48 books
—
99 voters
Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “Max” as Want to Read:
Max
by
Novel (49,000 words)
Genre(s): transgressive, psychopath, dark erotica, LGBT+/GSM
Fresh out of school, Dr. Crane takes on a new patient who both intrigues and unnerves him. Charming, manipulative, and amoral, Max has exactly the sort of mind Crane finds himself drawn to with fictional characters.
As Max weaves himself into Crane's life, Crane realizes that while fiction might ...more
Genre(s): transgressive, psychopath, dark erotica, LGBT+/GSM
Fresh out of school, Dr. Crane takes on a new patient who both intrigues and unnerves him. Charming, manipulative, and amoral, Max has exactly the sort of mind Crane finds himself drawn to with fictional characters.
As Max weaves himself into Crane's life, Crane realizes that while fiction might ...more
Get A Copy
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
Max,
please sign up.
Popular Answered Questions
Bey Deckard
This answer contains spoilers…
(view spoiler)
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
Start your review of Max
3.5 stars
Yay! I got my darky dark fix! I feel good.
I was intrigued by the characters from the beginning. I love me some Psychos and MAX, Dear Lawd!
I wish we had Max's POV. I would love to be in his head.
I liked Dr. Crane too but oh boy! I have never wanted to punch a character like i wanted to punch him. Oh the good kind of punch. To protect him and make him wake up and use his therapist brain. Then i realized these two psychos deserve each other.
Everything was good until somewhere towards t ...more
Yay! I got my darky dark fix! I feel good.
I was intrigued by the characters from the beginning. I love me some Psychos and MAX, Dear Lawd!
I wish we had Max's POV. I would love to be in his head.
I liked Dr. Crane too but oh boy! I have never wanted to punch a character like i wanted to punch him. Oh the good kind of punch. To protect him and make him wake up and use his therapist brain. Then i realized these two psychos deserve each other.
Everything was good until somewhere towards t ...more
A tag team review with Sara!
4.5 HEARTS--
Down the rabbit hole indeed...
What a twisted, psychological thrilling roller coaster of a ride Max turned out to be.
I'd rather warn potential readers there are triggers in here: rape, dubious consent, unethical practices, cheating, some violence. (A checklist of sorts that guaranteed me reading) And I don't co ...more
4.5 HEARTS--
There was no climbing back out of the rabbit hole; he was fucked and fucked good, but at least the company was interesting.
Down the rabbit hole indeed...
What a twisted, psychological thrilling roller coaster of a ride Max turned out to be.
I'd rather warn potential readers there are triggers in here: rape, dubious consent, unethical practices, cheating, some violence. (A checklist of sorts that guaranteed me reading) And I don't co ...more
May 17, 2019
Moony Eliver
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
About a half dozen people who see this, and no one else. You know who you are. :D
My latest dose of fictional depravity was really good, y’all. I felt a couple of things held it back from sheer greatness, but if you enjoy dipping a reading toe into the psychological dark arts, I can easily recommend this one for the elements where it shined.
The plot is basically a therapist/patient relationship gone horribly wrong… one that was, quite frankly, never right to begin with. It started as discomforting but interesting, even while it required a healthy portion of suspended disbelie ...more
The plot is basically a therapist/patient relationship gone horribly wrong… one that was, quite frankly, never right to begin with. It started as discomforting but interesting, even while it required a healthy portion of suspended disbelie ...more
Sep 18, 2016
Bey Deckard
added it
· (Review from the author)
Shelves:
my-books-no-rating,
designed-cover,
organized-crime,
fiction,
sadist,
lgbt,
adult,
contemp,
dark,
mind-games
Buy links & Excerpt
Folks who dislike unhealthy relationships, are sensitive to consent ambiguity, or have eurotophobia should take a big step back from this story.
It's dark... ish and full of mindfuckery.
Substance abuse, pornography, violence, cheating, unprofessional behaviour, criminal intent, abuse... and good lord, the lies. ...more
Folks who dislike unhealthy relationships, are sensitive to consent ambiguity, or have eurotophobia should take a big step back from this story.
It's dark... ish and full of mindfuckery.
Substance abuse, pornography, violence, cheating, unprofessional behaviour, criminal intent, abuse... and good lord, the lies. ...more
May 19, 2019
Jan
rated it
liked it
Shelves:
dark,
lgbtq,
abuse,
guilty-pleasure,
mindfuck,
non-con,
psyco-crazy,
sociology-abuse,
dirty-boy,
ku
**** 3.5 stars ****
**It might contain spoilers.
This is the kind of tale that raises all red flags in your brain as soon as it starts. It's a car wreck ready to happen since there is a driver, but he's blind.
As the blurb states, Dr Crane, fresh out of school, takes on a new patient.
God help him. He was so NOT prepared for Max, it's not even funny.
Max..., dear lawd! ... just bring the straightjacket.
Max, the patient, is a master in manipulating. He lures Dr Crane in his web and unleashes the be ...more
**It might contain spoilers.
This is the kind of tale that raises all red flags in your brain as soon as it starts. It's a car wreck ready to happen since there is a driver, but he's blind.
As the blurb states, Dr Crane, fresh out of school, takes on a new patient.
God help him. He was so NOT prepared for Max, it's not even funny.
Max..., dear lawd! ... just bring the straightjacket.
Max, the patient, is a master in manipulating. He lures Dr Crane in his web and unleashes the be ...more
Therefore, it's hard to believe Dr Crane was his first "victim". It's also hard to believe his family couldn't see who he was. 
4 stars (audiobook)
Well, I wanted to read something different, and this was definitely different. I don’t think I have read a book this dark before, and for some strange reason, I found it very hard to stop listening.
When Dr. Crane takes on a new patient, Max, he certainly is not ready to be attracted to him, and the more time they spend together, lines are crossed. What ensues is a crazy, dark and twisted story as Dr. Crane goes down the “rabbit hole” Besides being an absolute psychopath, Max ...more
Well, I wanted to read something different, and this was definitely different. I don’t think I have read a book this dark before, and for some strange reason, I found it very hard to stop listening.
When Dr. Crane takes on a new patient, Max, he certainly is not ready to be attracted to him, and the more time they spend together, lines are crossed. What ensues is a crazy, dark and twisted story as Dr. Crane goes down the “rabbit hole” Besides being an absolute psychopath, Max ...more
Review originally posted at Sinfully.
Be forewarned that this psycho-sexual thriller contains issues of consent, abuse, violence, cheating, doctor/patient improprieties, general depravity and a number of WTF moments. If you are sensitive to anything please tread carefully. If you love depraved mind-fucks and when it comes to your reading have few hard limits like me, you’re going to want to get that one-click finger ready.
Be forewarned that this psycho-sexual thriller contains issues of consent, abuse, violence, cheating, doctor/patient improprieties, general depravity and a number of WTF moments. If you are sensitive to anything please tread carefully. If you love depraved mind-fucks and when it comes to your reading have few hard limits like me, you’re going to want to get that one-click finger ready.
Under ‘reason for seeking counselling’ on the intake sheet, Max had writ...more
If you're a fan of health care professionals who act the part, adults who display a modicum of sense or restraint this might no be for you. If on the other hand, like me, your up for a front row seat on how low or far someone will travel from safe and staid to what some might call depravity or others freedom, you've come to the right place. Dennis Crane is a man in need of liberating and Max is the right person for the job.
While I'm pretty over the omniscient and omnipotent MC, and wanted to sma ...more
While I'm pretty over the omniscient and omnipotent MC, and wanted to sma ...more
3 STARS
I’m never taking book recs from random facebook groups ever again.
TW: pretty much everything. Honestly, this wasn’t even romance. So messed up. But at the very least, I was entertained.
I’m never taking book recs from random facebook groups ever again.
