Maggie Blackbird

I won another e-book in a contest, and one thing I always do is read and review every book I win.  For today, I am reviewing Bangkok Noir by Lisabet Sarai, a romantic suspense.

Title: Bangkok Noir
Series: N/A
Author: Lisabet Sarai
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Excessica Publishing
Release Date: September 11, 2014
Length: 123 Pages

Blurb:  Diana Fanning, aka the Professor, runs The Academy, the only genuine BDSM bar in Bangkok. She’s the first person police colonel Apichat Weeranwongsakul consults when a bar girl turns up brutally murdered, tightly bound, with clamped nipples and every orifice stuffed with sex toys. The colonel figures the killer might be one of her customers. But he has his own secrets. He needs Diana to satisfy his shameful dreams of being beaten and abused. Meanwhile, a mysterious American named Sam stalks Nok, the lovely natural dominant who is the Professor’s star performer. Nok is used to being the one in charge. She can’t understand why she craves the discipline Sam administers.

As more women are slaughtered, always in kinky circumstances, the Professor finds herself in an exclusive world catering to the perversions of Bangkok’s wealthy and well-connected. Simultaneously looking for evidence and satisfying her own lusts, she doesn’t realize until too late that the power she’s used to wielding won’t save her from becoming the serial murderer’s next victim.

****

I won this book, and I always read and review books I’ve won.  It is my thank you to the author for generously donating their novel to a contest.  Lisabet Sarai is a new author to me, and I was looking forward to reading this erotic romantic suspense.  The blurb and excerpt I read at her blog really captured my interest.

Bangkok Noir delves deep into the BDSM clubs in, of course, Bangkok.  As written in the blurb, Diana Fanning owns a bar called The Academy where women act out displays of BDSM on stage for an audience.

Apichat Weeranwongsakul is the police officer investigating the murders that are happening.  He is a strong character who is hiding his own secrets, a man Diana respects.

As for Nok, she is also a major character in the novel and by far my favourite.  There is strength to her and vulnerability that I really liked.  She really came alive in this short novel that explores a side to her she didn’t think existed until she meets the enigmatic Sam.

While the mystery escalates, each character is pulled deeper into confronting the “dark” sides they hide.

The pacing is tight.  The author takes time to explain through exposition, but never stalls or lags anywhere in the novel.  The setting is brilliantly painted into an atmosphere of seediness and danger.  Each character comes to life through their dialogue.  As for the sex scenes, these are used to highlight the characters’ strengths or weaknesses, never for titillation.  Well done, author.

I highly recommend this novel for those who enjoy a good mystery with a heavy dash of erotic romance.  The exploration into the characters’ hidden desires is what makes this novel a true keeper, as each character finally learns who they truly are and what they truly want, or maybe not want.

Have you read Bangkok Noir?  If so, do you agree with my review?  If you haven’t read the book, would you be willing to now?