The Stripping Dick Is Back

Australia's most colourful private detective, Simone Kirsch returns in Leigh Redhead's 3rd detective thriller, Cherry Pie. (publisher: Allen & Unwin).

Once again Kirsch throws herself into her work with alacrity and what she lacks in experience she makes up with street smarts and plenty of front. I'm only half-way through the book to this point and so far it has raced along at an incredible rate with a missing person providing initial impetus that promises to blossom into a much more devious and complex thriller.

A detective thriller with a bit of a difference is what you're in for here and Simone Kirsch sits very comfortably among more widely known characters like Carlotta Carlyle, V.I. Warshawski and Tess Monaghan.

My advice to you is, if you haven't read Peepshow and Rubdown yet, do so and you'll be well primed for Cherry Pie.

My further advice -- and this is purely for your own research purposes -- visit your local strip joint and familiarise yourself with G-strings and pasties.