TW: pretty much everything. Honestly, this wasn’t even romance. So messed up. But at the very least, I was entertained.
Apr 12, 2017
Ele
added it
DNF @30%
Good book but too fucked up. Even for me. But seriously, good book.
Good book but too fucked up. Even for me. But seriously, good book.
Re the Audible version: I am giving Nick J. Russo 4 stars on his performance here. I think he could have done so much more with Crane so I'm disappointed about that. His Max was excellent and Russo surpassed my expectations with all the secondary characters.
Merged review:
That was crazy good. It was so much fun to watch Crane unravel and go through this journey. At every turn I was thinking, "oh god, Crane - don't do it!" and then something else would happen, a twist I totally wasn't expecting. A ...more
Merged review:
That was crazy good. It was so much fun to watch Crane unravel and go through this journey. At every turn I was thinking, "oh god, Crane - don't do it!" and then something else would happen, a twist I totally wasn't expecting. A ...more
Oct 01, 2016
Jack Pyke
added it
Shelves:
dub-con,
contemporary,
m-m,
dark-erotica,
brutal,
dark-reads,
favourite-authors,
men-in-ink-edits
Max is psych and power-play manipulation at its very, very best, and... Christ, this is perfection when it comes to getting up close and personal with dark and twisted minds.... You've got to like it dark, you've got to love fiction more than a little twisted, and if you do, then this is one that will hit all those get-me-inside-the-twisted-guys'-heads spots!
Disclaimer: I'm editor for Max, although this is the second novel that I wish I was the damn author of. :) Just Perfect! ...more
Disclaimer: I'm editor for Max, although this is the second novel that I wish I was the damn author of. :) Just Perfect! ...more
I liked the premise of the book, for me it just did not get there. The basis of the story was there, IMO it was lacking any character history leading to how this story got here. I really enjoy a good dark or twisted story but it needs some back up,for me this one was lacking that
Oct 10, 2016
Sara
added it
4.5 HEARTS--
I'm nailing all sorts of first lately.
Totally popped my tag team cherry this with SRAL on this one!
I’ve said it more than once, I’ll read anything as long as it’s written well even if it’s dark, depraved and full of the folks being debased and this book, it’s written brilliantly.
This book is loaded with psycho sexuality, with moral ambiguity, with pure WTAF-ness and I couldn’t get enough. We beg ...more
I'm nailing all sorts of first lately.
Totally popped my tag team cherry this with SRAL on this one!
I’ve said it more than once, I’ll read anything as long as it’s written well even if it’s dark, depraved and full of the folks being debased and this book, it’s written brilliantly.
You liked it. I swear. I didn’t push you into anything. You wanted it.
This book is loaded with psycho sexuality, with moral ambiguity, with pure WTAF-ness and I couldn’t get enough. We beg ...more
Audio review added 1/28/2017
Review by The Blogger Girls.
Wow! This story grabs you right from the get go as Max begins his sessions with new doctor Crane. It also quickly becomes clear Max has some major issues and is one smart cookie. He is in control from their very first conversation and uses that control to manipulate and play every piece of his puzzle/game with scary and intricate precision. Dr. Crane didn’t really ever stand a chance.
The story plays out as Max takes over more and more of Dr ...more
Review by The Blogger Girls.
Wow! This story grabs you right from the get go as Max begins his sessions with new doctor Crane. It also quickly becomes clear Max has some major issues and is one smart cookie. He is in control from their very first conversation and uses that control to manipulate and play every piece of his puzzle/game with scary and intricate precision. Dr. Crane didn’t really ever stand a chance.
