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Underground Guy
This is an alternate cover edition for ISBN13:
9780463544433
Devlin Pope’s life has been a fight to maintain control, but it looks like things have finally leveled out. The company he owns with his brother is doing well. He's able to purge his anger-issues with men who are into the same sort of sex games as him. He’s even at the point where his long-deceased father’s physical abuse has become little more than a hard memory.
But the day before he’s to return to New York from a business trip to London, he’s contacted by the New Jersey State Police. They may have found the remains of his mother, who vanished 22 years ago, and want him to provide a DNA sample to verify the body.
Realizing that his mother didn't run off but was probably murdered by his father crashes Devlin into chaos. In a desperate attempt to regain control, he fixates on a good-looking guy he sees on the Underground, follows him off the train then kidnaps and sexually assaults him.
It’s not the first time Devlin’s done this, but until now he’d only attacked men who had crossed him. This guy had done nothing but sport a tattoo Devlin liked ... so instead of calming the beast within, his turmoil is increased.
What’s even worse -- Devlin finds out the man he attacked is an undercover cop named Reg. Three men have been raped and murdered in the last few months by a man who resembles Devlin, and Reg was acting as a decoy to trap the killer. Now another man is dead, thanks to Devlin’s interference, and the British media are howling. On top of this, the police believe he’s the killer’s accomplice and there is nothing he can say or do to change their minds.
As the evidence against him mounts, the shame he feels for what he did to Reg brings up issues and memories he thought long buried. Mixed in is the confused realization he’s fallen in love with the guy ... despite him being married with four kids and not the least bit interested.
Devlin careens into a brutal re-evaluation of his life even as he does all he can to track down the killer before another man dies. Because it’s looking more and more that thanks to his actions ... Reg has been marked as the maniac’s next victim.
And Devlin has no idea how to prevent it.
Devlin Pope’s life has been a fight to maintain control, but it looks like things have finally leveled out. The company he owns with his brother is doing well. He's able to purge his anger-issues with men who are into the same sort of sex games as him. He’s even at the point where his long-deceased father’s physical abuse has become little more than a hard memory.
But the day before he’s to return to New York from a business trip to London, he’s contacted by the New Jersey State Police. They may have found the remains of his mother, who vanished 22 years ago, and want him to provide a DNA sample to verify the body.
Realizing that his mother didn't run off but was probably murdered by his father crashes Devlin into chaos. In a desperate attempt to regain control, he fixates on a good-looking guy he sees on the Underground, follows him off the train then kidnaps and sexually assaults him.
It’s not the first time Devlin’s done this, but until now he’d only attacked men who had crossed him. This guy had done nothing but sport a tattoo Devlin liked ... so instead of calming the beast within, his turmoil is increased.
What’s even worse -- Devlin finds out the man he attacked is an undercover cop named Reg. Three men have been raped and murdered in the last few months by a man who resembles Devlin, and Reg was acting as a decoy to trap the killer. Now another man is dead, thanks to Devlin’s interference, and the British media are howling. On top of this, the police believe he’s the killer’s accomplice and there is nothing he can say or do to change their minds.
As the evidence against him mounts, the shame he feels for what he did to Reg brings up issues and memories he thought long buried. Mixed in is the confused realization he’s fallen in love with the guy ... despite him being married with four kids and not the least bit interested.
Devlin careens into a brutal re-evaluation of his life even as he does all he can to track down the killer before another man dies. Because it’s looking more and more that thanks to his actions ... Reg has been marked as the maniac’s next victim.
And Devlin has no idea how to prevent it.
- GenresDarkM M RomanceMystery
167 pages, ebook
Published December 15, 2018
About the author
Kyle Michel Sullivan
31 books107 followersI am a writer and self-involved artist who’s lived in London, Honolulu, and a dozen places in-between, as well as traveled around the world. I began as an artist and some of my artwork has been purchased by collectors.
I used to write screenplays, which is how "A Place of Safety" began life. But it deepened into a 3 volume novel about Brendan Kinsella, an Irish Catholic boy living through the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
In my writing, I try to build characters as vivid and real as possible and have a lot of fun doing it...mixed with angst, anger, amazement…and sometimes vicious arguments with them.
I have 2 websites--one for my MM Erotica (18+ only) and one for my mainstream fiction. Many of my books are available through Amazon, B&N, BAM!, Powell’s Books, and your local independent book shop.
I used to write screenplays, which is how "A Place of Safety" began life. But it deepened into a 3 volume novel about Brendan Kinsella, an Irish Catholic boy living through the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
In my writing, I try to build characters as vivid and real as possible and have a lot of fun doing it...mixed with angst, anger, amazement…and sometimes vicious arguments with them.
I have 2 websites--one for my MM Erotica (18+ only) and one for my mainstream fiction. Many of my books are available through Amazon, B&N, BAM!, Powell’s Books, and your local independent book shop.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 16, 2018
My review is purely subjective, but this is the darkest book I've written since "How To Rape A Straight Guy." Available through https://www.smashwords.com/books/sear..., it's a murder mystery told in first person by a man who uses rape as punishment against men who cross him ... until he does it to a young man who's completely innocent and sends his world crashing into chaos.
Devlin Pope is close to insanity, though he doesn't realize it until he sees a young man on the London underground, fixates on him then follows him off the train and attacks him. From that point on, everything he believes about himself is up for question as he explains why he raped other men -- like a billionaire brat who ripped his family off for hundreds of thousands of dollars ... and a jock who was working with some friends to brutalize Devlin, in college ... and even a salesman who stole business from his company.
