Blue Murder at the Pink Parrot

A new heroine with the sleuthing ability of Miss Marple and a smart way with a whip unwittingly finds herself searching for the culprit in a murder mystery—a task made difficult by her inability to resist drink, drugs, or kinky men

"I am a woman who beats up men for a living. I can run for a taxi in 5" heels. I can endure the privations of the tightest corsetry for twelve hour stretches. I have sat on the chest of a 6' 5" rugby prop forward and slapped his face until he cried (he was a very naughty boy). I really wasn't going to take shit from this uptight young lady."

JJ, an artist and professional dominatrix, comes into the possession of pornographic pictures of a local thug after a disastrous date with a man who died under suspicious circumstances. It seems that both were involved in making pornographic films with Angell Falls and JJ's transvestite ex-husband, Tamara. The only common link seems to be the notorious Pink Parrot night club on the Sussex coast—the haunt of all lovers of kink, who make full use of the dungeon playroom and private booths. Trying to steer clear of alcohol and other less socially acceptable drugs, JJ finds herself falling off the wagon time after time and landing herself in ever deeper mischief. As the body count mounts, JJ's own life is threatened as she gets closer to the truth—a truth made more complex by her sexual infatuation with Max, an enigmatic and kinky sax player.

Ruth Ramsden is an artist and illustrator who copublished, with her husband, a fetish-inspired deck of tarot cards, some of which are featured in the book.