by Fletcher Rhoden:

Although this kinky erotica novel takes its cue from the Fifty Shades trilogy, it quickly exceeds expectations and outclasses its higher-selling competitors.

Kaylee St. Claire's life in Los Angeles is satisfying enough, with a dependable if unexciting lover, a good job managing a downtown eatery, a few good friends. But when the twenty-something Kaylee hears a shock-jock radio interview about erotic asphyxiation, she is perplexed and intrigued.

Kaylee embarks on a series of experiments which lead her to a burly L.A.P.D detective investigating the asphyxial murder of the very same interview guest she'd heard on the radio previously.

The detective, Tige Anders, introduces Kaylee to the world of erotic asphyxia even as they look for the killer, who could be closer to Kaylee than she realizes.

Without spoiling what happens, events seem to be resolved at the end of the book's first part. The second part follows Kaylee to her hometown in Oregon, where tragic events continue to swirl around her and, now, her kid sister, a student at the U of O. Tige arrives from Los Angeles to help Kaylee, but he may still be more guilty than she ever realized...

This story contains a lot of twists and developments, especially in the characters, which is something I personally didn't get enough of in the Shades books. The writing lacks the Shades' repetitiveness as well. And as for the sex, it is very graphic and much of it is fairly disturbing. Yet there is much justification and explanation for such behavior, adding depth to the sex scenes and to the characters. As one character says to another, "For some people, a riding crop and a ball-gag just don't cut it." There is also a variety in these sex scenes based upon the development of the characters. As Kaylee grows stronger, she transcends her role as submissive and challenges her handsome tutor for role of dominant. No two sex scenes are really the same, each marking the main character's development over the course of the story.

And it's not a long story either, so events come quickly and pages fly. There is a definite sequel weaved into the story, although the book does stand alone. Frankly, I could have kept reading. I already have hopes and theories as to what would come next (again, no spoilers), my first hope is that there' s enough interest in GASPING IN THE SHADOWS to warrant that second book. [At amazon.com now in paperback]