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Expired Listings
Someone is ‘deactivating’ the Realtors in Rock Canyon and almost no one seems to care. Not the surviving brokers, who consider the serial killings a competitive boon. Not the town’s residents, who see the murders as a public service. In fact, the only person who’s even somewhat alarmed is Dana Black, a kinky, sharp-witted yet emotionally skittish Realtor who has no alibi for the crimes because during each, she was using her empty listings for games like Bondage Bingo with her sadistic lover, Dare. And yet, mysteriously, all clues are pointing her way.,,
Kink, Suspense and Satire--Expired Listings masterfully combines all three while exploring the universal need for validation and the toxic nature of revenge.
This book is being marketed as a psychological thriller with satiric, romantic and erotic (BDSM) elements. It is in no way erotica. There is no "on page" sex because it is meant to reflect the view of those involved in the S&M community that what's most fulfilling is what happens between the ears, not the legs. Please keep that in mind when reading and reviewing. Thank you!
Kink, Suspense and Satire--Expired Listings masterfully combines all three while exploring the universal need for validation and the toxic nature of revenge.
This book is being marketed as a psychological thriller with satiric, romantic and erotic (BDSM) elements. It is in no way erotica. There is no "on page" sex because it is meant to reflect the view of those involved in the S&M community that what's most fulfilling is what happens between the ears, not the legs. Please keep that in mind when reading and reviewing. Thank you!
300 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 16, 2016
7 people are currently reading
1143 people want to read
About the author
D.M. Barr
9 books308 followersWHO IS D.M. BARR?
By day, a mild-mannered salesperson, wife, mother, rescuer of senior shelter dogs, happily living just north of New York City. By night, an author of suspense, satire, and sweet romance.
My background includes stints in travel marketing, travel journalism, meeting planning, public relations and real estate. I was, for a long and happy time, an award-winning magazine writer and editor. Then kids happened. And I needed to actually make money. Now they're off doing whatever it is they do (of which I have no idea since they won't friend me on Facebook) and I can spend my spare time weaving tales of debauchery and whatever else tickles my fancy.
The main thing to remember about my work is that I am NOT one of my characters. For example, as a real estate broker, I've never played Bondage Bingo in one of my empty listings or offed one of my problem clients.
But that's not to say I haven't wanted to...
By day, a mild-mannered salesperson, wife, mother, rescuer of senior shelter dogs, happily living just north of New York City. By night, an author of suspense, satire, and sweet romance.
My background includes stints in travel marketing, travel journalism, meeting planning, public relations and real estate. I was, for a long and happy time, an award-winning magazine writer and editor. Then kids happened. And I needed to actually make money. Now they're off doing whatever it is they do (of which I have no idea since they won't friend me on Facebook) and I can spend my spare time weaving tales of debauchery and whatever else tickles my fancy.
The main thing to remember about my work is that I am NOT one of my characters. For example, as a real estate broker, I've never played Bondage Bingo in one of my empty listings or offed one of my problem clients.
But that's not to say I haven't wanted to...
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August 16, 2016*** NetGalley ARC in exchange for an honest review. ***
Misleading Blurb
Beautiful cover, but very misleading blurb.
While there are a couple BDSM play scenes between the FMC and a side character, Dare, detailed here, there are no actual SEX scenes in this book written out between anyone.
Nipple play is as anatomically deep as it goes.
Dick, pussy, vagina aren't written a single time. Penis is used once, but it's in reference to a story from long ago. Otherwise, one "growing bulge" is the only reference to the MMC's anatomy here.
The FMC & MMC don't even kiss until the 88% mark. Afterward, it's only alluded they've had sex because he says,
I have to say, that for a book constantly describing BDSM, the glaring absence of a single actual sex scene was odd. The MMC can't even say sex or fucking ... He says "it." Lmao.
Romance
Anyone? No? No? No? F'it.. Moving on.
FMC has been in an open relationship with her Dom, Dare, for almost a decade. We are told they actually have had sex lol.
Anyway, before Dare, she was in a long-term relationships with another Dom. BOTH relationships are given EXTENSIVE, DETAILED backlog history.
Ya know how Tay Swift writes songs about all her X's and O's, well, this is the book version.
The suspense plot line introduces us to the MMC cop turned bodyguard/ private detective turned back cop, Aiden. He likes her...
She finds him vanilla to her kinky and too submissive to please, but he's so hawt..
They platonically flirt a little & try to solve a murder mystery for 88% of the book while the FMC continues her sex games w/ Dare and tells us her dateogue.
Oh the irony...
She's jealous when Dare, her married Dom, ramps up his side-sub habit.
All's good, though because he gets her and, if she could ever love again, it would be him because he knows just how to get her off... or so I'm told.
Bam, 3 Sub-ho's, a knife, and a safe word latter...
Peace out, Dare. Hello vanilla commitment to MMC, and it only took 88% to get there.
There's no big romance here IMHO.
The MCs don't have a lick of chemistry. She and Dare do have a pinch of chemistry, but that's kinda nipped in the bud since
No ILYS are exchanged in the book.
BDSM
"Bondage Bingo"
"Bondage Bingo" was a very fun scene. It was the highlight of the book. Loved it!! Would've loved it a hell of a lot better with some damn sex, but hey, whatever.
[image error]
Like the lack of sex, the BDSM element here ends up sticking out like a sore thumb.
Here's an example:
FMC has been living the lifestyle for over a decade. A large portion of the book is spent detailing how she's sexually attracted to fear and the challenge of and psychology behind being a sub that turns the tables on her Dom.
When she abandons ^that^ for vanilla, all the reader gets is one messily line saying she now gets her fear kicks from her new blue-collar job.
There's also an unwritten element of .. I don't know - BDSM shame, maybe? The MMC tells her she's a poser in the BDSM scene, which I guess turns out to be true since she abandons it. Then there's the spectacle of serving Dare divorce papers at the BDSM club.
I get that it's supposed to be satire, but the BDSM element came off as underhanded jabs vs funny or witty.
Satire
I laughed a couple times, such as at the crazy cat lady scene.
Mostly, however, I felt bored.
The satire element felt forced.
The themes felt indecisive.
This story couldn't decide what it wanted to be OTT silly or serious thriller/mystery, sappy romance or dark romance, BDSM or PG-13 lifetime movie. The combo of doing it all ...
Suspense
I'll admit that I had no clue who the killer was until the end, and that the explanation was somewhat unique and out of the box. Well done.
However, getting there...
Tedious! There's entirely too much and too detailed red herring info here in creating multiple suspects.
Writing
The puns were okay in places and flat in others. But it was the constant telling me that they're there that annoyed me most.
Her supposedly funny scene name, Thiss? Uhm...
Entirely too much superfluous plot lines. The therapy scenes, for example, completely useless fluff to drag the book out.
The author gives backlog info and details on every facet of the FMC's life, a lot of which she then wraps up in one sentence or completely leaves dangling in the air. Her black out issue fading to black... The crazy bipolar ex still calling her...
The book reads...
No arcs in the suspense, romance, angst, etc. Nada. It's a flatline of 'who done it?' Period.
There's a formatting issue at at 37% the author may want to check on.
While the storyline is intended to be an OTT pulp fiction style plot, I think that it often ( like the vanilla MMC going with his sister to BDSM clubs as her body guard and the media's take on the situation) just goes too far north of sensationalism into gibberishville...
Quite a few grammar mishaps, such as:
Safety
This is not a safe book. Most of this book is spent rehashing and organizing her past relationships. I reiterate that it's 88% before the FMC & MMC even kiss.
Likability
Let's just say that you know there's a serious problem when the only character you can remotely stand is the side character love interest in not one but MULTIPLE open relationships and fucking anything that moves, including his sister-in-law.
Bottom Line
Nope, I think that'll do it.
There's a shit ton wrong with this book IMHO, but the plot idea was novel and the author managed out a good suspense.. Even if most of it was drowned in a sea of gibberish.
This is the author's first book, and, as such, it reads fair - 2 1/2 stars. But, succeeding books need to be put together much better.
Misleading Blurb
Beautiful cover, but very misleading blurb.
"Sex, Suspense, and Satire."
While there are a couple BDSM play scenes between the FMC and a side character, Dare, detailed here, there are no actual SEX scenes in this book written out between anyone.
Nipple play is as anatomically deep as it goes.
