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Simone Kirsch #4
Thrill City
Smart, sexy, and strong-minded Simone Kirsch, ex-stripper and PI, returns in her fourth adventure, and she's up to her neck in lethal fun and games on the writers' festival circuit Bad girl sleuth Simone Kirsch is back in business—and before she has time to crack a bottle of cheap champagne to celebrate the opening of her very own detective agency, she's back in danger. It all starts off quite innocently, when bestselling crime novelist Nick Austin wants to follow her around for a few days as background research for his next novel. But the day after he, his ex-wife, and her new lover all appear on the same panel at a writers festival, his ex-wife is found brutally murdered and Nick disappears, leaving Simone with more trouble than she can handle. While she can take murderous bikers, desperate publishers, poetry slams, and a crystal meth–addicted psycho killer with literary ambitions in stride, Simone is also juggling her very pregnant and possibly hormonally unbalanced best friend, Chloe; her ongoing attraction to ex-cop Alex; and her boyfriend, Sean, who wants her to give up her agency and move to Vietnam. All in all, life is complicated—not to mention the fact that she's facing the toughest, most dangerous case of her career.
438 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
8 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Leigh Redhead
11 books34 followersLeigh Redhead, born 18 November 1971, in Adelaide, South Australia is an Australian mystery writer.
She is best known as the creator of the character Simone Kirsch, a stripper who leaves the sex industry to become a private investigator. Redhead drew upon her own experiences as a stripper in creating the character.
She is best known as the creator of the character Simone Kirsch, a stripper who leaves the sex industry to become a private investigator. Redhead drew upon her own experiences as a stripper in creating the character.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 14, 2023
So happy to be done with this series. Call me old-fashioned, but I much prefer my crime without the generous serving of porn thank you.
The only reason I read this 4th installment is because I got them free. I have some weird affliction that means I can't donate books until I've read them.
So, here we go again with thePorn Star Detective stripper-turned-private-eye. Simone is still reeling from events of the past few books (details which I've happily forgotten) but somehow still finds herself instantly entangled with the accused murderer of a writer. Chaos (and kinky sexual encounters) ensues.
Can you tell that I have no time for this drama queen? There is such an obsession on how she used to be a stripper, she's so good looking she gets bugged constantly, she loves wild sex and loves to talk about how she's out of the stripping game but gosh she REALLY misses it. If only an occasion would arise in which she could put her sexual talents to good use. (Can you hear my eyes rolling)
Meanwhile there's an actual crime of an incredibly brutal nature that's taken place but she's upset because her mum is mad at her??
But the actual mystery was still interesting enough for me to not give up completely. There is a murder, and lots of dramatic scenes between writers, and mostly I just wanted to know what the eff was going on.
There's actually so much going on in this one that it was hard to keep track of. Like, one minute she's investigating all this stuff and the next she's taking a few hours to go shopping? I could not get a grasp on the emotion of this story because it bounced between 'I'm so frightened I might pee myself' and 'weee partying and drinking and sexy sex'. My god. What a mess. I couldn't bring all the threads together and part of my putting up with everything was to get the nice cohesive storyline from the big conclusion.
As additional fuel to my ire, there's an excess of information on what everyone is wearing at all times and I could not give one single crap.
But then, the Melbourne setting is cool because I know these places.
Overall, another disaster which just didn't make a lot of sense to me and is packed with cringey moments. If you're a 'PUSSY POWER!!' kinda feminist you'll probably eat it up (excuse the pun) but this is just not my kinda thing at all. Very happy to be done with this series.
The only reason I read this 4th installment is because I got them free. I have some weird affliction that means I can't donate books until I've read them.
So, here we go again with the
Can you tell that I have no time for this drama queen? There is such an obsession on how she used to be a stripper, she's so good looking she gets bugged constantly, she loves wild sex and loves to talk about how she's out of the stripping game but gosh she REALLY misses it. If only an occasion would arise in which she could put her sexual talents to good use. (Can you hear my eyes rolling)
Meanwhile there's an actual crime of an incredibly brutal nature that's taken place but she's upset because her mum is mad at her??
But the actual mystery was still interesting enough for me to not give up completely. There is a murder, and lots of dramatic scenes between writers, and mostly I just wanted to know what the eff was going on.
There's actually so much going on in this one that it was hard to keep track of. Like, one minute she's investigating all this stuff and the next she's taking a few hours to go shopping? I could not get a grasp on the emotion of this story because it bounced between 'I'm so frightened I might pee myself' and 'weee partying and drinking and sexy sex'. My god. What a mess. I couldn't bring all the threads together and part of my putting up with everything was to get the nice cohesive storyline from the big conclusion.
As additional fuel to my ire, there's an excess of information on what everyone is wearing at all times and I could not give one single crap.
But then, the Melbourne setting is cool because I know these places.
Overall, another disaster which just didn't make a lot of sense to me and is packed with cringey moments. If you're a 'PUSSY POWER!!' kinda feminist you'll probably eat it up (excuse the pun) but this is just not my kinda thing at all. Very happy to be done with this series.
June 1, 2010
THRILL CITY has arrived. The fourth Simone Kirsch book from Australian writer Leigh Redhead has been much anticipated by fans of this fantastic, Melbourne-based, stripper turned Private Investigator series.
Mind you, it's not just Simone that I was pleased to see back, but Chloe, Sean, Alex, Curtis, all the other strippers, the bars and the way that the streetscape comes alive. When bestselling crime author Nick Austin pays Simone to let him follow her on a few jobs - to get the feel of how a female PI works - that leads to a writers festival, a crime panel, a couple of well known "names" as no-shows and a confrontation between Nick, his ex-wife Isabella and the man she left Nick for - thriller writer and all-round action man type Rod Thurlow. Later, when Simone stumbles over Isabella's body, murdered in Nick's house where he is passed out upstairs, drunk, things become very very personal.
All the elements that fans of this series have come to expect are here. Chloe's pregnant, fabulous, and happily running her business providing strippers. Sean's back from Vietnam, gorgeous and very supportive. Alex is newly married, lurking on the edge of Simone's tempted eyeline, creating even more tension in her life. And if there's one thing that Simone doesn't need it's more tension in her life. Still vaguely chaotic, hanging onto her PI licence by the very tip of her fingernails, things are getting increasingly complicated. As if finding a dead body; losing a suspect; dealing with personal death threats and investigating where she is most definitely not welcome isn't enough, she's also trying to decide if she wants to move to Vietnam with Sean; decide if she's even got a long-term future with Sean at all and then there's Chloe's impending motherhood. Simone's extremely stressed out.
Added to the expected elements, however, there's also a sense that Redhead is really starting to hit her mark in this storytelling game. There is a sense of fun, a slightly tongue-in-cheek sense of humour, as well as the titillation and sheer entertainment from all the other books in THRILL CITY. What's particularly pleasing though is a more fully rounded, dare I say, confident and complicated (without being complex) plot in the mix as well. There is still a bit of rushing around, and don't be put off by the occasional feeling of impending fem-jep. Simone is never really in jeopardy, just temporarily short of a solution.
If you're not already aware of the Simone Kirsch series, then you could pick it up from THRILL CITY. There is the occasional back reference to events in CHERRY PIE, but not enough to throw a new reader to the series. And the best part of that is if you love THRILL CITY as much as I did, then you're very very lucky. There are 3 earlier books for you to track down. The rest of us are now patiently waiting for the next instalment. We fans don't really want much do we!
Mind you, it's not just Simone that I was pleased to see back, but Chloe, Sean, Alex, Curtis, all the other strippers, the bars and the way that the streetscape comes alive. When bestselling crime author Nick Austin pays Simone to let him follow her on a few jobs - to get the feel of how a female PI works - that leads to a writers festival, a crime panel, a couple of well known "names" as no-shows and a confrontation between Nick, his ex-wife Isabella and the man she left Nick for - thriller writer and all-round action man type Rod Thurlow. Later, when Simone stumbles over Isabella's body, murdered in Nick's house where he is passed out upstairs, drunk, things become very very personal.
All the elements that fans of this series have come to expect are here. Chloe's pregnant, fabulous, and happily running her business providing strippers. Sean's back from Vietnam, gorgeous and very supportive. Alex is newly married, lurking on the edge of Simone's tempted eyeline, creating even more tension in her life. And if there's one thing that Simone doesn't need it's more tension in her life. Still vaguely chaotic, hanging onto her PI licence by the very tip of her fingernails, things are getting increasingly complicated. As if finding a dead body; losing a suspect; dealing with personal death threats and investigating where she is most definitely not welcome isn't enough, she's also trying to decide if she wants to move to Vietnam with Sean; decide if she's even got a long-term future with Sean at all and then there's Chloe's impending motherhood. Simone's extremely stressed out.
