Mehmet Murat Somer
The Gigolo Murder
Copyright © Mehmet Murat Somer, 2003
Translation copyright © Kenneth James Dakan, 2009
Originally published in Turkish under the title Jigolo Cinayeti.
Cast of Characters
Ali Money-counter Ali; freelance computing employer
Ponpon Drag queen, close friend
Sofya Former mentor, current archenemy
Huseyin Taxi driver, admirer
Kemal Barutcu (Cihad2000) Fellow hacker, confined to wheelchair
Selcuk Taylanc Police bureau chief
Refik Alt?n Gay poet
Cuneyt Club bodyguard
Hasan Club waiter
Osman Club DJ
Sukru Club bartender
Volkan Sar?dogan The late gigolo
Okan Sar?dogan Volkan’s brother, a junkie
Ziya Goktas Volkan’s uncle and former lover
Haluk Pekerdem Handsome lawyer
Canan Hanoglu Pekerdem Haluk’s wife
Faruk Hanoglu Loan shark, Canan’s stepbrother
Nimet Hanoglu Faruk’s wife
Sami Faruk’s business partner
The Girls at the Club
Afet
Aylin
Dump Truck Beyza
Cise
Hairy Demet
Blackbrow Lulu
Mehtap
Melisa
Nalan
Shrewish Pamir
Glossary
abi elder brother
abla elder sister
aman oh! ah! mercy! for goodness sake!
ayol/ay exclamation favoured by women; well!
ayran drink made of yogurt and water
bey sir; used with first name, Mr.
borek a flaky, filled pastry
dolma cooked stuffed vegetables
durum sandwich wrap
efendi gentleman, master
efendim Yes. (answer to call). I beg your pardon?
estagfurallah phrase used in reply to an expression of thanks, exaggerated praise, or self-criticism
fatiha the opening chapter of the Quran
gecmis olsun expression of sympathy for a person who has had or is having an illness or misfortune
hac? hadji, pilgrim to Mecca
han?m lady; used with first name, Mrs., Miss.
hoca hodja, Muslim teacher
ibne faggot (derogatory)
insallah if God wills; hopefully
kandil one of four Islamic feast nights
kilim flat-weave carpet
lokum Turkish delight
masallah what wonders God has willed; used to express admiration
mevlit a religious meeting held in memory of a dead person
meyhane Turkish taverna
meze appetizers, traditionally accompany drinking
namaz ritual worship, prayer
oglanc? pederast, not necessarily considered “gay” in Western sense
pestemal waist cloth worn at a Turkish bath
pogaca flaky pastry
rak? raki, an anise-flavored spirit
sen you, second person singular; used in familiar address
siz you, second person plural; used in formal address
teyze aunt; used to address older women
vallahi by God; I swear it is so
When I’m good, I’m very good.
But when I’m bad, I’m better.
– MAE WEST