Dick, pussy, vagina aren't written a single time. Penis is used once, but it's in reference to a story from long ago. Otherwise, one "growing bulge" is the only reference to the MMC's anatomy here.
The FMC & MMC don't even kiss until the 88% mark. Afterward, it's only alluded they've had sex because he says,
"I mean, doing what we did last night about one hundred million more times."
I have to say, that for a book constantly describing BDSM, the glaring absence of a single actual sex scene was odd. The MMC can't even say sex or fucking ... He says "it." Lmao.
Romance
Anyone? No? No? No? F'it.. Moving on.
FMC has been in an open relationship with her Dom, Dare, for almost a decade. We are told they actually have had sex lol.
Anyway, before Dare, she was in a long-term relationships with another Dom. BOTH relationships are given EXTENSIVE, DETAILED backlog history.
Ya know how Tay Swift writes songs about all her X's and O's, well, this is the book version.
The suspense plot line introduces us to the MMC cop turned bodyguard/ private detective turned back cop, Aiden. He likes her...
She finds him vanilla to her kinky and too submissive to please, but he's so hawt..
They platonically flirt a little & try to solve a murder mystery for 88% of the book while the FMC continues her sex games w/ Dare and tells us her dateogue.
Oh the irony...
She's jealous when Dare, her married Dom, ramps up his side-sub habit.
All's good, though because he gets her and, if she could ever love again, it would be him because he knows just how to get her off... or so I'm told.
Bam, 3 Sub-ho's, a knife, and a safe word latter...
Peace out, Dare. Hello vanilla commitment to MMC, and it only took 88% to get there.
There's no big romance here IMHO.
The MCs don't have a lick of chemistry. She and Dare do have a pinch of chemistry, but that's kinda nipped in the bud since
No ILYS are exchanged in the book.
BDSM
"Bondage Bingo"
"Bondage Bingo" was a very fun scene. It was the highlight of the book. Loved it!! Would've loved it a hell of a lot better with some damn sex, but hey, whatever.
[image error]
Like the lack of sex, the BDSM element here ends up sticking out like a sore thumb.
Here's an example:
FMC has been living the lifestyle for over a decade. A large portion of the book is spent detailing how she's sexually attracted to fear and the challenge of and psychology behind being a sub that turns the tables on her Dom.
When she abandons ^that^ for vanilla, all the reader gets is one messily line saying she now gets her fear kicks from her new blue-collar job.
There's also an unwritten element of .. I don't know - BDSM shame, maybe? The MMC tells her she's a poser in the BDSM scene, which I guess turns out to be true since she abandons it. Then there's the spectacle of serving Dare divorce papers at the BDSM club.
I get that it's supposed to be satire, but the BDSM element came off as underhanded jabs vs funny or witty.
Satire
I laughed a couple times, such as at the crazy cat lady scene.
Mostly, however, I felt bored.
The satire element felt forced.
The themes felt indecisive.
This story couldn't decide what it wanted to be OTT silly or serious thriller/mystery, sappy romance or dark romance, BDSM or PG-13 lifetime movie. The combo of doing it all ...
Suspense
I'll admit that I had no clue who the killer was until the end, and that the explanation was somewhat unique and out of the box. Well done.
However, getting there...
Tedious! There's entirely too much and too detailed red herring info here in creating multiple suspects.
Writing
The puns were okay in places and flat in others. But it was the constant telling me that they're there that annoyed me most.
Her supposedly funny scene name, Thiss? Uhm...
Entirely too much superfluous plot lines. The therapy scenes, for example, completely useless fluff to drag the book out.
The author gives backlog info and details on every facet of the FMC's life, a lot of which she then wraps up in one sentence or completely leaves dangling in the air. Her black out issue fading to black... The crazy bipolar ex still calling her...
The book reads...
No arcs in the suspense, romance, angst, etc. Nada. It's a flatline of 'who done it?' Period.
There's a formatting issue at at 37% the author may want to check on.
While the storyline is intended to be an OTT pulp fiction style plot, I think that it often ( like the vanilla MMC going with his sister to BDSM clubs as her body guard and the media's take on the situation) just goes too far north of sensationalism into gibberishville...
Quite a few grammar mishaps, such as:
"The owners at 30 Augustine is having..."
"What happens when you mix vanilla with Rocky Road?
Safety
This is not a safe book. Most of this book is spent rehashing and organizing her past relationships. I reiterate that it's 88% before the FMC & MMC even kiss.
Likability
Let's just say that you know there's a serious problem when the only character you can remotely stand is the side character love interest in not one but MULTIPLE open relationships and fucking anything that moves, including his sister-in-law.
Bottom Line
Nope, I think that'll do it.
There's a shit ton wrong with this book IMHO, but the plot idea was novel and the author managed out a good suspense.. Even if most of it was drowned in a sea of gibberish.
This is the author's first book, and, as such, it reads fair - 2 1/2 stars. But, succeeding books need to be put together much better.
August 12, 2016
3.5 stars!!
D.M. Barr's debut book was quirky and interesting.
Puns and suspense. That's what this book was all about. It seemed that Dana went along trying to come up with witticism and puns while a serial killer was doing away with her realtor colleagues, one by one. And she was involved in a twisted BDSM relationship that was unlike anything I've ever encountered. And she was being framed. And she had an intense connection with the hot "vanilla" detective, Aidan, who was investigating the murders. And you need to read the book if you want to find out more lol.
A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review
XO
D.M. Barr's debut book was quirky and interesting.
Puns and suspense. That's what this book was all about. It seemed that Dana went along trying to come up with witticism and puns while a serial killer was doing away with her realtor colleagues, one by one. And she was involved in a twisted BDSM relationship that was unlike anything I've ever encountered. And she was being framed. And she had an intense connection with the hot "vanilla" detective, Aidan, who was investigating the murders. And you need to read the book if you want to find out more lol.
A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review
XO
September 25, 2024
Dana Black is a realtor in Rock Canyon who has a naughty side and uses the empty homes as a place to meet up for her kinky encounters. Unfortunately for Dana there is a serial killer on the lose in Rock Canyon dubbed the ‘Realtor Retaliator’ and now Dana has caught the eye of detective Aidan Cummings who is investigating the case. Now Dana not only needs to clear her name since she doesn't have an alibi but she needs to decide between continuing her naughty ways or starting something a little tamer with Aidan.
Expired Listings is another of those books that I really expected something a bit different than what I ended up with and it ended up a case of just not a good fit for me. I really expected to enjoy this more than I did even though I'm not a huge fan of the BDSM type of read but this one promised a mystery and some laughs but I was a bit let down with those.
Dana really wasn't the funny character that I was hoping for when reading the book contained sex, suspense and satire. I spent most of the time a bit bored and kept waiting for something to jump out and catch my interest. With not connecting to Dana it just made the rest of what was going on that much less interesting also.
Overall, just not for me I'm afraid, just didn't connect with this one at all.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Expired Listings is another of those books that I really expected something a bit different than what I ended up with and it ended up a case of just not a good fit for me. I really expected to enjoy this more than I did even though I'm not a huge fan of the BDSM type of read but this one promised a mystery and some laughs but I was a bit let down with those.
Dana really wasn't the funny character that I was hoping for when reading the book contained sex, suspense and satire. I spent most of the time a bit bored and kept waiting for something to jump out and catch my interest. With not connecting to Dana it just made the rest of what was going on that much less interesting also.
Overall, just not for me I'm afraid, just didn't connect with this one at all.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
October 21, 2016
My original Expired Listings audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
A killer is targeting realtors. Dana Black, a realtor herself, has no alibis and suffers unexplained blackouts and soon finds herself a suspect in the murders. Combine that with the fact that Dana uses empty properties to meet up for sex games with her Dom, Dare, with whom she has been in an open relationship for years, and add Aidan, a Scottish-born detective turned private investigator, who is no stranger to the BDSM scene either and you have a very promising and really novel idea for a sexy, suspenseful plot.
Expired Listings is impossible to classify, as a lot of genres and sub-genres are thrown into the pot. There is obviously the mystery aspect. It’s almost like a cozy mystery, but then there’s the BDSM setting. However, there are no explicit sex scenes. The author alludes, the scenes that are described are quite clinical rather than erotic. Some of the sex games, e.g. the Bingo scene, were quite inventive, though. It is advertised as having satirical elements, and a couple of scenes did make me smile. The crazy cat lady was a nice touch. There are elements of a romantic suspense story, but I have to admit I didn’t feel a lot of chemistry between the characters. There were even aspects of what I would call women’s fiction with regards to the protagonist’s relationship with her mother, sister, and grandmother. All of which covered quite a bit of family drama. While I felt rather disconnected from the characters and couldn’t relate to any of them, I thought Dana was an intriguing protagonist with regards to her back-story and her issues. She believed she needed fear (hence the lifestyle) and was unable to have a fulfilling vanilla relationship. I thought it was quite interesting how the author connected Dana’s past and her experiences to her current lifestyle and her thought processes. However, I felt Dana’s issues were resolved too easily at the end. As far as the mystery element is concerned, I didn’t work out who the culprit was until the reveal, so points for that. The why and how was stretching credibility a bit, though.
Overall, a bit of a mixed bag, but as a debut novel certainly not bad. It kept my attention throughout, as the pace was steady and there was a lot going on. There were frequent switches from the events in the present to providing flashbacks that revealed the protagonist’s childhood and more recent past and rehashed her relationships with other characters. Apart from Aidan, nobody was really particularly likable. I would have preferred a bit more angst or suspense, and I needed to feel more emotions to rate this any higher.
Hollie Jackson’s narration definitely enhanced the story for me. She was a very good fit for the protagonist’s first-person perspective. I was also really impressed by her performance of voicing the male characters. Aidan’s Scottish brogue was pretty good. She made all the characters sound authentic and gave them distinctive, suitable voices that made it very easy and pleasant to listen to this story. As far as the production quality is concerned, there were some instances where you could tell the recording had been stopped and restarted, but it was minor and didn’t distract too badly.
Overall, an entertaining listening experience with an original plot.
Narration 4 stars. Story 3 stars.
Audiobook provided for review by the audiobookreviewer.com
A killer is targeting realtors. Dana Black, a realtor herself, has no alibis and suffers unexplained blackouts and soon finds herself a suspect in the murders. Combine that with the fact that Dana uses empty properties to meet up for sex games with her Dom, Dare, with whom she has been in an open relationship for years, and add Aidan, a Scottish-born detective turned private investigator, who is no stranger to the BDSM scene either and you have a very promising and really novel idea for a sexy, suspenseful plot.
Expired Listings is impossible to classify, as a lot of genres and sub-genres are thrown into the pot. There is obviously the mystery aspect. It’s almost like a cozy mystery, but then there’s the BDSM setting. However, there are no explicit sex scenes. The author alludes, the scenes that are described are quite clinical rather than erotic. Some of the sex games, e.g. the Bingo scene, were quite inventive, though. It is advertised as having satirical elements, and a couple of scenes did make me smile. The crazy cat lady was a nice touch. There are elements of a romantic suspense story, but I have to admit I didn’t feel a lot of chemistry between the characters. There were even aspects of what I would call women’s fiction with regards to the protagonist’s relationship with her mother, sister, and grandmother. All of which covered quite a bit of family drama. While I felt rather disconnected from the characters and couldn’t relate to any of them, I thought Dana was an intriguing protagonist with regards to her back-story and her issues. She believed she needed fear (hence the lifestyle) and was unable to have a fulfilling vanilla relationship. I thought it was quite interesting how the author connected Dana’s past and her experiences to her current lifestyle and her thought processes. However, I felt Dana’s issues were resolved too easily at the end. As far as the mystery element is concerned, I didn’t work out who the culprit was until the reveal, so points for that. The why and how was stretching credibility a bit, though.
Overall, a bit of a mixed bag, but as a debut novel certainly not bad. It kept my attention throughout, as the pace was steady and there was a lot going on. There were frequent switches from the events in the present to providing flashbacks that revealed the protagonist’s childhood and more recent past and rehashed her relationships with other characters. Apart from Aidan, nobody was really particularly likable. I would have preferred a bit more angst or suspense, and I needed to feel more emotions to rate this any higher.
Hollie Jackson’s narration definitely enhanced the story for me. She was a very good fit for the protagonist’s first-person perspective. I was also really impressed by her performance of voicing the male characters. Aidan’s Scottish brogue was pretty good. She made all the characters sound authentic and gave them distinctive, suitable voices that made it very easy and pleasant to listen to this story. As far as the production quality is concerned, there were some instances where you could tell the recording had been stopped and restarted, but it was minor and didn’t distract too badly.
Overall, an entertaining listening experience with an original plot.
Narration 4 stars. Story 3 stars.
Audiobook provided for review by the audiobookreviewer.com
November 26, 2016
Expired Listings by D.M. Barr is a delicious and utterly entertaining read with a cast of colorful characters that will have readers eagerly lapping up the pages in order to find out whodunit (and let me tell you now, it won’t be who you think!).
Dana Black is a successful realtor in Rock Canyon – albeit not in the same lofty stratosphere of success as her older sister, Melanie, also a realtor. Suffering from the effects of longstanding neglect by her now invalid mother, Cassandra, who has been felled by a stroke, Dana nevertheless dutifully visits her for more heaping helpings of her vitriolic abuse. Those visits are thankfully made more bearable by Lorelei Simpson, her mother’s caretaker, who has the patience and kindness of Mother Theresa, trapped in the body of a polyester-wearing Spongebob Squarepants. Adding to Dana’s very dysfunctional home front is debilitating reflux and increasing blackouts that finally send her to seek the help of a therapist. It’s about this time that local realtors are beginning to turn up dead and ever so slowly, Dana evolves as the prime suspect in these homicides. She has the alibis that could clear her name but to give an alibi would mean having to reveal her dirty little secret; that Dana uses her empty listings as rendezvous locations for her salacious BDSM games with her Dominant, Dare.
With an effective first liner like, “Bile makes for a lovely lunch.”, Barr’s story take off with a bullet, keeping you engaged until the very end. Her prose is solid, with just the right balance of description and action. Sure, there’s bondage and some kinky stuff but nothing so over-the-top that it truly shocks. The author does a great job in conveying Dana’s vulnerability, especially as the story unfolds and the reader learns about her childhood and about her earlier foray into BDSM with her previous lover. One also begins to better understand her relationship with her somewhat sadistic Dominant, Dare. If I was pitching this book, it would be along the lines of “House Hunters Gets Its Kink On a la 50 Shades of Grey”. Granted, this isn’t everyone’s kind of book but for those readers who like a little kink to spice up their whodunits, Expired Listings is the perfect read. Highly recommended!
Dana Black is a successful realtor in Rock Canyon – albeit not in the same lofty stratosphere of success as her older sister, Melanie, also a realtor. Suffering from the effects of longstanding neglect by her now invalid mother, Cassandra, who has been felled by a stroke, Dana nevertheless dutifully visits her for more heaping helpings of her vitriolic abuse. Those visits are thankfully made more bearable by Lorelei Simpson, her mother’s caretaker, who has the patience and kindness of Mother Theresa, trapped in the body of a polyester-wearing Spongebob Squarepants. Adding to Dana’s very dysfunctional home front is debilitating reflux and increasing blackouts that finally send her to seek the help of a therapist. It’s about this time that local realtors are beginning to turn up dead and ever so slowly, Dana evolves as the prime suspect in these homicides. She has the alibis that could clear her name but to give an alibi would mean having to reveal her dirty little secret; that Dana uses her empty listings as rendezvous locations for her salacious BDSM games with her Dominant, Dare.
With an effective first liner like, “Bile makes for a lovely lunch.”, Barr’s story take off with a bullet, keeping you engaged until the very end. Her prose is solid, with just the right balance of description and action. Sure, there’s bondage and some kinky stuff but nothing so over-the-top that it truly shocks. The author does a great job in conveying Dana’s vulnerability, especially as the story unfolds and the reader learns about her childhood and about her earlier foray into BDSM with her previous lover. One also begins to better understand her relationship with her somewhat sadistic Dominant, Dare. If I was pitching this book, it would be along the lines of “House Hunters Gets Its Kink On a la 50 Shades of Grey”. Granted, this isn’t everyone’s kind of book but for those readers who like a little kink to spice up their whodunits, Expired Listings is the perfect read. Highly recommended!
September 15, 2016
Favorite Quotes:
I wanted something punny, something that would make people laugh, so I chose 'This.' That way I could enter chatrooms asking, 'Does anyone want a piece of This?' and take credit when people typed, 'This is wonderful!' or 'This is the greatest thing since sliced bread.'
And let's face it - with the name Reid Wright, the man was pigeonholed into a career as either a teacher, writer, or a floppy disk.
My Review:
Expired Listings was not at all what I was expecting. I had no idea Realtors were among the least respected and most hated of professions, apparently their level of despicability ranks close to used car salesmen and politicians. The story seems to be a hybrid of genres - crossing women's fiction, family drama, suspense, and a serial killer murder mystery with an element of BDSM kink, and a dash of romance. Some of the characters were involved in the BDSM/sex club lifestyle - although the descriptions of their scenes were generally brief and limited to portions of their S&M play. Some of the descriptions had me flinching and cringing, as I am not a fan of sadism in any form.
While there were no completed sex scenes depicted - sex was frequently mentioned and there were a few interrupted erotic scenes. I would classify the overriding genre as suspenseful women's fiction with an extremely clever mystery and a cavalcade of heinous, odious, and abhorrent characters. The story was craftily erected, complicated, intricately detailed, and completely unpredictable. I enjoyed the clever humor, witty puns, intrigue and slippery storyline. D.M. Barr has to be a bit of a twisted sister to have come up with such a devious and cunning tale.
I wanted something punny, something that would make people laugh, so I chose 'This.' That way I could enter chatrooms asking, 'Does anyone want a piece of This?' and take credit when people typed, 'This is wonderful!' or 'This is the greatest thing since sliced bread.'
And let's face it - with the name Reid Wright, the man was pigeonholed into a career as either a teacher, writer, or a floppy disk.
My Review:
Expired Listings was not at all what I was expecting. I had no idea Realtors were among the least respected and most hated of professions, apparently their level of despicability ranks close to used car salesmen and politicians. The story seems to be a hybrid of genres - crossing women's fiction, family drama, suspense, and a serial killer murder mystery with an element of BDSM kink, and a dash of romance. Some of the characters were involved in the BDSM/sex club lifestyle - although the descriptions of their scenes were generally brief and limited to portions of their S&M play. Some of the descriptions had me flinching and cringing, as I am not a fan of sadism in any form.
While there were no completed sex scenes depicted - sex was frequently mentioned and there were a few interrupted erotic scenes. I would classify the overriding genre as suspenseful women's fiction with an extremely clever mystery and a cavalcade of heinous, odious, and abhorrent characters. The story was craftily erected, complicated, intricately detailed, and completely unpredictable. I enjoyed the clever humor, witty puns, intrigue and slippery storyline. D.M. Barr has to be a bit of a twisted sister to have come up with such a devious and cunning tale.
November 20, 2016
A good bit of humor is twisted into this thriller. There are a good bit of a lot of subjects twisted into this thriller. There are bondage and more topics in this book than I ever expected, but they are done lightheartedly with no explicit sex involved and they compliment the murders that are going on at the same time. It is an unusual mix, but it works.
I enjoyed this book on both sides. The fun and the suspense were both well done. I listed to the book on audiobook and found it quite entertaining.
I enjoyed this book on both sides. The fun and the suspense were both well done. I listed to the book on audiobook and found it quite entertaining.
January 7, 2017
Expired Listings is a murder mystery with a difference, the protagonist Dana, has huge psychologist issues from her childhood, and in order to cope she’s buried herself in the BDSM community. She also has a dysfunctional relationship with her mother and sister, and an unusual partnership with Dare, her BDSM partner.
By day she’s a Realtor, but unfortunately her rival Realtors are being killed and she’s seems to be being set up for the murders, and due to the black outs she experiences, she can’t really provide an alibi. This leads to an interesting relationship with a detective who also dabbles in the BDSM community. So what’s Dana’s connection to the murderer, and why is she being set up?
This was a fun read, and very tongue in cheek. The relationships Dana engages in are about power not sex, but there are some explicit scenes in here which wouldn't be for everyone. However if you enjoy a snarky lead character, and an unusual story line, this is for you!
By day she’s a Realtor, but unfortunately her rival Realtors are being killed and she’s seems to be being set up for the murders, and due to the black outs she experiences, she can’t really provide an alibi. This leads to an interesting relationship with a detective who also dabbles in the BDSM community. So what’s Dana’s connection to the murderer, and why is she being set up?
This was a fun read, and very tongue in cheek. The relationships Dana engages in are about power not sex, but there are some explicit scenes in here which wouldn't be for everyone. However if you enjoy a snarky lead character, and an unusual story line, this is for you!
November 21, 2024
I was contacted by the author for a review on this book.
That struck me as kind of odd since this was published in 2016. Onward to the review.
The synopsis was intriguing, but I gave this book 3 stars for the jumbly writing. Almost immediately we get thrust into a BDSM scene with the FMC and her "Dom". Almost no introduction or warm up for the reader. That struck me as odd.
Next it felt like the story was told in a jumbled flashback fashion. About the only thing I enjoyed was the premise.
That struck me as kind of odd since this was published in 2016. Onward to the review.
The synopsis was intriguing, but I gave this book 3 stars for the jumbly writing. Almost immediately we get thrust into a BDSM scene with the FMC and her "Dom". Almost no introduction or warm up for the reader. That struck me as odd.
Next it felt like the story was told in a jumbled flashback fashion. About the only thing I enjoyed was the premise.
September 16, 2016
3.75 Stars
This was a story that straddled genres and appeared at times not to be entirely comfortable in any of them, it sort of danced around the peripheries but if I had to plant its feet anywhere, I would put it firmly in the mystery romance pot because although the BDSM element of the story was well played and for the most part it lay comfortably within the context of the storyline, for me it was the mystery of the murders and the eluded danger that dragged me from page to page.
I liked the fact that the author kicked things up a bit with the whole BDSM slant but there were times that I found some of the details gave me a mental image that I don’t know that I want swimming around in my head, there were some scenes that I hadn’t anticipated and preferences alluded too that I can only say weren’t entirely to my taste but each to their own and that is the joy of being able to read cross genres, it challenges you as a reader because while you can like a story, a character, a setting, you might not like every single element and that was the case for me with this book….some of the actions, described or implied caught me cold and that was a surprise.
So enough of what I didn’t like so to speak, and more of what I did like because there were definitely more positives.
This was a cleverly constructed thriller (in more ways than one), the mystery was carefully and astutely layered, it was complex in its simplicity almost and that is a talent that is not easy to master. The story was erotically aloof when necessary, saying more by implication and intimation than by gaudy description, but didn’t shy away from the BDSM elements, at times I got the feeling that the author was almost challenging me and again that isn’t always a bad thing.
I think you will find your fill with this book, it had characters that you could both love and hate, some of them were, like the story more devious than appearances would have you believe. Oh and to top it all, I didn’t even manage to suss out who the killer was.
This was a story that straddled genres and appeared at times not to be entirely comfortable in any of them, it sort of danced around the peripheries but if I had to plant its feet anywhere, I would put it firmly in the mystery romance pot because although the BDSM element of the story was well played and for the most part it lay comfortably within the context of the storyline, for me it was the mystery of the murders and the eluded danger that dragged me from page to page.
I liked the fact that the author kicked things up a bit with the whole BDSM slant but there were times that I found some of the details gave me a mental image that I don’t know that I want swimming around in my head, there were some scenes that I hadn’t anticipated and preferences alluded too that I can only say weren’t entirely to my taste but each to their own and that is the joy of being able to read cross genres, it challenges you as a reader because while you can like a story, a character, a setting, you might not like every single element and that was the case for me with this book….some of the actions, described or implied caught me cold and that was a surprise.
So enough of what I didn’t like so to speak, and more of what I did like because there were definitely more positives.
This was a cleverly constructed thriller (in more ways than one), the mystery was carefully and astutely layered, it was complex in its simplicity almost and that is a talent that is not easy to master. The story was erotically aloof when necessary, saying more by implication and intimation than by gaudy description, but didn’t shy away from the BDSM elements, at times I got the feeling that the author was almost challenging me and again that isn’t always a bad thing.
I think you will find your fill with this book, it had characters that you could both love and hate, some of them were, like the story more devious than appearances would have you believe. Oh and to top it all, I didn’t even manage to suss out who the killer was.
November 21, 2016
~I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!~
Thriller is probably my favorite genre to read for books like this! It’s been such a long time since a book took me on such a great ride. Every page was filled with twists and turns that compelled me to keep reading just to see if I was right or not about who the killer was! The author does a brilliant job of building the suspense throughout the piece.
In Expired Listings, we meet Dana, a girl with a troubled past who’s into BDSM. Sounds kind of bland when written like that, but I assure you it’s not. Dana is a real estate agent, living in the shadow of her successful sister, Melanie, while caring for her mother, Cassandra, who has recently suffered a stroke. Things seem cut and dry until a string of real estate agents turn up dead. The deeper into the plot we go, the more we see the demons of Dana’s past. Once the story gets to the twisted roots of Dana’s family tree, the reader finally gets all the answers they were after! Usually, I can guess who the killer is in a thriller book, but this one was a complete mystery right up until the unveiling.
In Expired Listings, no one is as they seem. Everyone has a secret which makes this a guaranteed page turner. I’ll definitely be keeping my eye open for more books by this author!
Thriller is probably my favorite genre to read for books like this! It’s been such a long time since a book took me on such a great ride. Every page was filled with twists and turns that compelled me to keep reading just to see if I was right or not about who the killer was! The author does a brilliant job of building the suspense throughout the piece.
In Expired Listings, we meet Dana, a girl with a troubled past who’s into BDSM. Sounds kind of bland when written like that, but I assure you it’s not. Dana is a real estate agent, living in the shadow of her successful sister, Melanie, while caring for her mother, Cassandra, who has recently suffered a stroke. Things seem cut and dry until a string of real estate agents turn up dead. The deeper into the plot we go, the more we see the demons of Dana’s past. Once the story gets to the twisted roots of Dana’s family tree, the reader finally gets all the answers they were after! Usually, I can guess who the killer is in a thriller book, but this one was a complete mystery right up until the unveiling.
In Expired Listings, no one is as they seem. Everyone has a secret which makes this a guaranteed page turner. I’ll definitely be keeping my eye open for more books by this author!
September 28, 2016
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I didn’t realize there was no actual sex in the book. ::face palm:: I did it. I totally judged a book by its cover! And what a fabulous cover it is!
The MC is hilarious in this book. Her wit and charm are effortless and I love how she incorporates her BDSM lifestyle into this book without it being raunchy or uncouth. If anything it made me more interested in this lifestyle.
The author wrote the people who are part of this lifestyle three dimensionally. They are not sex symbols nor are they sex addicts. They are normal people with normal jobs who happens to have abnormal tastes in what turns them on. They have families and day jobs, they go out on lunch dates and gossip. The author made it seem all very normal and ordinary. Which shows me how talented she is.
Combine that with her mommy issues and you’ve got a recipe for a great multifacated story. It reads almost like a cozy, but it is not. The mystery was very well laid out, I pegged the whodunit way later in the book than I normally do so that was pretty cool for me.
While I don’t usually read mysteries now a days, if these are the kind that are being published, I could be persuaded to pick them back up.
I didn’t realize there was no actual sex in the book. ::face palm:: I did it. I totally judged a book by its cover! And what a fabulous cover it is!
The MC is hilarious in this book. Her wit and charm are effortless and I love how she incorporates her BDSM lifestyle into this book without it being raunchy or uncouth. If anything it made me more interested in this lifestyle.
The author wrote the people who are part of this lifestyle three dimensionally. They are not sex symbols nor are they sex addicts. They are normal people with normal jobs who happens to have abnormal tastes in what turns them on. They have families and day jobs, they go out on lunch dates and gossip. The author made it seem all very normal and ordinary. Which shows me how talented she is.
Combine that with her mommy issues and you’ve got a recipe for a great multifacated story. It reads almost like a cozy, but it is not. The mystery was very well laid out, I pegged the whodunit way later in the book than I normally do so that was pretty cool for me.
While I don’t usually read mysteries now a days, if these are the kind that are being published, I could be persuaded to pick them back up.
November 20, 2016
Tie Me Up and Spank Me Until My House Sells
Recently I completed reading a twisted tale titled, "Expired Listings" by D.M. Barr. Beware the cover only hints at the contents of the masterfully twisted tale. This story includes realtors, B.D.S.M., murder, mystery, and of course ARMANI. Wow, what a cocktail of shock and awe. The author kept me interested throughout with fascinating yet shocking cast of characters and their disturbing secret lives of sexual deviation. I must admit this very inventive story and its complex characters reminded me of the movie, "The Secretary" starring James Spader and Lee Holloway. I enjoyed the creativeness of this erotic mystery. The humor this author spins sarcastically throughout the tale made me laugh between its shocking moments. Overall, this book was well prepared in editing and proofreading which made for an easy, unobstructed smooth flowing read. If you are looking for a book that has the perfect blend of humor, eroticism, and intrigue this is a must read.
Recently I completed reading a twisted tale titled, "Expired Listings" by D.M. Barr. Beware the cover only hints at the contents of the masterfully twisted tale. This story includes realtors, B.D.S.M., murder, mystery, and of course ARMANI. Wow, what a cocktail of shock and awe. The author kept me interested throughout with fascinating yet shocking cast of characters and their disturbing secret lives of sexual deviation. I must admit this very inventive story and its complex characters reminded me of the movie, "The Secretary" starring James Spader and Lee Holloway. I enjoyed the creativeness of this erotic mystery. The humor this author spins sarcastically throughout the tale made me laugh between its shocking moments. Overall, this book was well prepared in editing and proofreading which made for an easy, unobstructed smooth flowing read. If you are looking for a book that has the perfect blend of humor, eroticism, and intrigue this is a must read.
October 4, 2016
Expired Listings has had me intrigued since I read the description about the book. I read it in less than 24 hours I couldn't put it down! Don't judge this book by its cover! I would call it a great book for a rainy weekend. The author draws your in from the second you read the disclaimer. On that note this book does have a bit of grown up material in it so with that stated it is not for the faint of hearts! I'm not talking sex... no no not that but there is adult content. Each chapter is completely different which has you wanting to know whats the next one about, you just can't put it down! There are larger words if your not a moderate to strong reader that you may need to look up, but a simple look up and reread of the sentence you will see that was the best word to use! Overall this is a wonderful book, I loved it. I love to read but I am picky. I got this book for an honest review and my honest review is its worth every dime!
November 18, 2016
With most mysteries you only have to peel away two or three facts to have the whole plot unfold, but with Expired Listings it is layer upon layer of deceit and betrayal, leaving you to doubt even the “good guys”. I was fascinated with how knowledgeable D.M. Barr wrote about different careers: traveling photographers, investors, realtors, therapists, and detectives.
The book starts with someone in captivity and ends with knowledge of whom that someone is and who is the captor. The ending to truly astonishing and unfolds into an amazing novel.
My favorite part would have to be when Dana realizes the love and emotional support that she craved was possible. And that she wasn’t pushed away and ignored for the reasons that she had thought for so many years. Her blackouts were a twisted addition that made me wonder often what she would do when she found out she was the murderer when she couldn’t remember anything.
The book starts with someone in captivity and ends with knowledge of whom that someone is and who is the captor. The ending to truly astonishing and unfolds into an amazing novel.
My favorite part would have to be when Dana realizes the love and emotional support that she craved was possible. And that she wasn’t pushed away and ignored for the reasons that she had thought for so many years. Her blackouts were a twisted addition that made me wonder often what she would do when she found out she was the murderer when she couldn’t remember anything.
November 21, 2016
Murder and BDSM – an original idea
I read this book because I was absolutely intrigued to see how an author could successfully merge a murder mystery with BDSM and realtors, and I have to say that this bizarre idea does actually work! Realtors are being murdered in picturesque Rock Canyon and there is no shortage of reasons for people wanting them dead. The heroine of the story, Dana Black, is also a realtor but she finds herself being framed for the murders. Alongside Dana trying to prove her innocence is and an interesting look at the BDSM scene. This book is certainly not for the prudish reader and I actually learned quite a lot about a scene of which I am ignorant. Unlike in the famous ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’, I could actually understand why people might be attracted to such deviant sexual behaviour. Though informative, I did not find the BDSM scenes obscene in any way and they certainly do flesh out the character of Dana.
I read this book because I was absolutely intrigued to see how an author could successfully merge a murder mystery with BDSM and realtors, and I have to say that this bizarre idea does actually work! Realtors are being murdered in picturesque Rock Canyon and there is no shortage of reasons for people wanting them dead. The heroine of the story, Dana Black, is also a realtor but she finds herself being framed for the murders. Alongside Dana trying to prove her innocence is and an interesting look at the BDSM scene. This book is certainly not for the prudish reader and I actually learned quite a lot about a scene of which I am ignorant. Unlike in the famous ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’, I could actually understand why people might be attracted to such deviant sexual behaviour. Though informative, I did not find the BDSM scenes obscene in any way and they certainly do flesh out the character of Dana.
January 2, 2017
A murder mystery involving real estate agents and set within the BDS&M scene. I would never have guessed that mixing the two would work, but it turns out house selling attracts some really kinky people.
A solid and well written murder mystery which moves along at a good pace. It does contain some bizarre characters, adding to its charm, but is reasonably plausible nonetheless. The final reveal was genuinely surprising and wrapped the book up into a nice conclusion.
The background story follows a young girl as she discovers her peculiar tastes and builds a social life within the S&M scene. There are only a couple of sex scenes, which are tastefully done and could hardly cause offence. In fact if anything the book could possibly have benefited from a single raunchy encounter.
I would give the story 4+ stars and writing 5. So overall I'll round to 5.
A solid and well written murder mystery which moves along at a good pace. It does contain some bizarre characters, adding to its charm, but is reasonably plausible nonetheless. The final reveal was genuinely surprising and wrapped the book up into a nice conclusion.
The background story follows a young girl as she discovers her peculiar tastes and builds a social life within the S&M scene. There are only a couple of sex scenes, which are tastefully done and could hardly cause offence. In fact if anything the book could possibly have benefited from a single raunchy encounter.
I would give the story 4+ stars and writing 5. So overall I'll round to 5.
September 16, 2016
This book walks a fine line of having just too many potential suspects, but manages to balance it so that the book remains an enjoyable read, rather than an over complicated brain teaser.
I would say that the ultimate reveal wasn't entirely unexpected, but there are definitely some elements to the story which may surprise the reader. And although there is an erotic element to the story telling, I didn't feel that it was one of the main threads, but more of a narrative tool to tie the disparate elements together.
Overall, an entertaining read.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I would say that the ultimate reveal wasn't entirely unexpected, but there are definitely some elements to the story which may surprise the reader. And although there is an erotic element to the story telling, I didn't feel that it was one of the main threads, but more of a narrative tool to tie the disparate elements together.
Overall, an entertaining read.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 26, 2016
Unusual murder mystery
The heroine of this story is a realtor called Dana Black. Dana is unusual in that she is a major player on the local BDSM scene. She is therefore hardly your average sleuth! Dana has to turn to mystery- solving when realtors in her home town are being murdered and she is in the frame. She has to solve the murders in order to prove her innocence, innocence not helped by a worrying lack of alibis as she keeps blacking out and therefore not remembering chunks of time. Could she be the guilty one? You’ll have to read it to find out. Don’t be put off by the graphic depictions of BDSM behaviour, they are eye-opening without being gratuitous.
The heroine of this story is a realtor called Dana Black. Dana is unusual in that she is a major player on the local BDSM scene. She is therefore hardly your average sleuth! Dana has to turn to mystery- solving when realtors in her home town are being murdered and she is in the frame. She has to solve the murders in order to prove her innocence, innocence not helped by a worrying lack of alibis as she keeps blacking out and therefore not remembering chunks of time. Could she be the guilty one? You’ll have to read it to find out. Don’t be put off by the graphic depictions of BDSM behaviour, they are eye-opening without being gratuitous.
October 28, 2016
What an unexpected treasure! I was not expecting to like this book as much as I did. This is definitely a “hodge podge” of genres, which makes it even more fabulous! Also, there is no actual sex in this book, while it is mentioned quite a lot, it was a departure from the books I normally read. The plot was carefully and creatively constructed and detail orientated. There were plenty of moments of clever wit, charm, and puns, that at times had me laughing out loud. The “whodunnit” was wonderfully crafted and I am in actual awe of the author! I would HIGHLY recommend this book to everyone!
July 28, 2021
A complex, suspenseful plot with tension so thick that it felt palpable. Wonderful characters with depth and substance. I was immediately drawn in and held captive from beginning to end.
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
September 26, 2016
Different than I expected, which is a good thing. I love it when a book defies my expectation. DM Barr crafted a mystery that has just the right amount of racy sex, humor and kept me guessing. Definitely a fun read and well worth the time. Looking forward to seeing what's next from Barr.
October 2, 2016
A steamy mystery that keeps you engaged and guessing throughout!
A refreshing new mystery. This book has it all. Sex, alternate lifestyles,romance ,intrigue and many twists and turns. Unlike anything I've read before. I couldn't put it down. It would make a great movie!
A refreshing new mystery. This book has it all. Sex, alternate lifestyles,romance ,intrigue and many twists and turns. Unlike anything I've read before. I couldn't put it down. It would make a great movie!
February 9, 2017
Kirkus Reviews:
A buoyant, commendable mystery that piles on red herrings with ferocity and glee...the spiraling final act, culminating with the killer's staggering reveal, is an exhilarating ride."
Midwest Book Review:
Exceptionally well written...a consistently compelling read from beginning to end...a masterfully crafted suspense thriller that will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to personal reading lists and community library collections.
"Expired Listings is a sumptuous and starkly original mystery in which real estate agent Dana Black finds herself chasing a killer instead of just a listing. D.M. Barr's debut effort mimes the best from Sue Grafton, Susan Isaacs and Judith Krantz with an aplomb normally reserved for a far more seasoned writer in a tale that satisfies at every level. Splendid, searing, and sensational!"
--Jon Land, USA Today bestselling author of The Rising
Expired Listings is smart, funny, and sexy - a wild romp through the (oddly compatible) worlds of high stakes real estate and the "kink" subculture...it's funny and scary, fast and furious when it needs to be. An enjoyable and titillating ride into hidden worlds - and the mind of a ruthless killer.
--Carole Bugge/C.E. Lawrence, author of Lee Campbell Mystery Series (Silent Stalker, etc) and Claire Rawlings Mystery Series
There is everything anybody could ask for in a cracking good suspense novel - red herrings, a possibly unreliable narrator, some sex and romance, and a pace that builds to breakneck speed before a surprising revelation.
--Kathryn Guare, author of Where a Wave Meets the Shore
I love it when a book defies my expectation. DM Barr crafted a mystery that has just the right amount of racy sex, humor and kept me guessing. Definitely a fun read and well worth the time. Looking forward to seeing what's next from Barr.
--BJ Knapp, author of Beside the Music
Great Read, Well Written! This book keeps its promise of fun, suspense and just plain enjoyable reading. Highly recommended!
--S.A. Stolinsky, author of Hot Shot
So suspenseful! I couldn't put the book down, and OMG, finding out who the killer is was a shock! Can't wait for the next offering by D.M. Barr.
--Elf Ahearn, author of A Rogue in Sheep's Clothing
Kirkus Reviews:
A buoyant, commendable mystery that piles on red herrings with ferocity and glee. In this debut thriller, a woman decides to look into the murders of fellow real estate brokers when it seems that someone's setting her up as a patsy.
Dana Black is one of some 2,000 Realtors in Rock Canyon. It's a profession that doesn't get much respect from the townspeople, particularly considering an agency's underhanded stunt to garner public sympathy and the unexplained disappearance of a "problem client." So when a couple of agents turn up murdered, cops aren't very interested. Dana,however, is worried about her lack of alibis. Suffering from intermittent blackouts, she can't account for her whereabouts during the first murder. BDSM play partner, Dare, is her alibi for the second homicide, but he has reason to keep mum about their encounters.
Dana finds an ally in private eye Aidan Cummings, who asks her to join him in questioning locals because they'll likely be more responsive to a familiar face. It isn't long before Cummings is more appealing than Dare, despite the detective's conventional sex life making him boring vanilla. As the murderer continues targeting Realtors, it's clear a frame-up is in the works (for example, a car that looks suspiciously like Dana's). With a sordid past and her estrangement from hateful, sickly mom, Cassandra Beckett, and older, top-selling broker sister, Melanie, Dana has incentive to track down a killer.
Though the murder mystery's initially muted, focusing on Dana's sexual escapades with Dare, Barr's story gradually becomes a dense, twist-laden excursion. Dana's history, for one, is rife with trauma--Dad died on her 6th birthday--and curious motives later come to light, including Cassandra wanting no association with her younger daughter. Dana's not quite as kinky as she asserts, specifically indexing her various limits. Nevertheless, the woman torn between sexually enticing Dare and charming Cummings faces a dishy dilemma. And despite her worries, Dana's nonexistent alibis aren't much of an issue; she's actively involved in the investigation,spearheaded by Cummings (per orders from the short-on-manpower captain), who believes in her innocence. But she's unequivocally in danger by the end, and the spiraling final act, culminating with the killer's staggering reveal, is an exhilarating ride.
Review: 5 Star
'Bile makes for a lousy lunch.'
By Grady Harp
HALL OF FAME -TOP 100 REVIEWER -VINE VOICE on October 27, 2016
Subtitled 'An Erotic Novel of Psychological Suspense" Barr is quickly recognized as a fine comedic writer with an edge on parody...Barr has taken a series of topics - a satire of corruption in business, mystery, and BDSM and 'the universal need for validation and the toxic nature of revenge' and proves herself to be a hugely successful new writer. She possesses a rich imagination and seems to gain great glee in sharing that trait by offering a novel that has something for every reader - from consumers of mysteries to addicts of erotica and those who love to be immersed in parody. Every page explodes with dark humor and some fine pokes at established thoughts. Keep an eye on her - she is blooming.
Review: 5 Stars
Expired Listings by D.M. Barr is a thrilling story that combines enthralling plot and detail, all delivered in flawless style. Right away, the story came to life with a gripping scene that had me feeling like I was watching a scene out of 'Criminal Minds', only better. D.M. Barr effortlessly captures the intensity of the moments and characters' emotions to draw you in and completely immerse you in the story, luring you to go with her on this engrossing journey filled with a mix of pain, pleasure, romance and darkness; and she blends all this together perfectly without allowing one part to overshadow another. Every time I thought I was close to figuring it all out, D.M. Barr threw in a fresh curve ball that made me question my theories, with a mother of all twists at end that made me realise how wrong I had been all along. D.M. Barr wrote an absolute winner that cuts across genres and delivers an amazing experience. -- Faridah Nassozi for Readers' Favorite
Review: 5 Stars
Expired Listings by D.M. Barr is a thrilling story that combines enthralling plot and detail, all delivered in flawless style. Right away, the story came to life with a gripping scene that had me feeling like I was watching a scene out of 'Criminal Minds', only better. D.M. Barr effortlessly captures the intensity of the moments and characters' emotions to draw you in and completely immerse you in the story, luring you to go with her on this engrossing journey filled with a mix of pain, pleasure, romance and darkness; and she blends all this together perfectly without allowing one part to overshadow another. Every time I thought I was close to figuring it all out, D.M. Barr threw in a fresh curve ball that made me question my theories, with a mother of all twists at end that made me realise how wrong I had been all along. D.M. Barr wrote an absolute winner that cuts across genres and delivers an amazing experience. -- Faridah Nassozi for Readers' Favorite
A buoyant, commendable mystery that piles on red herrings with ferocity and glee...the spiraling final act, culminating with the killer's staggering reveal, is an exhilarating ride."
Midwest Book Review:
Exceptionally well written...a consistently compelling read from beginning to end...a masterfully crafted suspense thriller that will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to personal reading lists and community library collections.
"Expired Listings is a sumptuous and starkly original mystery in which real estate agent Dana Black finds herself chasing a killer instead of just a listing. D.M. Barr's debut effort mimes the best from Sue Grafton, Susan Isaacs and Judith Krantz with an aplomb normally reserved for a far more seasoned writer in a tale that satisfies at every level. Splendid, searing, and sensational!"
--Jon Land, USA Today bestselling author of The Rising
Expired Listings is smart, funny, and sexy - a wild romp through the (oddly compatible) worlds of high stakes real estate and the "kink" subculture...it's funny and scary, fast and furious when it needs to be. An enjoyable and titillating ride into hidden worlds - and the mind of a ruthless killer.
--Carole Bugge/C.E. Lawrence, author of Lee Campbell Mystery Series (Silent Stalker, etc) and Claire Rawlings Mystery Series
There is everything anybody could ask for in a cracking good suspense novel - red herrings, a possibly unreliable narrator, some sex and romance, and a pace that builds to breakneck speed before a surprising revelation.
--Kathryn Guare, author of Where a Wave Meets the Shore
I love it when a book defies my expectation. DM Barr crafted a mystery that has just the right amount of racy sex, humor and kept me guessing. Definitely a fun read and well worth the time. Looking forward to seeing what's next from Barr.
--BJ Knapp, author of Beside the Music
Great Read, Well Written! This book keeps its promise of fun, suspense and just plain enjoyable reading. Highly recommended!
--S.A. Stolinsky, author of Hot Shot
So suspenseful! I couldn't put the book down, and OMG, finding out who the killer is was a shock! Can't wait for the next offering by D.M. Barr.
--Elf Ahearn, author of A Rogue in Sheep's Clothing
Kirkus Reviews:
A buoyant, commendable mystery that piles on red herrings with ferocity and glee. In this debut thriller, a woman decides to look into the murders of fellow real estate brokers when it seems that someone's setting her up as a patsy.
Dana Black is one of some 2,000 Realtors in Rock Canyon. It's a profession that doesn't get much respect from the townspeople, particularly considering an agency's underhanded stunt to garner public sympathy and the unexplained disappearance of a "problem client." So when a couple of agents turn up murdered, cops aren't very interested. Dana,however, is worried about her lack of alibis. Suffering from intermittent blackouts, she can't account for her whereabouts during the first murder. BDSM play partner, Dare, is her alibi for the second homicide, but he has reason to keep mum about their encounters.
Dana finds an ally in private eye Aidan Cummings, who asks her to join him in questioning locals because they'll likely be more responsive to a familiar face. It isn't long before Cummings is more appealing than Dare, despite the detective's conventional sex life making him boring vanilla. As the murderer continues targeting Realtors, it's clear a frame-up is in the works (for example, a car that looks suspiciously like Dana's). With a sordid past and her estrangement from hateful, sickly mom, Cassandra Beckett, and older, top-selling broker sister, Melanie, Dana has incentive to track down a killer.
Though the murder mystery's initially muted, focusing on Dana's sexual escapades with Dare, Barr's story gradually becomes a dense, twist-laden excursion. Dana's history, for one, is rife with trauma--Dad died on her 6th birthday--and curious motives later come to light, including Cassandra wanting no association with her younger daughter. Dana's not quite as kinky as she asserts, specifically indexing her various limits. Nevertheless, the woman torn between sexually enticing Dare and charming Cummings faces a dishy dilemma. And despite her worries, Dana's nonexistent alibis aren't much of an issue; she's actively involved in the investigation,spearheaded by Cummings (per orders from the short-on-manpower captain), who believes in her innocence. But she's unequivocally in danger by the end, and the spiraling final act, culminating with the killer's staggering reveal, is an exhilarating ride.
Review: 5 Star
'Bile makes for a lousy lunch.'
By Grady Harp
HALL OF FAME -TOP 100 REVIEWER -VINE VOICE on October 27, 2016
Subtitled 'An Erotic Novel of Psychological Suspense" Barr is quickly recognized as a fine comedic writer with an edge on parody...Barr has taken a series of topics - a satire of corruption in business, mystery, and BDSM and 'the universal need for validation and the toxic nature of revenge' and proves herself to be a hugely successful new writer. She possesses a rich imagination and seems to gain great glee in sharing that trait by offering a novel that has something for every reader - from consumers of mysteries to addicts of erotica and those who love to be immersed in parody. Every page explodes with dark humor and some fine pokes at established thoughts. Keep an eye on her - she is blooming.
