Something's gone seriously wrong in Istanbul - a killer is on the loose, and transvestites are being murdered, the modus operandi becoming increasingly bizarre with each death. Our protagonist - fellow transvestite, nightclub owner and glamour puss extraordinaire downs her lipstick and ups the ante in the search for the religious nut. Not an easy task with the pressures of everyday life - investigations have to be slotted in between leg and chest waxes and rotating lovers. Luckily she's the perfect investigator: she knows everyone on the scene, her maitre d' is the biggest gossip in town, her web skills are rivaled only by the most nerdy computer geek and she's very, very persistent. As the killings accelerate, our girl struggles against the odds in her pursuit - after all, everyone knows that running in stilettos and a black leather cat-suit is hell ! Can she end the slaughter without breaking a nail?

From Publishers Weekly

Set in modern Istanbul and narrated by a nameless transvestite, this first in Somer's Hop-Çiki-Yaya series is a strange blend of blithe and bloody, more about atmosphere than the mystery itself. A serial killer is murdering transvestites, and the narrator, who kick-boxes for fun and owns part of a nightclub, decides to investigate when police commissioner Selçuk Tanyer and his staff are unable to solve the killings. Cute dialogue and breezy descriptions undercut the seriousness of the crimes, even as the author strives to make a statement about Turkey's treatment of the transvestite community. While the resolution may be pat and the more graphic elements unsettling, the interesting narrator and exotic elements of Turkish culture will appeal to many readers. (Sept.)
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From Booklist

Translated from Turkish, this intriguing first novel is set almost entirely within the transvestite community of modern-day Istanbul. Our unnamed protagonist, a leading member of her community, owner of a nightclub, and a computer-security specialist, becomes concerned about the safety of her girls when they start dying seemingly accidental deaths. It is only when she makes the connection between the girls’ original male names (all prophets) and the manner of their deaths (also biblical) that she concludes a transvestite serial killer is on the loose. The police are skeptical but do eventually help out, sharing information from their investigations, but the narrator learns more using her Internet connections and natural flair for investigation. The engaging story moves along quickly and smoothly, leading to an exciting (and dangerous) climax in which the killer is confronted. Recommended for larger mystery collections and for all GLBTQ collections (for its in-depth view of life in a transvestite community). --Jessica Moyer