The story plays out as Max takes over more and more of Dr ...more
I really don't know how to review this book....It was totally different to what i've read before but it was also absolutely brilliant....I loved Max...Can you love someone who is so obviously not sane..Well I don't think he is....Crane and Max together were a harsh rough match.....What Max did to Crane was hard.....The way Crane treated Max was bordering on brutal but still they were brilliant together...This is definitely a must read for those lovers of darker books x
...more
Apr 01, 2017
❤Rachel Anne's Romance Must Reads❤
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
erotic-romance,
mm,
age-gap,
tortured-heros,
something-different,
dark-romance,
twisted-romance
What in the actual fuck did I just read??! And why did I read it all in one sitting when I should have been asleep 3 hours ago?? .... I need to call my therapist now. Thanks, Deckard.
4 twisted as hell but awesome stars!
4 twisted as hell but awesome stars!
Wow! Just plain ole mind fucking, head reeling and do not forget lurvvvveeee stricken Wow!
This book is not for the light hearted. And I don't mean to be patronising at all. This is depraved. It has characters :
Who are fucked up.
Who do fucked up things.
Who make fucked up scenarios and play them in a well fucked manner.
Who end up fucking each other in very grave fucked up ways.
Who fuck the life out of those around them.
Who finally end up fucked up! (Surprise-Surprise!)
(Oh! The ending is Happ ...more
This book is not for the light hearted. And I don't mean to be patronising at all. This is depraved. It has characters :
Who are fucked up.
Who do fucked up things.
Who make fucked up scenarios and play them in a well fucked manner.
Who end up fucking each other in very grave fucked up ways.
Who fuck the life out of those around them.
Who finally end up fucked up! (Surprise-Surprise!)
(Oh! The ending is Happ ...more
I has some issues with this book around the psychology of the characters. I still enjoyed what is a twisty book, something I like, but it could have been eerie and mind-blowing if certain areas were written in a more careful, in depth manner, in my opinion.
I still enjoyed it, Max gave me some things I like in my reading as well. Love/hate push/pull, that's how I felt reading the book. The first, probably, 15%-20% was the most frustrating for me.
So, it isn't quite a 3.5 star read an it isn't qui ...more
I still enjoyed it, Max gave me some things I like in my reading as well. Love/hate push/pull, that's how I felt reading the book. The first, probably, 15%-20% was the most frustrating for me.
So, it isn't quite a 3.5 star read an it isn't qui ...more
Apr 15, 2018
Heather K (dentist in my spare time)
marked it as maybe-not
Price dropped to $0.99 at Amazon US 4/15/18
Woah that was crazy! The absolute unraveling of Cranes mind as he falls further into obsession over Max's manipulative ass. Crazy!
Yes I did enjoy that, it was all kinds of seriously fucked up so don't read this unless you have penchant for dark and depraved stories. It was an absolute mindfuck!
Whether I enjoy stories like this all depends on how they end. I had absolutely no idea how this would end, even to the last page I thought something else could change. I was scared it would be a bit of ...more
Yes I did enjoy that, it was all kinds of seriously fucked up so don't read this unless you have penchant for dark and depraved stories. It was an absolute mindfuck!
Whether I enjoy stories like this all depends on how they end. I had absolutely no idea how this would end, even to the last page I thought something else could change. I was scared it would be a bit of ...more
Wow! this was all kinds of messed up and I loved it.
Exellent writing, awesome narration
really messed up in every way.
Highly recomend it if you like psycho stories and be warned it has infidelity and plenty of lying.
Exellent writing, awesome narration
really messed up in every way.
Highly recomend it if you like psycho stories and be warned it has infidelity and plenty of lying.
4.5 Stars Audible Edition
An excellent mind fuck that isn't for the average crowd. Heed the warnings. If you are anything like me, the warnings are often what make me interested in a book :) ...more
An excellent mind fuck that isn't for the average crowd. Heed the warnings. If you are anything like me, the warnings are often what make me interested in a book :) ...more
This story is very fucked up.... ...more
At its core, Max is a book of psycho-sexual addiction and pathological manipulation, and is even, to a certain extent, a case of role reversal in the doctor/patient dynamic. Or, rather, the question in the end becomes which of these men needs psychological help more. There is a chilling thrill of psychopathy and a growing emotional and physical dependency in this story that makes every moment spent reading it horrifying and intense. It’s not many authors that can write a book starring a characte
...more
Max is a study in contrasts, a war zone where hubris and the collapse of superego duke it out in an arena of narcissistic violence and sly manipulation. Max is the ultimate predator, conducting the hunt with precision and control. But Max also likes to play with his food. It’s the reason they put his kind behind layers of barricades.
