Try free for 30 days

1 credit a month to use on any title, yours to keep (you’ll use your first credit on this title).
Stream or download thousands of included titles.
Access to exclusive deals and discounts.
$16.45 a month after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.
The Boy in the Dress cover art

The Boy in the Dress

By: Jonathan Butler
Narrated by: John Robertson
Try for $0.00

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $21.99

Buy Now for $21.99

Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.

Publisher's Summary

On a balmy Townsville night in 1944, young serviceman Warwick Meale is found beaten to death under a bridge.

The army and police do not, or will not, conduct a proper investigation and history forgets the killer - until now. Nearly 80 years on, Warwick's descendant Jonathan Butler dusts off the case and chases the leads that were there all along.

The Boy in the Dress exhumes secrets of life on the home front during World War II, where tensions between soldiers boiled over, new expressions of sexuality flourished and the threat of invasion catapulted the status quo into disarray.

The truth of this family legend, and this little-known chapter in Australian military history, is more complex and engrossing than anyone could have imagined.

©2022 Jonathan Butler (P)2022 W F Howes

More from the same

What listeners say about The Boy in the Dress

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    14
  • 4 Stars
    2
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    15
  • 4 Stars
    2
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    14
  • 4 Stars
    2
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Ambient

It's difficult reviewing this book, because there were some really important concepts and historic information.

It was a little clumsy at times, other times I felt it was pieced together really skilfully.

I liked the author dipping into his own life and his journey to "Gay Pride", but my husband felt it was unwarranted, and distracted from the narrative.

Not sure if I would recommend this. It would have to be in some way relevant to the person perhaps.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A great story that needed to be told

From the very beginning I was captivated by the story of Warwick and what happened to him during his time in the Australian army. The research that Jonathan did was thorough and detailed, and I love the way he intertwined his own story in to the book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable.

A look back in time, history, murders, sexualilty, who did it, wartime, coming out, family.. set in Australia.. it has it all. Well written and the narrated. Recommended.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The importance of telling peoples stories.

This is an extremely important price of work.
The power of stories can mean life to future generations.
Thank you to the author for his persistent research over so many years and his vulnerability.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.