The Prophet Murders

For the first time I feel justified in writing "and now for something completely different". The Prophet Murders by Mehmet Murat Somer is set in Istanbul amongst what must be an extensive network of homosexuals and transvestites. Does this world really exist in Istanbul or is it the author's imagination? Having never visited Turkey I have no idea but it certainly makes an exotic background for what is, in fact, a fairly routine murder story. The narrator is part owner of a club where men go to pick up transvestites most of whom seem to work as prostitutes. As the story opens several of the "girls" from the club have died and all were originally mnamed after prophets from the Koran. The narrator does the detective work aided by some well placed friends and the identity of the killer is obvious from half way in. Nonetheless this is a very entertaining book with an excellent narrative flow due in no small part to the translation by Kenneth Dakan.