One wonders… who are they trying to protect?
Crane is a neophyte and clearly not prepared for the sophisticated performance Max and his alter-ego execute under the gu ...more
One wonders… who are they trying to protect?
Crane is a neophyte and clearly not prepared for the sophisticated performance Max and his alter-ego execute under the gu ...more
REVIEWED FOR PRISM BOOK ALLIANCE
4.75 Stars
This is SO my kind of book!
First things first – If you are looking for a love story, or a story with a teeny bit of angst or maybe you fancy something just a tiny bit darker – walk away as you’re not going to find that here! Max is full on twisted with an extra layer of black and a complete mind fuck as you try to work out what is happening.
Newly qualified Doctor Crane gets way more than anticipated when he meets his new patient Max. Max is astute and ha ...more
4.75 Stars
This is SO my kind of book!
First things first – If you are looking for a love story, or a story with a teeny bit of angst or maybe you fancy something just a tiny bit darker – walk away as you’re not going to find that here! Max is full on twisted with an extra layer of black and a complete mind fuck as you try to work out what is happening.
Newly qualified Doctor Crane gets way more than anticipated when he meets his new patient Max. Max is astute and ha ...more
This was crazy good!
The whole ride was bat shit crazy.
[image error]
Max is a sociopath. He has a lot of contacts that can get him anything he needs, or do anything he needs done. Every move he makes has a long term plan.
This is a book, that I couldn't put down.
I love twisted books, and this one was a great read.
The end was perfect for the story.
I would recommend to anyone who loves completely fucked up.
...more
The whole ride was bat shit crazy.
[image error]
Max is a sociopath. He has a lot of contacts that can get him anything he needs, or do anything he needs done. Every move he makes has a long term plan.
This is a book, that I couldn't put down.
I love twisted books, and this one was a great read.
The end was perfect for the story.
I would recommend to anyone who loves completely fucked up.
...more
Nov 14, 2016
Bey Deckard
added it
· (Review from the author)
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
my-books-no-rating,
adult,
canadian,
contemp,
control,
dark,
designed-cover,
dirty-talk,
fiction,
lgbt
Dr. Crane is well-versed on mental health, but all warning signs are ignored when it comes to Max. There's no denying how intriguing Max is. Crane falls head first into the deranged unknown. Because the storyline is intelligent and amoral, it's never clear what will happen next. The insanity feels catchy. There are patches of disorientation so heavy the reader can't be certain who did what.
This is definitely my kind of story. It has dark themes but isn't overly graphic. ...more
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Readers also enjoyed
Artist, Writer, Dog Lover
Bey Deckard is the author of a number of novels including the Baal’s Heart books, Max, Beauty and His Beast, and Better the Devil You Know.
Bey lives in Montréal, Canada where he spends most of his time in the company of a handsome mutt named Murphy. When Bey’s not writing, he’s doing graphic work, painting portraits, speaking French, cooking tasty vegetarian eats, or watc ...more
Bey Deckard is the author of a number of novels including the Baal’s Heart books, Max, Beauty and His Beast, and Better the Devil You Know.
Bey lives in Montréal, Canada where he spends most of his time in the company of a handsome mutt named Murphy. When Bey’s not writing, he’s doing graphic work, painting portraits, speaking French, cooking tasty vegetarian eats, or watc ...more
News & Interviews
Die-hard mystery fans are always on the hunt for their next supremely satisfying whodunit. To help you stock that Want to Read shelf, we asked...
41 likes · 21 comments
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
