Whips and Chains

Saint View Murder Squad #2

by Elle Thorpe

Three…Two…One… The game has just begun.

Shadows crawl across the walls of an abandoned warehouse.
A knife waits on the table. A clock bleeds away the seconds.
Someone isn’t leaving alive.

My only chance of survival lies with the three men searching for me in the dark.

I let my guard down with X, the funny psychopath who has been following me for weeks, claiming I’m his future wife…Until he put his fingers around my throat and the laughter died away. Now he’s convinced he’s going to kill me and I’m not entirely sure he’s wrong.

Whip is the sin I paid for. He was supposed to be a transaction—one night only. Instead, he took my firsts and left me craving seconds neither of us should want.

And Levi… the ex-prisoner who wrote me letters that stole my heart. But love doesn’t protect us from a killer who knows all our secrets.

As sins are exposed and lies unravel, one thing becomes apparent.

The game isn’t over.
And the rules are written in blood.

Whips and Chains is the second book in the Saint View Murder Squad trilogy and cannot be read as a standalone. Start the series with book 1, X’s and O’s. This book contains dark themes that may trigger some readers.

Genres: Dark Romance, Why Choose, Romance, Audiobook, Dark, Found Family, M M Romance

380 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 20, 2025

About the author

USA Today Bestselling author Elle Thorpe is the author of over thirty romance titles, including Amazon top ten books, Start a War and Locked Up Liars. She is best known for her dark reverse harems, and sexy small town romances.

When she's not writing, she's probably out on her family's alpaca farm in rural Australia.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ellethorpebooks
Instagram: www.instagram.com/ellethorpebooks
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ellethorpebooks

Reviews

[Emms-hiatus(ish) · Rating 3 out of 5]

But seriously, Whip is 40ish - why is a 60ish year old on the cover?

The FMC and story? Meh

X - I'm here for it.

The 60 year old on the cover seriously lessened my enjoyment of Whip.

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll do a review soon but I just need to say DO NOT do that with a beer bottle. Ever.

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did i read this book in a day? Yes, yes i did. Am i wishing i had not devoured it so quick so it would last longer? Also, yes. But i couldn’t help myself. Falling back into Saint View is my favorite pastime.

“Oh, for the love of ducks and geese!”Hahahahaha.

Whips and Chains starting off with a bang & a little heartbreak.

My girl, Violet, is going through itttt. I can’t wait for her happily ever after with her found family. She deserves it all. 🥹❤️

Rebel & Fang to the rescueeee.

“Pix, the getaway driver is supposed to actually drive the car. Not antagonize the targets with threats on their reproductive organs.” 🤣🤣💀

Scythe & X are my favorite psycho duo lmfao.

“I’m kinda judging you for not judging! That’s not a kink, that’s messed up.” 🤣😭

I’ve said it before & I’ll probably keep on saying it with every new book, but i love how Elle portrays different families. Rebel’s family with their 5 kids makes me feel seen, all the chaos, the fun & the love. Then you have Augie & Ophelia being child free by choice. Eve needing IVF. There’s representation no matter what stage of life you’re in & that feels so important to me.

Violet needed Nyah. We love girls’ girls. Honestly hoping we get a Nyah & Dax book.

Listen, i LOVE Scythe, but I’m always so happy when Vincent makes an appearance.

6 stars, i loved it, its perfect. Let’s all bow down to the cliffhanger queen that is Elle Thorpe. Come on October, i need you here now more than ever. 😩

[Cassandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t usually ever write reviews. I hate to say this, but I would have rated this much higher if it didn’t have to mention how “fat” she was constantly. To me personally it was just really annoying at the constant reminder. One of the quotes from her men being “you can be fat and beautiful “ is that really supposed to be a compliment? It just gave me the ick. If I remember right it said she was only like a size 12 I think. Some of the parts come off sounding like she is some morbidly obese woman. I’m all for curvy plus size mfc but this just kind of ruined it for me. I absolutely love everything else about the book though.

[Catqueen · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars… I guess.
I would have given a higher rating if the plot wasn’t all filler and dragging out drama nonsensically. Violet was SO ANNOYING. So so SO freaking self indulgent and the confidence issues? Are we still dragging on about that, even after her best friend was killed? You can build drama in other ways. It just gets repetitive and boring to do silly things and gives the main characters very little credit. X was mildly funny but that was about it for decent humour. The chemistry between the guys was so forced and fake. Ugh, give me War and Scythe any day. I miss that. I gave the first book 3 stars because the plot was all over the place and Violet was annoying, and this was definitely worse.

[Rocio Cervantes · Rating 3 out of 5]

okay

Violet just made me not want to read the book. Everything she said and did made me zone out. Whip, X, and Levi characters were better. X is still my favorite character in this book.

[Clare-Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNFD at 30%

I enjoyed book 1 but in book 2 the FMC is starting to grate on me. I freaking love that shes 30, tall and curvy (finally!) but omg im fed up of her putting herself down CONSTANTLY despite having 3 gorgeous men chasing her. she's becoming more winy as the story goes. Not less. Shes also very judgey of others despite the fact she got her job at the club from these people. Think I just need to step away and maybe come back later

And killing Toby off???!! ffs

I freaking love X. hes like a stabby puppy 🥵

On another note what is with the awful book covers? why is Whip a 60 year old man??

[Manon_Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

ooooo, this book is very thrilling!
I'm was reading this on the edge of my seat

I cried more than twice 😭

the storyline is good
the jokes are the best
the banter is to die for.
and the spice is so hot!

and not to speak about the cliffhanger 🫣😱

[Cat H · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.6 stars.
I’m gonna need everyone to get about 300% better at communicating.

[Martika Hylton · Rating 5 out of 5]

So ready for book 3 Audio. The cliffhanger is crazy I had to start the next book just to breathe! The way I have laughed at this book! I love X he is still my favorite 🥰🥰

[Stfnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with a lot of trilogies, this was mostly filler. A little bit plot, a little bit relationship development, a little bit characters from the other trilogies of Saint View, but mostly filler. Ending at the obvious cliffy. Can’t say i was expecting how that turned out though. Will read the next book.

[Francisca S. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't. I just can't. She's an imbecile. I love them 3 men. But they would never go for a brain dead flat dimensional women like her. All the conversion reverts back to her and her not being attractive enough. And making VERY STUPID decisions.
Plus, her relationship with Levi lacks so much chemistry. He's supposedly the first love but it is just assumed, not actually shown.
I so badly wanted to finish this series for X and whip. But I can't hate read her POV no more. And every time she's mentioned is for an idiot reason.

[Lulu · Rating 2 out of 5]

(hoopla)... I was actually super disappointed, if I'm being honest... because the first book was so funny! This one was like "let's dial down the humor and dial up the smut! Both to the extreme!" The entire plot line gets lost in mountains of sexual content. I really wanted to indulge in the story...the murder squad portion of it...that it's named for. But instead I found myself skipping over chapters and chapters of smut - including m/m. 🤦‍♀️ Not my jam.

[Kimberley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again Elle, are you trying to make me go crazy, just rip my heart out at the end again why don't you? The pain and joy all these books give me are so intense that all my emotions go haywire the second I open up one of Elle's books. The middle book of a trilogy will always be painful as you are so near to the end but more things come along to destroy your hope each time before it actually gets good good.

We resumed this book following a very traumatic ending of the first book to be even more traumatised with what Elle decided to open up with!! We definitely see a side of the guys, X, Levi and Whip that we did not see in the first and you can definitely see some sort of a foundation forming with Violet, all for it to get taken away from us at the end again, this will be a grudge I hold until I can get my hands on book number 3.

Elle is one of my favourite authors, dare I say top. Her books are always amazing and so hooking and she has given us so many books/series in Saint View, I feel like I have an address there now! But I love it every time and to be honest, the more traumatic and soul-ripping these books are the more I love them!

I loved the confidence boost we see in Violet in this book, that girl deserves the world and I love her too, maybe not as much as our three psychos do but don't want to confess it as of yet. I think the main point that stuck out to me is how misunderstood X really is to the other guys and Violet is just starting to see this and I for one love their moments together so much.

I can't wait for the third and final book of the Saint View Murder Squad series and will be eagerly waiting for that one!!

[Simzci · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

I have many thoughts and this book is getting two different ratings from me.

3.5⭐️ simply because I absolutely love Whip and found that I rather enjoy the tension and dynamic of his and Levi's relationship. I find it very hot and wish I had my very own Whip🔥 🥵.

Moving on.

2 ⭐️
Violet has bumped down on my list of favorites because I just don't understand her constant insecurity in EVERY👏. SINGLE.👏 CHAPTER. 👏
Don't get me wrong, I am a girl and I loved the first book and the fact they finally highlighted a girl with curves! Just don't make women appear so whiney, we are stronger than that.


My girl has 3 men ready to d*** her down 24/7 she doesn't need to be portrayed as insecure.

I am also a little disappointed that we are no closer to finding out who is behind the creepy letters.

[Laurel Ullman-bockert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unhinged in the very best way. I have laughed out loud multiple times. I still think that this entire series could really be 1 maybe 2 books it certainly didn't need to have the entire story to 3 books.

[Heather Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again. The cover is awful. The story is great.

[Jennifer Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2

Book 2 wow that was a crazy ride and that ending omg not much else to say but book 3 here I come.

[Shaunna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cliff hangers are so huge they’re maddening. X is still funny but there wasn’t as much Mayhem in this one.

[aмanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ★ If anything bad happens to X 😤

[Celeste · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book we learn a little more about each of the guys. We learn about Whip’s past and experience X’s family. Levi also gets better admitting his feelings. I hate that there was a cliffhanger and now I have to wait a couple of weeks. Violet is not top of my list of FMCs. I get she is trying to overcome her grief over Toby but stop putting yourself in these dangerous situations! I’m ready to see Levi and Whip’s relationship develop and I hope to see more scenes together.

[Lynn Bisiaux · Rating 2 out of 5]

The only thing I did NOT like about this one was scenes between Levi and Whip…yuck!

[Pageturner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dragged a little but the relationship between Whip and Levi developed.

Violet is now working at a sex club and as a cleaner found out her brother is in the motorcycle club Levi’s is a member of and was his best friend.

Levi has a bi awakening and him and Whip start to get physical and a little emotional too.

X is struggling with not trying to kill Violet when they are along together.

The madman is still trying to kill them and possibly fit them up for other murders as they have found a pile of women’s bodies in the woods. Violet has the bright idea to tempt them out but this ends in disaster and the 3 men jumping/ being thrown off a cliff into the sea.

[Eva · Rating 2 out of 5]

I will go ahead and finish the series mainly just because I'm stubborn, but I have not enjoyed this series so far and don't have much confidence that I will like the last book. FMC is one of the most naive, know-it-all, ANNOYING, stupid characters I have had the misfortune to come across. The men, for the most part, I have enjoyed with the exception that they can't seem to stand up to Violet at all. Not real thrilled with the MM aspects between two of the men, but it's not a real big deal. Plot is okay,

[DanaR · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't bring myself to finish this series and start another book.
drama, drama, drama and just ridiculous. I laughed too much. it's like daytime soap opera in book form.
and ends literally on a cliffhanger again.

[Trisha Bobb · Rating 5 out of 5]

can you die by cliff hanger?? asking for a friend.....

[Gina Ciocco · Rating 3 out of 5]

UGH VIOLET. She was even more insufferable in this book. She has 3 HOT dudes literally obsessed with her, and she is still being insecure!??? I don’t want to hear it girl.

[Pam Lerash · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stupid FMC.... Also, would have liked a warning about a genre in this book. probably wouldn't have picked it had I known.

[Amaal Khiri · Rating 1 out of 5]

first of all, Violet was SO ANNOYING .
i couldn’t enjoy the book after her best friend was killed.

[Kirsten Jönsson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though I was hooked on the actual plot, this one was just a little too cringy for me... It ended on another cliffhanger, and I don´t feel like reading the next one...but I guess I have to now