Added to the expected elements, however, there's also a sense that Redhead is really starting to hit her mark in this storytelling game. There is a sense of fun, a slightly tongue-in-cheek sense of humour, as well as the titillation and sheer entertainment from all the other books in THRILL CITY. What's particularly pleasing though is a more fully rounded, dare I say, confident and complicated (without being complex) plot in the mix as well. There is still a bit of rushing around, and don't be put off by the occasional feeling of impending fem-jep. Simone is never really in jeopardy, just temporarily short of a solution.
If you're not already aware of the Simone Kirsch series, then you could pick it up from THRILL CITY. There is the occasional back reference to events in CHERRY PIE, but not enough to throw a new reader to the series. And the best part of that is if you love THRILL CITY as much as I did, then you're very very lucky. There are 3 earlier books for you to track down. The rest of us are now patiently waiting for the next instalment. We fans don't really want much do we!
October 29, 2012
Who knew a bunch of writers, a secret, and copious amounts of alcohol could lead to murder? In THRILL CITY this is exactly what recently deregistered PI Simone Kirsch finds herself up against. THRILL CITY as the name implies leads one to think of an almost Sin City-like setting, a metropolis where crime is commonplace, where the sewer dwellers scuttle across the sodden streets and the law is, as if not more, unlawful than their criminal opposites. However, what transpires in Redhead's fourth Simone Kirsch novel is far from the underworld inspired seedy escapades of the previous instalments. THRILL CITY reads more like popular fiction with a little bit of traditional Redhead thrown in to keep series and hardboiled/noir fans semi-satisfied.
Despite a ghoulish murder and hazy link to a bikie gang, THRILL CITY is mostly a story of Simone Kirsch and her trials and lack of tribulations that affect her personal and professional life. Her relationships with Sean and Alex are paramount to proceedings, as is best friend and sometimes sidekick, Chloe's impending child birth. The heavy character centric focus had a tendency to stray away from the plot and action - while not necessarily a bad thing, I was hoping for more of CHERRY PIE - a high octane story full of tension, twists, and hardboiled action.
The unassuming group of suspects was a deviation from the format which made PEEPSHOW, RUBDOWN, and CHERRY PIE so enjoyable. Deriving a murder mystery from blue collars linked by a book tour was always going to wash away the grime and lighten the darker mode of storytelling. Luckily there are moments of crime that put this book back on the path to darker fiction - if only to dip a toe or two. That said, THRILL CITY is crime fiction, more mainstream than I would've liked and a tad longer and padded than necessary but still a must for any fan of the series.
Despite a ghoulish murder and hazy link to a bikie gang, THRILL CITY is mostly a story of Simone Kirsch and her trials and lack of tribulations that affect her personal and professional life. Her relationships with Sean and Alex are paramount to proceedings, as is best friend and sometimes sidekick, Chloe's impending child birth. The heavy character centric focus had a tendency to stray away from the plot and action - while not necessarily a bad thing, I was hoping for more of CHERRY PIE - a high octane story full of tension, twists, and hardboiled action.
The unassuming group of suspects was a deviation from the format which made PEEPSHOW, RUBDOWN, and CHERRY PIE so enjoyable. Deriving a murder mystery from blue collars linked by a book tour was always going to wash away the grime and lighten the darker mode of storytelling. Luckily there are moments of crime that put this book back on the path to darker fiction - if only to dip a toe or two. That said, THRILL CITY is crime fiction, more mainstream than I would've liked and a tad longer and padded than necessary but still a must for any fan of the series.
November 11, 2013
I've really enjoyed the previous Simone Kirsch novels, and this is a good follow-up. Kirsch is fallible, foul-mouthed and funny, with a taste for champagne and some dodgy friends. She's also clever and stubborn, and can take quite a bit of damage without giving up. The wit, the bad-girl stuff, the daft friends and the danger are an excellent combination. I hope and trust there will be more Simone Kirsch stories.
June 5, 2013
Simone Kirsch has a foul mouth.
With her private investigator business up and running and her boyfriend Sean coming back from Vietnam, Simone's life is looking up. Until she meets writer Nick, who involuntarily drags her into another dangerous thrill ride. This was my least favourite of the four books in the series. Simone's search for a killer and Nick wasn't as fast-paced as previous investigations. I found it too stop and start. I loved Sean and was happy for see more of him in this book. Equally I was happy to see less of Alex, who gets on my nerves. Chloe is hilarious as ever.
And finally Simone, who I normally adore. Her foul language, alcohol and sex addiction and tendency for nearly getting herself killed are refreshing to read, but she irritated me in this book. Considering all her vices and pre-stripper days, if she has found a man who loves her, cooks for her, cleans her house, pays her rents, provides great sex on tap, and invites her to live abroad in Vietnam with him while finding her a cushy government job, you take him and never let him go! They have one fight and she lets him go? Friend tell her to call him and she dismisses the idea. Hopeless.
Also, I am aware of the nitty-gritty side to stripping but the 'beer show' was one of the most digusting things I've ever read.
I don't know if there will be more books, but if this is the end it was a terrible conclusion. Too many unanswered questions. Simone is now alone and broke, with a fledgling PI business still waiting. I would have liked something more definite.
I will miss this series, it's been a thrilling ride.
With her private investigator business up and running and her boyfriend Sean coming back from Vietnam, Simone's life is looking up. Until she meets writer Nick, who involuntarily drags her into another dangerous thrill ride. This was my least favourite of the four books in the series. Simone's search for a killer and Nick wasn't as fast-paced as previous investigations. I found it too stop and start. I loved Sean and was happy for see more of him in this book. Equally I was happy to see less of Alex, who gets on my nerves. Chloe is hilarious as ever.
And finally Simone, who I normally adore. Her foul language, alcohol and sex addiction and tendency for nearly getting herself killed are refreshing to read, but she irritated me in this book. Considering all her vices and pre-stripper days, if she has found a man who loves her, cooks for her, cleans her house, pays her rents, provides great sex on tap, and invites her to live abroad in Vietnam with him while finding her a cushy government job, you take him and never let him go! They have one fight and she lets him go? Friend tell her to call him and she dismisses the idea. Hopeless.
Also, I am aware of the nitty-gritty side to stripping but the 'beer show' was one of the most digusting things I've ever read.
I don't know if there will be more books, but if this is the end it was a terrible conclusion. Too many unanswered questions. Simone is now alone and broke, with a fledgling PI business still waiting. I would have liked something more definite.
I will miss this series, it's been a thrilling ride.
January 2, 2013
Another madcapped adventure for Simone. Always giving away bits and pieces of the puzzle, but never enough for you to work out exactly who is behind everything. A bit far fetched at times, but it's fiction right :) The only downside was that there was not enough Alex/Simone secual tension in this one!
May 11, 2011
I have thoroughly enjoyed the other Simone Kirsch books but this one I felt to be a bit of a slog to get through. I think it was mostly due to the pacing of the story as opposed to the story or writing itself. However, it is certainly a must read if you've read the other books in the series.
August 24, 2014
Simone Kirsch is a great gal! I hadn't read any of her previous books but Leigh Redhead has created a wonderful, imperfect, feisty character and I for one, want to read more about Simone's private eye adventures!
June 10, 2010
A little too long and not enough Alex!
October 24, 2019
So good. Want a thriller who's lead character has verve and pacing that is more like a rollercoaster ride? This is it. More Alex in the next one please!
March 11, 2012
One of the best Simone Kirsch books in a long time. Kept me guessing the whole time and loved every twist and turn! Can't wait for the next book!
May 1, 2012
I love a book that has local references. It makes me feel like a local. I'm not a huge fan of this genre but I thought this was fun and a lovely afternoon of escapism.
January 8, 2013
A cracker of a crime novel. I read Peepshow, this author's first novel years ago, this is twice as good.
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March 2, 2013It's good to read a novel where you know the places, the people, the culture. It's a good rollicking female detective novel and a fun read.
February 5, 2014
I'm not a prude by any means, but I really don't care how much and what type of drink my PIs drink or how much or what kind of sex they have.
February 28, 2015
Got this as soon as it was realised. Not as good as the others but still, a page-turner!! Will there be more?
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews