TEST
Beg Me is not a book for the fainthearted. It involves issues that can be offensive and make readers uncomfortable. That said, if you think you can handle the subject matter, the book is a good example of suspense melding with erotica, each without overpowering the other.
After the violent and inexplicable death of her good friend Anna, Teresa Knight is hired by the deceased’s brother to investigate the murder. Teresa, who is also the heroine of Strip Poker, Lawrence’s previous novel, is a “problem solver,” a loose term for a private investigator. Police write off the death as a drug deal gone wrong, but both Teresa and Anna’s brother know she wasn’t into drugs. They are certain she was murdered when sexually graphic pictures of Anna bound and blindfolded turn up, and after shots are fired at Teresa and her new client in the streets of Bangkok.
The investigation leads Teresa from Thailand to London to New York to Nigeria and then back to New York. She discovers that Anna was involved in a BDSM fetish club, and her involvement may have been the cause of her death — along with several others. With the help of a former member of the club (or cult), Teresa trains herself to go undercover at the “Sarcophacan Temple of Nubian Princes,” the exclusive, secretive, black male-dominated bondage/S&M club in order to discover how her friend wound up dead.
As one might think, a lot of the erotic scenes in this book do involve kink. As a part of her investigation, Teresa becomes submissive to the men in the club since the “princesses”, as the women are called, are total sexual objects and not free to refuse any of the “princes.” Bondage and submission play a big part in the story, and because the men are all dominant and the women all submissive, there are sexist overtones. There are some racial ones as well as the cult’s leader preaches racism directed at Asian and white men.
Understandably, this may turn many people off. But I think the author handles her subject matter with skill and she addresses a somewhat taboo topic in an erotic way without necessarily endorsing the act itself. One can have no personal disposition toward S&M and still enjoy this book. As an erotic novel it worked for me, even though generally the idea of BDSM freaks me out. Lawrence allows the reader to be fascinated, and somewhat intrigued, but still see the danger when sex and violence are mixed.
It’s also a unique backdrop for an intriguing mystery. However, there certainly isn’t any shortage of history and information — perhaps a bit too much at times. I really am interested in history, but I found myself skipping several sections that were pure historical fact, such as the background of war and corruption in Nigeria. However, the mystery was well-planned and the information was set early. Lawrence gives hints and foreshadowing and, while I didn’t put together the reason Anna was killed, it all made sense when it came to the conclusion.
I do have to warn readers, however, that this book isn’t a romance. While there are some touching scenes and a clear blossoming of a potential relationship, it ends tragically. However, Teresa is a strong heroine, and it is clear she will survive the hardships thrown her way.
I did not give this book a DIK rating largely because the bondage/S&M subject matter is not something I want to read over and over again. I believe that, if you are comfortable enough with it and are interested in trying this book, Beg Me is well written, has good characters and a strong plot, and treats a sensitive subject matter with skill and finesse.
Grade: B+
Book Type: Erotica
Sensuality: Burning
Review Date: 30/07/07
Publication Date: 2007
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Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.