any information on the crimes at all. And yet, that may be what served to make it such a humbling and thought-provoking read. Why wasn't there more information about these murders? Why did it matter what the victims occupation was? And why did that effect the outcome?
I must admit that I was guilty of jumping to conclusions as well - if a prostitute was the victim of a crime, I would think 'well, they knew what they were getting themselves into'. And to a certain extent, that may still be true. But by saying that they knew the risks, am I not then excusing their killer? Am I not then adding to the stereotype that allows this kind of behaviour to continue? I'm ashamed to say that I was, but I will put more thought into my reactions in the future.
I hope a lot of people read this book and consider the impact that one seemingly innocous comment can make.
I must admit that I was guilty of jumping to conclusions as well - if a prostitute was the victim of a crime, I would think 'well, they knew what they were getting themselves into'. And to a certain extent, that may still be true. But by saying that they knew the risks, am I not then excusing their killer? Am I not then adding to the stereotype that allows this kind of behaviour to continue? I'm ashamed to say that I was, but I will put more thought into my reactions in the future.
I hope a lot of people read this book and consider the impact that one seemingly innocous comment can make.
February 27, 2016
This book was amazing, although very upsetting to read about their deaths, may all the victims rest in peace.
September 19, 2016
Outstanding . I loved the way you were short and straight to the point on each case. Well written.
January 31, 2019
Heartbreaking.
November 7, 2019
I've learnt so much. I feel so much.
Out of 65 cases reported in this book, only one case was a murder committed by women and those women knew their victim.
Australian crime statistics say you are 6 times more likely to be killed by a man than a woman, no matter your sex. However, out of all victims murdered in Australia, 64% are male.
We speak too much about the murderers and their lives. What about their victims? 'Sex-worker' is a job title. It's about time we look at the real issue - the stigma that pretends these people are of less value.
I do feel that maybe the authors did get carried away filling in some of the gaps, which lessened the authenticity for me. Nevertheless, these are stories that need to be told.
Out of 65 cases reported in this book, only one case was a murder committed by women and those women knew their victim.
Australian crime statistics say you are 6 times more likely to be killed by a man than a woman, no matter your sex. However, out of all victims murdered in Australia, 64% are male.
We speak too much about the murderers and their lives. What about their victims? 'Sex-worker' is a job title. It's about time we look at the real issue - the stigma that pretends these people are of less value.
I do feel that maybe the authors did get carried away filling in some of the gaps, which lessened the authenticity for me. Nevertheless, these are stories that need to be told.
June 16, 2025
If I said that a woman had been brutally murdered while at work, you would feel sad and maybe even angry for her. But if said that the woman's job title was sex worker, feelings towards her often change. Sometimes it's a relief that it could never happen to us because we don't put ourselves in that situation. Sometimes it's disdain, she was a drug user and prostitute and she deserved it. The reality is, these women are mothers, daughters, and friends. They may have fallen on tough times leading them to the streets. Often there are mental health issues involved. But NO ONE deserves to be murdered, especially when trying to earn a living.
Invisible Women is a confronting nonfiction read that gives us a glimpse into the lives and often horrific deaths of sex workers.
Invisible Women is a confronting nonfiction read that gives us a glimpse into the lives and often horrific deaths of sex workers.
August 30, 2017
Some of the chapters are too brief to have much substance, but the longer real life stories are sobering and a good reminder that these "prostitutes" and "drug addicts" were women with lives and families and friends too. Not that you should really need a book to tell you that, but the authors make a good point that their deaths often they get brushed off in the media as most can't relate to them or feel safe they could never put themselves at risk like these women do.
Not exactly enjoyable reading material, but I get what the intention was with this, and it mostly works.
Not exactly enjoyable reading material, but I get what the intention was with this, and it mostly works.
August 26, 2020
Amazing true crime tales of the horror, prejudice and treatment of Sex workers in Australia.
February 2, 2016
This is a very important book. I applaud the authors for taking on this mammoth task and I commend them for doing something that, to the best of my knowledge, has not been done before - at least not in Australia.
All too often when the murder of a sex worker is reported in the popular media, she will be referred to as a hooker, whore, street worker, druggie or worse. And look out if she is transgender! In fact, the murder of a former prostitute (who happened to be transgender) by her chef boyfriend, drew the tasteless headline 'Monster Chef and the She- Male'.
Despite protestations by police it appears to the general public that the murder of a sex worker commands only a fraction of the resources that the murder of someone like Jill Meagher does. And I mean no disrespect at all to Jill Meagher when I say that. I am simply pointing out that there exists a dichotomy in the way that murder cases of women can be investigated by police and viewed by the public.
The only way that I would 'fault ' this book is by sayingthat it would have been nice to see photos of some of the women included. Not crime scene photos but just simple shots taken by the people who knew them best. I understand that these may have been very difficult to come by in some cases, however.
If you have an interest in criminal justice, true crime or social justice, do read this book. Although the subject matter is depressing and disturbing, it is a quick read and these women deserve to have their names and stories more widely known. They are all someone's daughters and very often someone's sister, mother or loved one.
All too often when the murder of a sex worker is reported in the popular media, she will be referred to as a hooker, whore, street worker, druggie or worse. And look out if she is transgender! In fact, the murder of a former prostitute (who happened to be transgender) by her chef boyfriend, drew the tasteless headline 'Monster Chef and the She- Male'.
Despite protestations by police it appears to the general public that the murder of a sex worker commands only a fraction of the resources that the murder of someone like Jill Meagher does. And I mean no disrespect at all to Jill Meagher when I say that. I am simply pointing out that there exists a dichotomy in the way that murder cases of women can be investigated by police and viewed by the public.
The only way that I would 'fault ' this book is by sayingthat it would have been nice to see photos of some of the women included. Not crime scene photos but just simple shots taken by the people who knew them best. I understand that these may have been very difficult to come by in some cases, however.
If you have an interest in criminal justice, true crime or social justice, do read this book. Although the subject matter is depressing and disturbing, it is a quick read and these women deserve to have their names and stories more widely known. They are all someone's daughters and very often someone's sister, mother or loved one.
August 19, 2016
When news of a murder hits the headlines, the public sit up and take notice. Or so you would assume. Apparently this is not the case for murdered sex workers, however. Invisible Women tells the stories of these women. While their occupation may be seen as unsavoury by society in general, this should not mean that we are any less horrified by their violent deaths - yet it seems that we are.
Society generally perceives sex workers as nameless and faceless. We do not consider that these women are somebody's daughter, sister, aunt or mother and that their deaths involve the same kind of pain and loss as any murdered family member or friend. Invisible Women gives a voice to these women whose plight has been silenced by a lack of reporting, which then results in a lack of the kind of outrage that any murder should evoke.
Invisible Women challenged my thinking on this subject. Reading each of the stories brought home that remaining silent about this unpleasant topic allows killers to remain at large because we are not demanding that they be brought to justice. If murder is murder, why should it matter what the victims's occupation is? With the recent focus on stopping violence against women, this book serves to remind us that there is still a very long way to go to make this idea a reality.
Although a sad and confronting read, Invisible Women is compelling and very thought provoking. Well done to the authors for honouring the memory of the numerous victims within its pages.
Society generally perceives sex workers as nameless and faceless. We do not consider that these women are somebody's daughter, sister, aunt or mother and that their deaths involve the same kind of pain and loss as any murdered family member or friend. Invisible Women gives a voice to these women whose plight has been silenced by a lack of reporting, which then results in a lack of the kind of outrage that any murder should evoke.
Invisible Women challenged my thinking on this subject. Reading each of the stories brought home that remaining silent about this unpleasant topic allows killers to remain at large because we are not demanding that they be brought to justice. If murder is murder, why should it matter what the victims's occupation is? With the recent focus on stopping violence against women, this book serves to remind us that there is still a very long way to go to make this idea a reality.
Although a sad and confronting read, Invisible Women is compelling and very thought provoking. Well done to the authors for honouring the memory of the numerous victims within its pages.
January 10, 2018
Fantastic, one of my favourite books for its simplicity and the message it delivers, each chapter recalls the disappearance, or the murder of Australian sex workers. Giving these women a voice, some chapters range from a couple of pages long to just a few sentences, so you can read it at your own pace. This book would also be very helpful from a researchers point of view as it is very informative of the lives of these women and the attitudes of the Australian Police towards solving these cases.
February 24, 2016
Could not put down! Such a well thought out , well researched insight into an often overlooked demographic. The albeit 'underbelly' of a female society and the predators who thrive on their helplessness.
Fantastic collaboration by these two Kylie and Ruth giving voice to those who may otherwise have none.
Eye opening, confronting and humbling. A must read.
Fantastic collaboration by these two Kylie and Ruth giving voice to those who may otherwise have none.
Eye opening, confronting and humbling. A must read.
December 22, 2018
I usually struggle to read non-fiction, but I couldn't stop reading this book. This story is a must-read for everyone. It forces us to turn inward and ask: why do we care about the deaths of some women but not others? Confronting, terrifying and educational.
February 18, 2016
Confronting, inspiring and fascinating! Thanks for being these ladies back to life albeit it briefly... Amazing that so many are unsolved and written off. Well done ladies
April 30, 2016
Powerful, sad and thought-provoking.
June 30, 2016
This book does a wonderful service to a large number of forgotten women, murdered in the course of their work in the sex industry.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews