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Simone Kirsch #1
Strip - tease
Nom de scène : Vivien
La nuit : strip-teaseuse
Le jour : détective débutante
Signes particuliers : perspicace, obstinée et terriblement sexy...
Simone Kirsch rêve depuis toujours d'intégrer les forces de l'ordre, de porter un uniforme et d'aider son prochain. Elle est intelligente, vive et motivée, mais elle a un handicap majeur : elle gagne sa vie comme strip-teaseuse, ce qui n'aide pas à être prise au sérieux. En tant que détective privé, sa connaissance intime des milieux interlopes de Melbourne peut en revanche s'avérer un atout, et, son diplôme fraîchement décroché, elle se retrouve rapidement en charge d'une affaire dont elle se serait bien passée : sa meilleure amie a disparu. Strip-teaseuse également, Chloé est soupçonnée d'avoir assassiné son boss, et le frère de celui-ci menace de la tuer si Simone ne retrouve pas le vrai coupable.
Infiltrer le Red Room , ce célèbre club où travaillait Chloé, ne pose aucun problème à notre héroïne sexy et intrépide, et elle connaît les flics véreux de la ville sur le bout des doigts. C'est plutôt son cœur – ou une autre partie de son anatomie ? – qui pourrait lui jouer des tours...
Une plongée vertigineuse et réaliste dans un milieu aussi exotique que dangereux, sur les traces d'une héroïne irrésistible.
La nuit : strip-teaseuse
Le jour : détective débutante
Signes particuliers : perspicace, obstinée et terriblement sexy...
Simone Kirsch rêve depuis toujours d'intégrer les forces de l'ordre, de porter un uniforme et d'aider son prochain. Elle est intelligente, vive et motivée, mais elle a un handicap majeur : elle gagne sa vie comme strip-teaseuse, ce qui n'aide pas à être prise au sérieux. En tant que détective privé, sa connaissance intime des milieux interlopes de Melbourne peut en revanche s'avérer un atout, et, son diplôme fraîchement décroché, elle se retrouve rapidement en charge d'une affaire dont elle se serait bien passée : sa meilleure amie a disparu. Strip-teaseuse également, Chloé est soupçonnée d'avoir assassiné son boss, et le frère de celui-ci menace de la tuer si Simone ne retrouve pas le vrai coupable.
Infiltrer le Red Room , ce célèbre club où travaillait Chloé, ne pose aucun problème à notre héroïne sexy et intrépide, et elle connaît les flics véreux de la ville sur le bout des doigts. C'est plutôt son cœur – ou une autre partie de son anatomie ? – qui pourrait lui jouer des tours...
Une plongée vertigineuse et réaliste dans un milieu aussi exotique que dangereux, sur les traces d'une héroïne irrésistible.
315 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
9 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
January 8, 2018
As a crime novel this is pretty rubbish but if you're into the kinky stuff this novel should please. I'm not, it makes me feel super awkward and uncomfortable, but I'm still going to review this as objectively as possible.
So our protagonist is a stripper who wants to be a spy. Not a book I would normally have picked up, but I won the first four books in the series (The entire series? Is there more than 4?) so I kinda had to read it eventually. Plus I was entertained by the fact that it's set in my home city of Melbourne, so it was pretty cool knowing the streets and locations mentioned. I do wonder how many of these x-rated places actually exist though? Like, when I wander through the city at night it's clusters of drunk teenagers, not prostitutes and druggies. Then again, this novel is set when cassette tapes were still a thing so who knows how sordid the streets were back then? But I digress.
So in case you had any illusions that this was going to be nice and light on the sex, the story opens with Simone flashing her privates at strangers, so if you're uncomfortable with graphic descriptions of sexual activities, I'd give this a miss. It does not let up throughout the whole novel. There's a rather thin plot about how she's gotta find a murderer to save her friend, but it's mostly a smokescreen so that she can go 'undercover' at a strip joint and do lots of kinky things for the sake of justice.
Now here's where I take the objective view and actually say kind things about the parts of the book I hated most. God help me, I feel like a virgin nun trying to commend a porno.
There's actually really great variety in terms of the kinky stuff. It pretty much covers everything. The scenes are written with careful detail and there's lots of colourful descriptions of the human anatomy. (I probably didn't need all the clothing details, though. I really don't care too much what people are wearing. Especially if it's off a page later.) There's a variety of characters that get involved and it's very comfortable about sexuality, which is heavily influenced by the character of Simone, who is completely unashamed of her profession. **I am NOT judging people in the sex industry in this review. I don't personally know anyone in the industry so my comments are a reflection on the characters in this novel.** I guess the reality is that people and professions in the sex industry are a real thing, and even though it's not to my tastes it must be quite freeing to celebrate one's sexuality and be comfortable in one's skin. There's still plenty of depravity, which I will never understand, but on the whole it gives quite a positive representation of the girls who do this kind of work.
That being said, there's like, a shit ton of drugs. This is a shady bunch of characters in a seedy setting, and they are all so incredibly comfortable with it. Simone binge-drinks her way through the entire novel, too. This novel represents the darker party scene, and if I go into my thoughts on that lifestyle this review is gonna get so long and preachy so allow me to just say that I'm against drugs so I pretty much despised most of the characters in this novel.
Simone herself was just ... ugh. I mean, she's so gung-ho about being a detective but she's had a PI license for two weeks and is actually rubbish at the job. She does very little aside from getting her kit off which is why this is such a terrible crime novel. But hey, at least the story is coherent, even if it's not particularly intelligent. I just didn't like Simone, because she's pretty preachy for a girl who is constantly showing off her bits and pieces to strangers. She messes up a lot and she's actually pretty slow, but hey, she's really great at taking her clothes off.
This novel really delves into the dark stuff: drugs, sex, murder, domestic violence, physical abuse, and all while very little solving-of-the-murder happens. There's a mention here and there but there's a pretty consistent pattern of sex, crime talk, sex, crime talk, sex, sex, crime talk. There are no redeemable characters, because they're either despicable, depraved men or drug addicts, or both.
God, it was just so dark.
So I guess if you're looking for a crime novel this is a pretty weak offering, and if you're looking for a nice variety of kinky stuff with a soft crime tone, this is perfect. There's also the novelty of it being set in Melbourne. I did read it pretty fast so it's got a great pace, and it does flow relatively logically.
Personally, I'd rate this one about two stars, but I'm adding a bonus star because if I was into the kinky I'd have been all over this. Now excuse me while I take and nice, hot shower and scrub away the shame from reading this much smut in a day.
So our protagonist is a stripper who wants to be a spy. Not a book I would normally have picked up, but I won the first four books in the series (The entire series? Is there more than 4?) so I kinda had to read it eventually. Plus I was entertained by the fact that it's set in my home city of Melbourne, so it was pretty cool knowing the streets and locations mentioned. I do wonder how many of these x-rated places actually exist though? Like, when I wander through the city at night it's clusters of drunk teenagers, not prostitutes and druggies. Then again, this novel is set when cassette tapes were still a thing so who knows how sordid the streets were back then? But I digress.
So in case you had any illusions that this was going to be nice and light on the sex, the story opens with Simone flashing her privates at strangers, so if you're uncomfortable with graphic descriptions of sexual activities, I'd give this a miss. It does not let up throughout the whole novel. There's a rather thin plot about how she's gotta find a murderer to save her friend, but it's mostly a smokescreen so that she can go 'undercover' at a strip joint and do lots of kinky things for the sake of justice.
Now here's where I take the objective view and actually say kind things about the parts of the book I hated most. God help me, I feel like a virgin nun trying to commend a porno.
There's actually really great variety in terms of the kinky stuff. It pretty much covers everything. The scenes are written with careful detail and there's lots of colourful descriptions of the human anatomy. (I probably didn't need all the clothing details, though. I really don't care too much what people are wearing. Especially if it's off a page later.) There's a variety of characters that get involved and it's very comfortable about sexuality, which is heavily influenced by the character of Simone, who is completely unashamed of her profession. **I am NOT judging people in the sex industry in this review. I don't personally know anyone in the industry so my comments are a reflection on the characters in this novel.** I guess the reality is that people and professions in the sex industry are a real thing, and even though it's not to my tastes it must be quite freeing to celebrate one's sexuality and be comfortable in one's skin. There's still plenty of depravity, which I will never understand, but on the whole it gives quite a positive representation of the girls who do this kind of work.
That being said, there's like, a shit ton of drugs. This is a shady bunch of characters in a seedy setting, and they are all so incredibly comfortable with it. Simone binge-drinks her way through the entire novel, too. This novel represents the darker party scene, and if I go into my thoughts on that lifestyle this review is gonna get so long and preachy so allow me to just say that I'm against drugs so I pretty much despised most of the characters in this novel.
Simone herself was just ... ugh. I mean, she's so gung-ho about being a detective but she's had a PI license for two weeks and is actually rubbish at the job. She does very little aside from getting her kit off which is why this is such a terrible crime novel. But hey, at least the story is coherent, even if it's not particularly intelligent. I just didn't like Simone, because she's pretty preachy for a girl who is constantly showing off her bits and pieces to strangers. She messes up a lot and she's actually pretty slow, but hey, she's really great at taking her clothes off.
This novel really delves into the dark stuff: drugs, sex, murder, domestic violence, physical abuse, and all while very little solving-of-the-murder happens. There's a mention here and there but there's a pretty consistent pattern of sex, crime talk, sex, crime talk, sex, sex, crime talk. There are no redeemable characters, because they're either despicable, depraved men or drug addicts, or both.
God, it was just so dark.
So I guess if you're looking for a crime novel this is a pretty weak offering, and if you're looking for a nice variety of kinky stuff with a soft crime tone, this is perfect. There's also the novelty of it being set in Melbourne. I did read it pretty fast so it's got a great pace, and it does flow relatively logically.
Personally, I'd rate this one about two stars, but I'm adding a bonus star because if I was into the kinky I'd have been all over this. Now excuse me while I take and nice, hot shower and scrub away the shame from reading this much smut in a day.
October 7, 2019
Love the Sassitude!
A fabulous read set in my hometown. I fell in love with Simone as the story unfolded. I will definitely purchase the sequels!
A fabulous read set in my hometown. I fell in love with Simone as the story unfolded. I will definitely purchase the sequels!
April 14, 2016
‘The tripper staggered out of the Palace nightclub into the bright hideousness of dawn.’
Simone Kirsch, twenty something, wanted to join the Victorian police force. But, because she’s worked as a stripper, the police force aren’t interested. So Simone goes to a security college and completes a course as a security agent. But just when her plan looks like working, her best friend and fellow stripper Chloe is kidnapped. Why? Well, Chloe works at Melbourne’s notorious Red Room. Francesco Parisi (the owner) is murdered, and certain people think that kidnapping Chloe will get Simone to find who killed him. Simone has two weeks to find the murderer, or Chloe will be killed. The police have not been able to find any clues about the murder, so what chance does Simone have?
Well, Simone Kirsch is not your average PI. She manages to get on the wrong side of Melbourne’s most corrupt cop, do some serious partying, find love (well, sex, anyway) and take the reader on an interesting trip through Melbourne’s adult clubs in search of a murderer and to try to save Chloe.
‘Peepshow’ is the first in a series to feature Simone Kirsch. I’ve read the second, and will start the third shortly. Simone Kirsch is an interesting character. There are plenty of hard-living male PI characters in the fictional world, but not many personable young females. Simone, I’m pleased to make your acquaintance. Thanks for broadening my world of escapist reading material.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Simone Kirsch, twenty something, wanted to join the Victorian police force. But, because she’s worked as a stripper, the police force aren’t interested. So Simone goes to a security college and completes a course as a security agent. But just when her plan looks like working, her best friend and fellow stripper Chloe is kidnapped. Why? Well, Chloe works at Melbourne’s notorious Red Room. Francesco Parisi (the owner) is murdered, and certain people think that kidnapping Chloe will get Simone to find who killed him. Simone has two weeks to find the murderer, or Chloe will be killed. The police have not been able to find any clues about the murder, so what chance does Simone have?
Well, Simone Kirsch is not your average PI. She manages to get on the wrong side of Melbourne’s most corrupt cop, do some serious partying, find love (well, sex, anyway) and take the reader on an interesting trip through Melbourne’s adult clubs in search of a murderer and to try to save Chloe.
‘Peepshow’ is the first in a series to feature Simone Kirsch. I’ve read the second, and will start the third shortly. Simone Kirsch is an interesting character. There are plenty of hard-living male PI characters in the fictional world, but not many personable young females. Simone, I’m pleased to make your acquaintance. Thanks for broadening my world of escapist reading material.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
January 31, 2016
In the late 90s/early 00s I read a whole bunch of tart noir tales involving sassy, smart female PIs who usually got themselves involved in dangerous, madcap adventures with a side-line in romantic/lustful romps. Peepshow fits neatly into the sub-genre, but with sex/sexy dial turned up to eleven. Leigh Redhead provides a vivid glimpse in the peepshow and stripping side of the sex industry, and leaves little to the imagination with respect to the sex life of her lead character, Simone Kirsch, a stripper turned private investigator. Simone’s task is to find the killer of a strip club owner under threat that her friend, Chloe, will die if she fails. Given that the police have failed to turn up any clues it’s a tall order. Thrown into the mix is a colourful set of strippers, a corrupt cop, a rockabilly band, two suitors – a guitarist and an undercover cop – and a lot of champagne and drugs. The result is quickly paced romp laced with plenty of humour. There’re not too many surprises in the telling, but the story is good explicit fun and sets up the series well. Simone Kirsch is certainly breaks the usual PI mould and I’m looking forward to her next case.
January 25, 2020
I have lost count how many times I have read this book, May be 20?
It is a favourite of mine since 2004. Being set in Australia made it an easy read as it's nice to be familiar with the slang, destinations and products used in a story.
I LOVE THIS SERIES. I love Simone as a character, and I found this book when I was branching into new territory with stories. I have recommended it to so many people, from a variety of backgrounds and they have all loved it.
Maybe not a helpful review for all, but of you looking for something that is fun, passionate and Aussie give this a go!
It is a favourite of mine since 2004. Being set in Australia made it an easy read as it's nice to be familiar with the slang, destinations and products used in a story.
I LOVE THIS SERIES. I love Simone as a character, and I found this book when I was branching into new territory with stories. I have recommended it to so many people, from a variety of backgrounds and they have all loved it.
Maybe not a helpful review for all, but of you looking for something that is fun, passionate and Aussie give this a go!
December 26, 2020
I first became aware of Leigh Redhead in an anthology of interviews with Australian crime writers called If I Tell You I'll Have To Kill You. I loved her wit & subsequently kept an eye out for one of her books. This is the first one I found, her first as well, & it introduces her stripper/private detective, Simone Kirsch. Delving into the seedier side of Melbourne, a landscape the author appears to know well, it is an enjoyable read that, unsurprisingly, contains humour amongst the chaos. Good fun.
November 4, 2020
Pretty average.
Only bought it and finished it because i had seen Leigh interviewed by Tara Moss and she did exude a certain je ne sais quoi.
Anyway no regrets but been there done that and won't be reading any more.
On the other hand, Leigh's doctorate 'Lost lonely and lurid: in search of Australian noir' does appeal!
Only bought it and finished it because i had seen Leigh interviewed by Tara Moss and she did exude a certain je ne sais quoi.
Anyway no regrets but been there done that and won't be reading any more.
On the other hand, Leigh's doctorate 'Lost lonely and lurid: in search of Australian noir' does appeal!
February 24, 2021
Leigh Redhead has created a good interesting character in Simone Kirsch. The second great character in this novel is Melbourne Victoria (Australia). For fans of Australian Crime, Sue Grafton and exotic dancing (optional).
September 25, 2024
A fun, quite explicit quick read. Following Simone in her roles as a stripper and a budding Private Eye we also meet her friends and others not so friendly. A bit of a romp and a lot courage led to a satisfying conclusion.
June 24, 2019
Excellent fast paced, humorous and perfectly captures the Australian vernacular.
September 8, 2019
Just a lot of fun tracking down the bad guys in the red light districts of Sydney Australia.
Great first up effort!
Great first up effort!
December 13, 2021
edgy but well written
Look, it's tough fun and a series worth reading. Liked the honesty and demystification. Strong main character that does things her background controls not the plot.
Look, it's tough fun and a series worth reading. Liked the honesty and demystification. Strong main character that does things her background controls not the plot.
September 13, 2016
Simone Kirsh (aka Vivien Leigh) has an interesting job history - ex prawn trawler hand and working as a stripper for starters. Simone is determined to change things though, so even as she's still working in peepshows and as a stripper she's finished her Private Investigator's Course; has her ID and she's working to get her best friend and fellow stripper Chloe out of a big lot of trouble. Francesco Parisi's been brutally killed and Simone find herself undercover at his table top dancing venue, The Red Room. She has to find out why the police think her friend Chloe killed Parisi and why his brother seems to be convinced that even if she didn't, Simone will work out who did because he is holding Chloe hostage. Now Simone can look after herself and despite having to deal with some seriously weird fellow strippers; corrupt cops and her own rather frantic attraction to rockabilly guitarists, she finds herself in some very sticky situations. Fans of series like Lauren Henderson's Sam Jones and even to some extent Liz Evan's Grace Smith books will find some similarities here. The story is a a big romp through the world of strippers, drugs and the Melbourne sex industry. There are some moments of high camp humour and some very steamy sex scenes. More sexually explicit than the comparison books and with frequent and detailed depictions of the drug scene, this was a good witty book which was very enjoyable.
June 1, 2011
In 'Peepshow' we're introduced to Simone Kirsch, a Melbourne stripper and budding private investigator whose first case is a little too close to home. Her best friend Chloe is held for ransom accused of murdering the boss of the strip club where she works. Knowing Chloe is innocent, Simone bargains with the kidnappers to enlist her to find who is responsible. Simone is sleek, lithe and cat women-esque in her search for the truth - a solid introduction to what should be an entertaining series. While shinning the spotlight some of the more risky professions in the adult industry, 'Peepshow' is quirky and funny, yet real and intense - 3.5 stars
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May 23, 2012Four stars. This was a very good read, a crime novel from a very interesting angle, by an author who knows. The protagonist is Simone Kirsh, who dances for men as Vivien, but also holds a PI licence. The reader learns a great deal about the unseen (by me anyway) world of the stripper, the seedy nightclubs, their clients and the services offered by the danders. In addition to the introduction to this world, the book also provides and excellent whodunnit, with the required number of twists and turns as well as the obligatory chase. Looking forward to reading the next one.
July 16, 2012
At some point I got my books mixed up and this wasn't the book I thought I was borrowing from the library. I realised this in the fourth paragraph of chapter one where the main character and narrator describes her job working in a peep show booth. Regardless of this I decided to continue reading and ended up enjoying the book. There was enough light humour to take the edge of the dark world where the story is set and it was easy to like many of the main characters.
A fun read. And I'm I little surprised my library has a copy.
A fun read. And I'm I little surprised my library has a copy.
February 9, 2013
I loved this book. It's the third time I've read it.
It takes me back to the time I lived in Melbourne & she talks about all the places that I used to visit (sans the strip clubs!).
I really like Simone as a character & Mick is totally hot. It's such an easy read. Perfect for a summer's day by the pool or beach for your holidays.
It takes me back to the time I lived in Melbourne & she talks about all the places that I used to visit (sans the strip clubs!).
I really like Simone as a character & Mick is totally hot. It's such an easy read. Perfect for a summer's day by the pool or beach for your holidays.
August 1, 2018
I enjoyed this book. My two favorite things are that its set in Australia, which is not a common enough thing in books and Leighs writing style is funny as hell. Although the plot did not really grip me and was a bit predictable. I always kept coming back for more laughs and experiencing the shenanigans of Simone.
February 28, 2015
The first in the Simone Kirsch series. Read this during the time when I realised I wanted to be a writer. I was inspired by Leigh's personal story. I thought, 'If she can become an author, so can I'!! She's written several books now. I've written several half books.
May 17, 2008
Leigh Redhead is one of my all time favorite authors. Her main character, Simone Kirsch, always brings a smile to my face.
February 4, 2016
Interesting Private Eye twist, with the protagonist experiences in the sex industry.
Learn something new every day!
Learn something new every day!
Read
August 4, 2011Allison made me read it.
June 22, 2012
Although better than I expected, I didn't find the plot very plausible. Still it was a light, fun read.
August 1, 2012
Nice start to a dirty little P.I. Series set in Australia. Dirty but good. Will definitely be checking out the next book in the series.
November 12, 2012
Refreshing, funny, easy to read crime. Looking forward to reading more about amateur detective Simone Kirsch.
December 19, 2015
A rollicking raunchy read. I loved it.
February 8, 2016
I wish I could like this. Writing is fine. If you are into sleaze, drugs and violence this is for you. Melbourne detail was not enough to redeem it.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews