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Bloodletting

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Punk rocker and sadomasochist Denny Bowie, a “legwork guy” for a private investigation firm, is out to find the killer of five masochistic men and his childhood friend, fetish photographer Tommy Heat. He gets back with Penny Dallion, the Goth-girl of his dreams, and is enthralled by the hot and androgynous Erin Marr, his new boyfriend. While investigating Tommy’s murder, Denny discovers pictures missing from Tommy’s meticulous collection. These photos not only hold the key to the killer’s identity, but may also prove Penny’s involvement in the murders.

Embroiled in New York’s vibrant S&M subculture, Denny revisits old haunts: fetish clubs in Greenwich Village. With the killer getting closer with each passing hour, Denny’s time is running out.

246 pages

First published December 21, 2014

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About the author

William D. Prystauk

9 books284 followers
I am an award-winning screenwriter, filmmaker, and educator, as well as a published poet and essayist.

My novel, BLOODLETTING, the first book in the "Kink Noir" series, has been adapted from my script of the same name, which took Second Place at the Screenwriters Showcase Screenplay Contest in 2006, and was the leading piece in the mystery category. In 2016, the novel won the Grand Jury Prize at the L.A. Noir Novel, Script, and Film Festival.

The sequels, PUNISHMENT and DEBAUCHERY both tied for the Best Book Award at the L.A. Noir Novel, Script, and Film Festival in 2020.

I am currently writing the fourth and fifth books in the series.

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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
Profile Image for Chase Hackett.
Author 2 books135 followers
November 30, 2022
A fun detective thriller, set in a New York underworld that I frankly hope doesn't really exist, where clubs cater to an extreme BDSM, way beyond spanking and safe words. As uncomfortable as I was with the milieu and lord-knows the sex scenes, there is a driving energy in the prose and the narrative that propels this story very much like the best of detective books.

c.t.h.

Profile Image for Gibson jilly.
7 reviews22 followers
September 27, 2016
Okay where to begin...I'm so excited!
I purchased the Kindle version of this book on December 24th 2014.
I got started reading and couldn't put it down. The innovative use of descriptive language put me on scene frame by frame, I truly felt like I was there taking it all in through my own eyes. The strong and vibrant characters cleverly and educationally introduced me to a world completely unknown before.
I found myself sitting up straight at times clutching my chest, holding my breath and grabbing my hair. This type of writing for me is exhilarating. I found myself pulling an all-nighter to finish the book in it's entirety, something which I haven't done since reading Stephen Kings Dark Half in 1988.
We are taken on an investigation of a series of brutal deaths in NYC with Private eye, Punk rocker and sadomasochist Denny Bowie. Deep within New York’s vibrant S&M subculture, Denny revisits places of his past: the fetish clubs in Greenwich Village to find the killer who’s taken the life of several men, including his best childhood friend,a well known Fetish photographer.
This is the best Erotic Crime Thriller I have ever had the pleasure of laying my eyes on.
A definite Recommended Read.
5 of 5 Stars.
Profile Image for M.M. Strawberry Library & Reviews.
4,076 reviews336 followers
July 28, 2017
I'm not into BDSM, but when offered the chance to read this book and reading the premise of it, i thought I'd expand my horizons. I was not disappointed. This is definitely not a book for the kiddies though, as it contains bit of graphic sex (nowhere enough to classify this book as erotica, though)

Someone is killing people, and it's up to the main character to find out why. The background of this story is plausible, though I think a couple of bits could have been done better. By the end, we know what is going on, at least basically. My only complaint is that I wish the author could have given the ending a bit more backstory, especially with Kiirin.

The BDSM elements were handled well IMHO and fit into the story. Overall an enjoyable read.
Profile Image for Ilp.
2 reviews
January 13, 2015
An exceptional private detective, Purely sadistic murders, Sex with no taboos: BLOODLETTING is a dark, grisly and carnal Gem. To be devoured urgently. ILP-iconelabelpictures
Profile Image for Tiffany Brown.
4 reviews
December 14, 2014
If Phillip Marlowe, Holden Caulfield and every manic pixie dream girl in literature had an orgy, the next morning among them you may find the beginnings of Denny Bowie, the unflinching and all too human, (not quite) anti-hero of "Bloodletting". There's an uneasiness that comes with reading this book, and that's part of it's brilliance, a magic that makes the reader feel almost too close to every character, able to look deeply but never actually touch. And you're going to want to touch, to reach out at the speed of the turning pages.

Author William D. Prystauk turns the hardboiled detective novel on its head and spins it into something grittier, more gripping and laced with BDSM sex all while serving up a top notch thriller with the twists and turns you'd expect from a great mystery, and quite a few that you won't see coming. Prepare to be scared, and seduced by the feverish pace, pitch perfect pauses and cattle prods forward.
Shelved as 'dnf'
April 18, 2015
I received this book in return for an honest review.

I'm sorry but I could NOT finish this book. No matter how much I honestly tried. I made it to 45%, and THAT took me about to month to get to. Bloodletting is not for the weak of heart and ... I think you have to have one hella strong stomach to finish this.
I sadly, didn't make the cut with that. This book made me sick to my stomach every few pages. And because I didn't finish it, I don't think I can really rate it. and if I did, I would give it one star. I'm not "oh this book is so horrible-blah-blah-blah." I'd give it a star because I couldn't finish it and it wasn't my cup of tea. I'm sure there are quite a few people out there who will love this book... I'm just not one of them.

Profile Image for N.T. Anderson.
Author 4 books7 followers
January 28, 2023
Ever read a book that's so good the final words leave you in disbelief with your mouth agape? This is exactly what you're getting with Bloodletting, the first book in William Prystauk's Kink Noir series.

You'll be instantly intrigued as Prystauk drops you into the story at the beginning of PI Denny Bowie's investigation. Entry level guy at the agency where he works in Chicago, Bowie travels back to his old territory in New York City to help solve a mystery and face the one who got away, Penny. A string of murders has already taken place, and all signs lead to a tie to the S&M sector, a group to which Bowie, his love interest, a now-deceased old friend, and multiple new acquaintances all have a connection. But as the main character follows the thin trail, more killings unfold, and the plot, as they say, thickens. Throughout, Bowie navigates his feelings for Penny, explores his fantasies, and reminisces about past events that are related to the present-day investigation.

Prystauk has created a finely tuned, thrilling mystery while also including tasteful S&M scenes, and the result is everything you could ever dream of from a story like this. It is a fast-paced, gripping book that is unpredictable, touching, suspenseful, sexy, vexing, curious, and even amusing - often all at the same time. As the crime unfolds, the author dots all the Is and crosses all the Ts that will keep you turning the page. In the end, he has delivered to you a fascinating story, complete with wit, charm, and imagination, all neatly wrapped up on a silver platter.

I HIGHLY recommend Bloodletting, and I can't wait to dive into Punishment, the next book in the intensely creative Kink Noir series.
Profile Image for B.J. Frazier.
Author 49 books83 followers
June 23, 2020
From the first few pages, the reader feels an immediate connection with Denny Bowie thanks to William D. Prystauk’s vivid writing. Rereading the opening sequence upon completion of the book solidifies the brilliance of Prystauk’s carefully crafted words.

While the writing is compelling from cover to cover, the story is dark... hence the title. It’s definitely not for the cringe-inclined. However, Prystauk doesn’t write for effect. Everything has a literary purpose.

Prystauk’s vivid writing is a movie screen for the reader, and the artists and song titles he drops are its soundtrack. Jeff Buckley has a new fan because of this book!

“Bloodletting” is an easy read. The reader gets to know the characters and discover clues along with Denny Bowie. Even if the elements that comprise this book are not mainstream, any reader will be able to appreciate its fluidity and attention to detail.

The story is central... even fading to black on a few sexual encounters in order to move the plot along.

Don’t read this on an empty stomach or with a closed mind. But do read it. Prystauk is a marvelous storyteller!

Highly recommended!
Profile Image for Love Bytes Reviews.
2,529 reviews36 followers
April 13, 2015
3.5 heart review by Roberta

This book was different than I expected. I figured that this was a great mystery/suspense novel with hits of romance and a bit of BDSM. That’s what I got!!

Denny Bowie…what can I say about him? Denny is such an interesting character. He is a young man in his late 20’s who has been working in a PI firm doing the background work. Denny wants to get ahead and work as an investigator and his friend, Penny gives him the chance of a lifetime. Denny really is a smart young man and as he gets deeper and deeper into this case…what he thought he knew and who he is…is different when put to the test.