On top of this, he's accused of helping rape and murder four men in the London area and the police are not accepting his excuses and explanations ... until they decide they might be able to make use of them.
The story is harsh and cruel and romantic as Devlin works through his situation and comes to a new understanding of himself. Maybe.
Devlin Pope is close to insanity, though he doesn't realize it until he sees a young man on the London underground, fixates on him then follows him off the train and attacks him. From that point on, everything he believes about himself is up for question as he explains why he raped other men -- like a billionaire brat who ripped his family off for hundreds of thousands of dollars ... and a jock who was working with some friends to brutalize Devlin, in college ... and even a salesman who stole business from his company.
On top of this, he's accused of helping rape and murder four men in the London area and the police are not accepting his excuses and explanations ... until they decide they might be able to make use of them.
The story is harsh and cruel and romantic as Devlin works through his situation and comes to a new understanding of himself. Maybe.
March 25, 2022
So.
I have been reviewing less lately. More time to read! But this one I have to comment on.
During the first 50% or so of the book I stopped multiple times to give myself a break from Devlin and his thoughts and actions. His history is revealed a little at a time, alternating between the present and the past as he reveals to other characters what he has done and experienced.
I outright hate Devlin. I can handle the story from his point of view. I can deal with the graphic descriptions of multiple clearly noncon rape scenarios. What really ruined it for me was making this guy the hero. The good guy. The HEA for the guy who deserves to be neutered. The ending was absurd and repulsive. Not for me it seems.
I have been reviewing less lately. More time to read! But this one I have to comment on.
During the first 50% or so of the book I stopped multiple times to give myself a break from Devlin and his thoughts and actions. His history is revealed a little at a time, alternating between the present and the past as he reveals to other characters what he has done and experienced.
I outright hate Devlin. I can handle the story from his point of view. I can deal with the graphic descriptions of multiple clearly noncon rape scenarios. What really ruined it for me was making this guy the hero. The good guy. The HEA for the guy who deserves to be neutered. The ending was absurd and repulsive. Not for me it seems.
April 14, 2020
It is supposed to be one of the darkest books that the author has ever written. However, after reading it, I feel surprisingly, happy and uplifted.
The story starts as a heinous crime and is certainly on its way to become a tragedy. Somehow, a ray of tenderness and kindness shines through the darkest and deepest corner in the heart of the protagonist. Instead of being the young man's destroyer, the protagonist turns into his protector, and in return, he saves his humanity. It is really a story of "love trumps hate". It is just amazing to see something so horrible can morph into something so beautiful in the end as long as you give up hate and let love and forgiveness take charge of your heart. It is never too late.
Besides, as a erotica/thriller fiction, the story has all the right ingredients and right amount: Riveting story line, hot sex scenes including some NC scenes to the bad guy (can't emphasize enough and should never ever be condoned in real life in any case). what more do you want?!
The story starts as a heinous crime and is certainly on its way to become a tragedy. Somehow, a ray of tenderness and kindness shines through the darkest and deepest corner in the heart of the protagonist. Instead of being the young man's destroyer, the protagonist turns into his protector, and in return, he saves his humanity. It is really a story of "love trumps hate". It is just amazing to see something so horrible can morph into something so beautiful in the end as long as you give up hate and let love and forgiveness take charge of your heart. It is never too late.
Besides, as a erotica/thriller fiction, the story has all the right ingredients and right amount: Riveting story line, hot sex scenes including some NC scenes to the bad guy (can't emphasize enough and should never ever be condoned in real life in any case). what more do you want?!
December 16, 2019
I never know how to review Kyle's books without giving anything away so I'll say this..I loved this book....Devlin is quite the character....He dishes out revenge on those who have gone against him..When he attacks a constable his life changes and not completely for the better..I love Dev and his ways...He goes through a pretty tough time but all comes good in the end....A brilliant read x
December 8, 2019
3,5 stars, rounded up
This was a dark kind of book throughout, the MC had some really sick tendencies but I still felt some sympathy for him.
But the last 25% or so, was completely rushed and a little too incredulously written. As if the author wanted to tie all the loose ends as quickly as possible. And that was truly a shame.
This was a dark kind of book throughout, the MC had some really sick tendencies but I still felt some sympathy for him.
But the last 25% or so, was completely rushed and a little too incredulously written. As if the author wanted to tie all the loose ends as quickly as possible. And that was truly a shame.
May 1, 2019
What a roller coaster ride. I was offered a free copy of this book in return for an honest review but, in the end, didn't need the copy as I already owned the book. Putting in a review though is only fair.
Do not be put off by the idea that Dev has been accused of raping and murdering four men and his personal history makes him the perfect suspect but this book is so much more complex. There is no black and white here - only many shades of grey.
The book is a murder mystery and there are so many possible suspects. I wasn't surprised about who was behind what was happening but the reasons about what was happening are more complex.
I don't want to give anything away so I will just say now that the book is well written, well edited and definitely well thought out.
I will be reading more of Kyle's books.
Do not be put off by the idea that Dev has been accused of raping and murdering four men and his personal history makes him the perfect suspect but this book is so much more complex. There is no black and white here - only many shades of grey.
The book is a murder mystery and there are so many possible suspects. I wasn't surprised about who was behind what was happening but the reasons about what was happening are more complex.
I don't want to give anything away so I will just say now that the book is well written, well edited and definitely well thought out.
I will be reading more of Kyle's books.
June 6, 2021
I’ve had this in my library for god only knows how long...no idea why I waited to read it. Real damn enjoyable!
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews