Topping from Below

"Topping From Below" is one of the best psychological thrillers I have read in a very long time, and is reminiscent of the work of Alfred Hitchcock - minus the obvious sexual content. This novel is usually billed as BDSM erotica which really limits the readership. I find this sad because as a novel it is excellent and deserves to be enjoyed by a wider audience. While many potential readers will shy away from a novel with a BDSM theme, they certainly enjoy novels like "Silence of the Lambs," many novels by Stephen King, and suspense thrillers involving serial killers like Jack the Ripper. Although the latter books have little or no sexual content, they are usually much more violent in nature than this spellbinding mystery, suspense novel by Laura Reese. For those who are not familiar with the terminology, BDSM describes a number of related patterns of human sexual behavior. The major subgroupings are described in the acronym "BDSM" itself - bondage and discipline, domination and submission. The book's intriguing title, "Topping From Below," refers to a rebellious dynamic in which the submissive, (the bottom), partner manipulates the dominant mate (the top). Nora Tibbs, an attractive, successful, 30-something journalist is obsessed with the mysterious murder of her younger sister Franny. Franny's decomposing body was found bound, gagged and mutilated on the floor of her living room. There was no evidence of breaking and entry, so it is speculated that the victim knew her killer and voluntarily allowed him/her to enter her home. The coroner, after the autopsy is completed, is unable to determined the cause of death. Nora is haunted by her sister's death and is determined to find the murderer. While looking through Franny's papers, she finds a diary on her sister's PC detailing the victim's BDSM relationship with a man called "M." Always believing she knew her sister well, she is shocked that Franny would even consider entering an "abusive relationship." The more she reads the more convinced she becomes that "M" committed the heinous act which ended her sister's life. The police have checked out this potential suspect, thoroughly investigated him, and found no evidence involving him in the case. The relationship between Franny and "M" was between two consenting adults, and the BDSM lifestyle is not a crime. Nora continues to believe "M" is guilty and is determined to prove it. She finds his home and work address and literally stalks "M," a talented musician and music professor with very unusual sexual proclivities, (to say the least!), until finally the two meet. He knows from the beginning who Nora is, but is intrigued by her and the possibilities of forming a relationship with the sister of his former lover. From the very first page to the last sentence the suspense and the tension increase. The writing is superb and the three main characters, Nora, "M" and Franny are intriguing, well defined and developed. The conclusion is a knock-out! I real

"Topping From Below" bridges the gap between a serious thriller of a novel and explicit erotic fiction. It is an admirable, perhaps audacious, first novel by Laura Reese. It is more than an exciting "fast read" and has a depth that deserves merit.This is a shocking mystery novel opening with a first person account by the main character, Nora Hibbs, of the sadistic death of her sister Franny. The author grabs the attention of the reader in a graphic first paragraph and succesfully builds the tension all the way to the end.While the primary plot is attention grabbing, the enduring tension is artfully developed by an underlying, highly erotic, pcychological exchange of power between Nora and M. The author has masterfully used sadism and masachism as a method of playing with human emotions and exchanging physical and mental control between the two main characters. The result is a gripping novel.The erotic scenes are explicit and may be offensive to some readers. Most involve S & M, but all of them are integrel to the story and changing the lives of the characters. They are not merely thrown in to tease or shock the reader. This is a serious novel with good character development and a devilish plot that could be real.My only disappointment was with some of the author's over-use of description of the physical environment. Some of the description was lengthy, unnecessary, and unrelated to the plot.This is a thrilling, very readable first novel. It is also one of the very few legitimate, quality novels that successfully includes explicit erotic scenes that are integral to a very real story. I hope the subject matter does not hinder the author's opportunity for future success.

By far one of the better books I've read in a long time. The story is disturbing to say the least. It's about control and domination by a man, sexually and mentally, written from a woman's point of view. Nora's sister is brutally murdered with no apparent cause of death. She's convinced the ex boyfriend is the killer and decides to get involved with him and whatever that entails to get to the bottom of her sister's death. As mentioned in my heading, this book is not for the weak of mind. The sex is graphic, and not run of the mill "Harlequin Romance" sex either. It will shock some, intrigue others, fascinate many. Well worth the time invested.

It's a modern erotic thriller with a great plot, deeply developed characters, and intelligent lively writing.A young woman sets out to find her sister's killer. Her sister was involved in a sadomasochistic relationship and she suspects this man is responsible. She soon becomes involved with him also, and the "who done it" part of the mystery deepens. Of course I read the last chapter; I always do; but this didn't lessen the impact at all. The story moves fast, the writing is complex, and the sex scenes are frequent, violent, and explicit. I've read two books recently that have these kinds of scenes: one was "The End of Alice" about a child molester; the other was "In The Cut" which was about a serial killer. Many years ago I read "The Story of O," which also has this quality. "Topping From Below", like these, is not for everyone. Many of the scenes will make you cringe. There's psychological and physical cruelty and scenes including whips, chains and bestiality. The title refers to an expression that supposedly comes from the sadomasochist culture. The "top" is the dominant partner; the "bottom" is the submissive. If the submissive starts to gain control, it's called "Topping From Below".You might throw this book away in disgust, but it will surely haunt your nightmares, take you away from the comfortable and hurl you into a world where pain and degradation is a sexual turn on. For the adventurous only. But be forewarned.