Review: 5 Stars
Expired Listings by D.M. Barr is a thrilling story that combines enthralling plot and detail, all delivered in flawless style. Right away, the story came to life with a gripping scene that had me feeling like I was watching a scene out of 'Criminal Minds', only better. D.M. Barr effortlessly captures the intensity of the moments and characters' emotions to draw you in and completely immerse you in the story, luring you to go with her on this engrossing journey filled with a mix of pain, pleasure, romance and darkness; and she blends all this together perfectly without allowing one part to overshadow another. Every time I thought I was close to figuring it all out, D.M. Barr threw in a fresh curve ball that made me question my theories, with a mother of all twists at end that made me realise how wrong I had been all along. D.M. Barr wrote an absolute winner that cuts across genres and delivers an amazing experience. -- Faridah Nassozi for Readers' Favorite
Review: 5 Stars
Expired Listings by D.M. Barr is a thrilling story that combines enthralling plot and detail, all delivered in flawless style. Right away, the story came to life with a gripping scene that had me feeling like I was watching a scene out of 'Criminal Minds', only better. D.M. Barr effortlessly captures the intensity of the moments and characters' emotions to draw you in and completely immerse you in the story, luring you to go with her on this engrossing journey filled with a mix of pain, pleasure, romance and darkness; and she blends all this together perfectly without allowing one part to overshadow another. Every time I thought I was close to figuring it all out, D.M. Barr threw in a fresh curve ball that made me question my theories, with a mother of all twists at end that made me realise how wrong I had been all along. D.M. Barr wrote an absolute winner that cuts across genres and delivers an amazing experience. -- Faridah Nassozi for Readers' Favorite
April 25, 2023
I can’t say I enjoyed this as much as I thought it would. It’s a serial killer story but also a romance - I guess? I’m not really sure.
I enjoy both those types of stories separately and I feel like the potential for greatness was present in this book but it just didn’t translate for me. While I did connect with many of the characters, the story itself was so almost random that I just couldn’t get on board completely.
The serial killer angle was easily the best part. While the romance part was fine, it almost felt like two entirely different books that were meshed together. I’m not sure what I would have preferred in this case but something just didn’t mesh for me overall with this story.
Now to separate my opinions out, sticking strictly to the story, the murder/serial killer/crime part was a pretty standard crime novel and it was easily the best part of the book. Following the one person that seems not to have an alibi at all for any of the killings, we learn many things that lead us to many red herrings and they work. While I personally figured it out before the end, I can see how the many possible red herrings could throw off a reader in many directions!
The ending was pretty rushed. We go from a chapter ending with the case solved to “one year later” which is fine, but we’re filled in on that missing year in a rather stilted way.
Overall this was fine, just not my cup of tea.
I enjoy both those types of stories separately and I feel like the potential for greatness was present in this book but it just didn’t translate for me. While I did connect with many of the characters, the story itself was so almost random that I just couldn’t get on board completely.
The serial killer angle was easily the best part. While the romance part was fine, it almost felt like two entirely different books that were meshed together. I’m not sure what I would have preferred in this case but something just didn’t mesh for me overall with this story.
Now to separate my opinions out, sticking strictly to the story, the murder/serial killer/crime part was a pretty standard crime novel and it was easily the best part of the book. Following the one person that seems not to have an alibi at all for any of the killings, we learn many things that lead us to many red herrings and they work. While I personally figured it out before the end, I can see how the many possible red herrings could throw off a reader in many directions!
The ending was pretty rushed. We go from a chapter ending with the case solved to “one year later” which is fine, but we’re filled in on that missing year in a rather stilted way.
Overall this was fine, just not my cup of tea.
December 24, 2024
3.75 ✨ This adult book is a great entry point for readers interested in BDSM and mystery. While it doesn’t focus heavily on either, it offers a substantial glimpse into both. Overall, I enjoyed it. It’s a medium pace read, and while I guessed the plot twist, the reasoning behind it caught me off guard.
My feeling towards the characters are mixed thanks to the ‘unreliable narrator’ trope, which isn’t my favorite, but its use felt intentional and didn’t hinder the reading experience too much. Melanie and Cassandra were an enigma, and Reid? Would've been a hard limit. Aiden, however, caught my attention since the beginning and I appreciated his faith in Dana, who herself is an intriguing character. Her backstory felt like it was on the edge of chaos waiting for murphy’s law to go on full force.
Once again, I was pleasantly surprised by how the story resolved and how the relationships were established. Definitely worth a read!
My feeling towards the characters are mixed thanks to the ‘unreliable narrator’ trope, which isn’t my favorite, but its use felt intentional and didn’t hinder the reading experience too much. Melanie and Cassandra were an enigma, and Reid? Would've been a hard limit. Aiden, however, caught my attention since the beginning and I appreciated his faith in Dana, who herself is an intriguing character. Her backstory felt like it was on the edge of chaos waiting for murphy’s law to go on full force.
Once again, I was pleasantly surprised by how the story resolved and how the relationships were established. Definitely worth a read!
December 13, 2024
This story was an introduction to Dana, a realtor who lead a double life in the form of BDSM hook ups. She used her role at work to find empty houses to meet up with Dare, her lover of sorts but all is not what it seems. I like the clever writing of puns, suspense and how the story flowed.
Although BDSM isn't the whole story here, it helps to understand the double life of a few of the characters. When some of Dana's colleagues wind up dead in the empty plots, she's obviously worried about her life and who is next. Who's behind this, are they watching her? What do they know about her?
The writing of this was enlightening, it opens up a whole new world and I really liked Aidan and Dana. Dana's backstory is a sad one but let's the reader know of the person she has become.
A web of secrets is uncovered and I loved how the ending ties it all up! Enjoyable read, would recommend.
Although BDSM isn't the whole story here, it helps to understand the double life of a few of the characters. When some of Dana's colleagues wind up dead in the empty plots, she's obviously worried about her life and who is next. Who's behind this, are they watching her? What do they know about her?
The writing of this was enlightening, it opens up a whole new world and I really liked Aidan and Dana. Dana's backstory is a sad one but let's the reader know of the person she has become.
A web of secrets is uncovered and I loved how the ending ties it all up! Enjoyable read, would recommend.
March 27, 2023
I love mysteries. Usually, the bad person flits through my brain giving me an indication of who it might be. This is only the 2nd book in all of the ones I have read that I didn't have a clue about the killer.
Realtors are being killed and Dana is being framed. By day, she is a realtor. By night, she has buried herself in BDSM to cope with the psychological issues from a traumatic childhood. There are no graphic sex scenes.
The investigator likes Dana and knows she is innocent. He works with her to prove her innocence. Can he also win her heart? How many will die before they find the killer? And does Dana survive her kidnapping as the killer wants Dana to remember what started all the trauma when she was a young girl before they kill the only living witness to the first crime?
Realtors are being killed and Dana is being framed. By day, she is a realtor. By night, she has buried herself in BDSM to cope with the psychological issues from a traumatic childhood. There are no graphic sex scenes.
The investigator likes Dana and knows she is innocent. He works with her to prove her innocence. Can he also win her heart? How many will die before they find the killer? And does Dana survive her kidnapping as the killer wants Dana to remember what started all the trauma when she was a young girl before they kill the only living witness to the first crime?
February 25, 2025
✨️ I was provided with a copy of this book by the author, but this does not affect my review in any way ✨️
This would definitely be a first crime thriller/ light smut book, and I honestly enjoyed just about every second of it. Following our MC real-estate-agent-by-day and sub-by-night Dana as she navigates a complicated life while also attempting to solve the murders of several colleagues, Expired Listings is a ride you won't soon forget.
I love a good thriller, and this one ticked every box. My only criticism would be that some of the more intimate scenes actually slowed my reading progress, but I'm not an avid smut reader so this could just be a personal preference.
Overall a really good read that keeps you guessing right up until the big reveal 🔪🫦🏡
This would definitely be a first crime thriller/ light smut book, and I honestly enjoyed just about every second of it. Following our MC real-estate-agent-by-day and sub-by-night Dana as she navigates a complicated life while also attempting to solve the murders of several colleagues, Expired Listings is a ride you won't soon forget.
I love a good thriller, and this one ticked every box. My only criticism would be that some of the more intimate scenes actually slowed my reading progress, but I'm not an avid smut reader so this could just be a personal preference.
Overall a really good read that keeps you guessing right up until the big reveal 🔪🫦🏡
July 8, 2025
Unique Storyline. I thought this was a decent quick read. I’ve never come across a book about realty and BDSM. The author did a good job of leaving you trying to figure out who was actually behind the murders. I was able to guess who it was before it was revealed, but I kept going back forth throughout the book, and was never REALLY sure until it was revealed. This is a very light thriller. I couldn’t say it left me on the edge of my seat, the BDSM was very light also. The author didn’t get into a lot of detail or explicit content, but it is nice to see books including this type of content though. I thought the progression of the plot was well done and made sense. Overall a nice, quick read.
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