Denny is a wonderful character that he’s true to his sadomasochistic side. He doesn’t have the hang ups that you see when someone is in the life. I like that you get to see how he has evolved into the person that he is in regards to his sex life. I like the honesty in which Denny portrays. I like that Denny has been friends with Penny all these years, even as they both have wanted to get together and yet, have not done so in order to not ruin their friendship. I like that kind of loyalty. I like that Denny is honest about his attraction to Erin. That he loves the more androgynous look and that he’s attraction to that doesn’t bother him. He’s ok with all of his quirks and that is really refreshing to see.

Now, there are BDSM elements in this story, yet that isn’t all that this is about. The BDSM lifestyle led by these people that are open and honest about what their needs are and getting them met. There are some scenes shown in the book and they are not for the faint of heart. I went in knowing that this is a mystery/suspense story and that it would probably show me some things that I had not anticipated. I really liked seeing that this story delved deeper into some of the BDSM style that you don’t see lots of. I was intrigued by the way in which these characters had these needs and found ways and people to have them met.

The mystery/suspense that this story had going on was…AMAZING!! There were so many twists and turns that I didn’t really realize what was happening until it showed up on the screen. I LOVED IT!! I was kept in suspense until the very end and that normally doesn’t happen to me. I usually figure out who is doing what and why almost from the moment I get part of the picture, this book…not so much. I really have to say how much I enjoyed truly not knowing what was going to happen next.

Now, there was a bit of sex in this story and I have to let you know that even though Denny hooks up with Erin, our androgynous young man…it’s never shown on screen. It’s barely alluded to. There is however, on screen sex between Denny and Penny. So, there are lady bits in this story.

I will say that this book is different than what I usually read and it was a really pleasant surprise. I enjoyed the mystery/suspense. I didn’t so much enjoy lady bits in my m/m books, however, this book wasn’t really wasn’t an m/m book. It’s more thriller with BDSM elements and more heterosexual book with a splash of m/m element. That part I didn’t like at all. If I had to be subjected to m/f sex….I wanted my m/m sex…but alas…it wasn’t meant to be. I also had issue with Denny not always being focused on the case. He got too distracted sometimes and I wanted to kick him…HARD!!

Overall, this book was well written with some great suspense and characters that you feel for as you are on the journey right along with them. So, sit back and relax and prepare to be transported into a great mystery.

A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
Profile Image for Ashley Tomlinson.
Author 11 books20 followers
January 10, 2015
There is a lot that can be said about this incredibly kinky, erotic book. This is most definitely an adult book, children stay clear of this. This is categorized as a crime thriller but it could also be placed in the erotica section, at least that's my opinion.

I'm not a fan of erotica books, but since I know this wasn't exactly an erotica book I gave it a chance. I learned a lot about BDSM sex, a lot I could have gone my whole life without knowing but I learned. Like they say once you see you can't unsee, I think some of this fits in that saying. I liked the way the author wrote about the hardcore sex without degrading or judging it or the people that enjoy it. I have read other books that painted it as an ugly creature and this book did the opposite. Just goes to show that people like what they like and everyone likes something different. Just because I don't like something doesn't mean everyone doesn't like it.

Aside from the crazy sexcapades these people had, this was actually a pretty good mystery. I was trying to figure out who the killer was right along with Denny, Penny and Erin. The amount of detail is spectacular, it really made me feel like I was standing beside them and we were all trying to find our inner Nancy Drew's. Denny was trying to prove himself as a private detective and I think he did a good.

Penny and Denny, wow they are perfect for each other. They are both equally messed up and I think that's why they connected so well. Denny, a masochist and Penny a Domme, more proof they work together. Erin was a great surprise, I liked him too and the relationship he had with Denny.

The ending was kind of shocking, especially the big reveal in that last chapter. I am a horrible detective so I had no clue who was behind it all until the book spelled it out for me. (Maybe I need to watch more Criminal Minds.) I really liked the Epilogue, I love when the end helps give me closer but keeps it open enough just in case there is a sequel.

This book has confirmed something I already knew, there are a lot of crazy people in this world.
Profile Image for Jonah Bergan.
Author 6 books21 followers
May 12, 2017
Denny Bowie, is a lot of things. He's a PI from Chicago. He's a masochist and a submissive. He's also best friends with a fetish photographer who just happens to be the latest victim of a serial killer in New York, so he fakes his way into the investigation with the help of an old girlfriend -a former love of his life, and the Domina who just happens to be the daughter of the Captain of the homicide division.

The killer (or killers) seem to be just another pervert who has simply gone too far. At least, that's how the detectives see it. Denny knows better. In the crime scene photos of the victims, posed like mannequins at some fetish bazaar, he sees what the detectives cannot -clues that hint at the fact that things might not be as they seem.

“Bloodletting,” is a crime novel in the vein of “Silence of the Lambs” by Thomas Harris. The protagonist is one of us, and many of the support characters are too. Beyond the fact that it is written very well by an author who clearly knows which end of the whip to hold, and beyond the fact that it is a engaging story, I think what stood out to me most was the respect the author offered the S and M community. Unlike many other novels, where BDSM is used both for shock value and as scapegoat, “Bloodletting” manages to take us there and back again, respectfully and honestly.

There are no easy answers in this novel, and no slipshod misdirection. The author maintains the mystery throughout, and when the identity of the killer (or killers) is finally revealed, all the clues fall into place, and it makes sense. “No spoilers” means I cannot say much more about this -but once you've read this novel, I think you'll agree that where other writers might have fallen to cheap tricks that amount to little more than scapegoating, this author stays true to what is true about our community, and manages to do it while providing a very good read.

The short review: Buy it, read it. You won't be disappointed.

-Jonah
Profile Image for Patricia Eddy.
Author 71 books691 followers
October 15, 2014
Denny Bowie is a private dick. Or he'd like to be. Rather, he works as a glorified PI errand boy who needs a break to hit the big time. When Tommy, one of his childhood friends, is killed, Penny, the daughter of the police chief and Denny's closest friend, offers him a chance to prove himself.

Denny leaves Chicago for New York, where he'll investigate Tommy's murder, see if he and Penny can make a sexual relationship work, and indulge in his fantasies.

Bloodletting is reminiscent of old film noir, with Denny serving as the narrator and protagonist, Penny (and androgynous dancer Erin) as the femme fatales, and a cadre of kinksters as the various suspects along the way.

Prystauk has a gift for phrasing and setting, taking us deep into New York's kink community with Dommes, subs, Mistresses, slaves, whipping, branding, bloodletting, and more.

While not for the faint of heart, either in terms of sex or violence, Bloodletting is a gritty look into a world that's largely ignored in popular fiction. This is not erotica, though yes, the sex scenes are highly erotic. Rather, this is a suspenseful and thrilling murder mystery set against the backdrop of extreme BDSM and fetishism.

Denny is a flawed hero, yet one that you'll root for time and time again as he's stymied at every term by close-minded and bigoted cops, his new lover Penny, and even murder victim Tommy himself.

I loved being inside Denny's head. He's so flawed and yet so completely comfortable with who he is. He fumbles, with Penny, with Erin, and with the case. You'll root for him, both to solve the case and to keep himself and his new relationships alive and flourishing.

A thrilling ride through kink and murder, Bloodletting will stay with you long after the last page.
Profile Image for T.R. Horne.
Author 4 books56 followers
January 29, 2015
I enjoyed many parts of William D. Prystauk's novel Bloodletting. There were some parts that I weren't entirely in sync with but overall not a bad read. So let's start with what I loved...I absolutely loved the sex scenes in this book! Prystauk really knows how to paint a picture with his descriptions and the sex scenes were the most vivid. There's love entwined in all the sex but not a realistic love so it comes off as really raunchy, gritty sex which is not bad but also not what I think the author was going for since he repeats "love" throughout the book in reference to a few characters. The relationships between the characters were disjointed for me. They pined for each other and claimed to love each other but it came across as possessive, lust filled and superficial. Beyond that, the murder mystery at the center of the story is often times overshadowed by the main characters fleeting thoughts about masturbation, sex and weird ruminations about a dead girl. I couldn't fit all the pieces together easily and that's maybe because I didn't connect with the characters on an emotional level...so I asked myself often "why are they doing this?" On a couple occasions in the story, the main character actually opts not to investigate clear clues and that just angered me because it felt like an attempt from the author to keep the story going and not a logical character thought. All in all, the story was not bad and was written in a very cheeky style that held lots of humor and inner thoughts by the main character. I do like the author's style of writing and its unique but I only wished that the murder mystery was used more in the storyline and focused on heavily.

RBR
Profile Image for Annie.
3 reviews58 followers
March 8, 2015
I took a ride when I picked up a new novel entitled Bloodletting for my evening downtime. I knew very little about it beforehand, and no one warned me to buckle my seat belt or to hang on for dear life. Murder? I've read about it, sure. BDSM? Yeah, I've read about that too…both subjects are fascinating separately. Linked together into the intricate crime fiction that is Bloodletting, I was pulled in by the shirt collar and not released until I forced myself to stop reading for the night.

I couldn't help but genuinely like Denny Bowie, the punk rocker sadomasochist working for a private investigation firm, and his point of view demanded I sit up and pay attention from the beginning.

The twisted method of murder was incredibly disturbing. The blatant eye-opening narrative of what BDSM is like in the ‘real world’ was refreshing…no window-dressing or parodies here. I was caught up and a little scandalized…and I liked it.

Every time I put the book down for the night, pushing it until 3 AM, I was a little angry for having to stop reading.

The last line blew me away.

There were no loose ends in this treacherous tale, and enough gritty reality to get beneath my skin and bother me, just a little. This is the beauty of really great writing: when I keep thinking about that story long after I've finished, the author has done his job. I’m pleased to say this was the case with Bloodletting.




Profile Image for Jon Weidler.
92 reviews2 followers
February 20, 2015
While presumably set in the present, "Bloodletting" reads like a gritty and grimy nostalgia Valentine to the down-and-dirty New York City of the 1970s and '80s. In its best passages, it brings to mind the noteworthy authors (and cool, retro-fit cover art) of novels on the Hard Case Crime imprint. Denny Bowie is our protagonist, a P.I. looking into the murder of his fetish photographer friend, Tommy Heat. The character names are a veritable catalog of metal/industrial/alternative musicians from the '80s and '90s, with Denny acting as the personification of Generation X (he's a paradox: a slacker who's also extremely driven). While the mystery at "Bloodletting"'s core goes in and out of focus, the main theme that dominates the proceedings (quite appropriately) is Bowie's BDSM-driven sexual appetite (served via a collection of twisted, punked-out variations on classic Noir types), and how it sharpens his intuition. The writing is full of palpable fury, sardonic wit, and graphic detail. In the end, I would say "Bloodletting" provides the missing link (in tone, content, and visceral impact) between William Friedkin's 1980 film "Cruising" and Abel Ferrara's "Bad Lieutenant."
Profile Image for Christa P..
Author 1 book
January 1, 2019
Highly suspenseful, thrilling, and visceral crime mystery. Graphic details are shocking, yet additive to plot. An eye-opening window to the underworld of BDSM subculture. Set against the dangerous backdrop of a Manhattan night scene, the reader becomes voyeur to fantasies where pleasure entwined with pain quickly transform into nightmares--and Denny Bowie is on the scene!
January 24, 2015
Not My Thing...Usually

It’s true. I admit it. Despite multiple attempts at appreciating the genre, I’ve been short of giving crime fiction its proper due.

Until now, that is.

This absorbing tome hooked me from the moment I cracked the cover. Prystauk lends a distinctive voice to Denny Bowie, the multifaceted, delightfully gritty private investigator as he maneuvers through the shadow society of BD/SM — assisted by his intimate companions, sassy goth girlfriend Penny and slinky cross-dressing boyfriend Erin — pursuing the elusive killer of Denny’s childhood friend and eminent photographer, Tommy Heat. With excellent pacing and a suspenseful plot, Denny leads the reader through an extraordinary journey of self-discovery, peppered with titillating erotic escapades throughout and an array of fascinating characters waiting around every corner.

And while I may not be the biggest fan of the murder mystery, “Bloodletting” is a compulsive read.
Profile Image for Josselyn Radillo.
247 reviews7 followers
April 30, 2015
FULL REVIEW AT CHAPTERFIVE.WIX.COM/CHAPTER5
ON MAY 4TH

4.5 STARS
My Thoughts:

Bloodletting is William Prystauk newest crime thriller novel with a little twist into the BDSM world. The characters, the story, a close up into a real BDSM lifestyle and the pulse pounding action make for a thrilling read.

Denny is a strong male character who knows how to take care of himself but has a weakness for rough and masochist sex. A man with a lot of sex fantasies that his body crave for then but at the same time hurts his on & off GF Penny. But he's a super bad-ass when it comes to his job and the BDSM world, which is why he's back on NYC and back to Penny's life and fetish clubs.

Penny is a Goth Girl that gets pleasure from pain and loves Denny. She tries to make all of his fantasies come true even introduce him to a Shemale. But she knows one of two things that will help Denny with his case but is scared to tell him.
January 17, 2015
What can I say? If a book doesn't suck me in by the first chapter, its hard for me to press on. My favorite authors hook me in by the first few pages.....this book hooked me in right away! Excellent murder mystery with plot twists, action, erotica and a trip to the Village in NYC. The author's use of common things and some sentimental things completely bring you into the story. Couldn't wait for the paperback (ordered) so I read the Nook version. Highly recommend......you will not be dissapointed!

Can't wait for the sequel (nudging the author!).....I am sure this is the beginning of many more great stories by a very talented author.
Profile Image for S.g. Lee.
Author 2 books11 followers
August 29, 2015
Wow!

First off, I'll admit, this is not my typical read but when the mastermind behind CrashPalace Productions puts out a novel I had to check it out! Mind you, this is not for the faint of heart or prudish. It's downright graphic with a capital G but the mystery was all consuming. I read it non-stop & could not put it down. I needed to know if my suspicions were correct. Did I have the killer pegged or was I running in circles like Denny?

Bloodletting masterfully embraces multiple genres to please you, tease you, and have you begging for more! When you're breathless and spent by the end, you'll gasp, "WOW!"
Profile Image for Audrey.
8 reviews1 follower
November 18, 2015
Bloodletting is a well written mystery that provides an introduction to the BDSM community. For those of you worried about boundary-pushing sex, Prystauk doesn’t go into a lot of detail in the sex scenes. Some of the descriptions of the crime scenes are intense, but they’re no more graphic than other crime thriller books I’ve read. If you’re looking to expand your reading repertoire, give Bloodletting a try. It’s definitely the most unique book I’ve read in a while.
Profile Image for Eleanor Sapia.
Author 2 books97 followers
February 20, 2015
William D. Prystauk's Bloodletting is an excellent murder mystery with more than a few twists and turns, excrutiating pauses, and breakneck forward movement. The well written book introduces the reader to the world of BDSM, but it's so much more than that--it's a unique, great read from a very talented author. I look forward to more from Prystauk, and hope there is a sequel!
Profile Image for Lynn DeLong.
Author 6 books8 followers
November 29, 2020
Denny Bowie comes to New York to help the police solve a serial killer case, and the murder of his friend, Tommy Heat.

Tommy Heat, fetish photographer, is the sixth person to be murdered and displayed at their place of work. The only connection between the victims of the serial killer, is that they were all part of the BDSM community.

While following leads, Denny reconnects with the community, and some old friends. Clues begging to pile up when he finds a seventh body. Could his oldest friend be the mastermind behind the killings, or is someone messing with his mind?

The interpersonal relationships continually distract Denny from the case. Twists and turns keep the pages turning. I really enjoyed this Kinky Noir book.

I received this book for free for this review.
Profile Image for Jason Pettus.
Author 18 books1,279 followers
January 27, 2016
(Reprinted from the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com]. I am the original author of this essay, as well as the owner of CCLaP; it is not being reprinted illegally.)

To be fair, William D. Prystauk's Bloodletting is getting a few extra points today simply for trying to bring something fresh and unique to the staid world of supermarket crime thrillers; its particular private-eye hero is a Millennial but with an obsessive love for the '80s punk scene, and the crime he's investigating takes place within New York City's BDSM community, a community our PI is already a veteran of which is how it is that he's on the case despite his youth and lack of experience. But the book is getting a mediocre score anyway, because despite the intriguing premise it's ultimately just a mediocre genre novel; featuring hackneyed dialogue, stale stereotype characters, and a plot that feels like an episode of Law & Order, I found little in this throwaway novel to actually enjoy or recommend. (Also, if like me you find most twentysomething BDSM goth club kids to be intolerably pretentious and annoying, you might find yourself actually rooting for the killer to get away with his crimes, a big problem when the book's hero is the guy hired to catch him.) A book that only a crime-novel-a-day genre fan could love, it comes specifically recommended to only those people; the rest of you can safely skip it.

Out of 10: 7.4
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