Reviews for "Expired Listings"
KIRKUS REVIEW
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/dm-barr/expired-listings/
In this debut thriller, a woman decides to look into the murders of fellow real estate brokers when it seems that someone’s setting her up as a patsy.
Dana Black is one of some 2,000 Realtors in Rock Canyon. It’s a profession that doesn’t get much respect from the townspeople, particularly considering one agency's underhanded stunt to garner public sympathy and the unexplained disappearance of a “problem client.” So when a couple of agents turn up murdered, cops aren’t very interested. Dana, however, is worried about her lack of alibis. Suffering from intermittent blackouts, she can’t account for her whereabouts during the first murder. BDSM play partner, Dare, is her alibi for the second homicide, but he has reason to keep mum about their encounters. Dana finds an ally in private eye Aidan Cummings, who asks her to join him in questioning locals because they’ll likely be more responsive to a familiar face. It isn’t long before Cummings is more appealing than Dare, despite the detective’s conventional sex life making him boring vanilla.
As the murderer continues targeting Realtors, it’s clear a frame-up is in the works (for example, a car that looks suspiciously like Dana’s). With a sordid past and her estrangement from hateful, sickly mom, Cassandra Beckett, and older, top-selling broker sister, Melanie, Dana has incentive to track down a killer. Though the murder mystery’s initially muted, focusing on Dana’s sexual escapades with Dare, Barr’s story gradually becomes a dense, twist-laden excursion. Dana’s history, for one, is rife with trauma—Dad died on her 6th birthday—and curious motives later come to light, including Cassandra wanting no association with her younger daughter. Dana’s not quite as kinky as she asserts, specifically indexing her various limits. Nevertheless, the woman torn between sexually enticing Dare and charming Cummings faces a dishy dilemma. And despite her worries, Dana’s nonexistent alibis aren’t much of an issue; she’s actively involved in the investigation, spearheaded by Cummings (per orders from the short-on-manpower captain), who believes in her innocence. But she’s unequivocally in danger by the end, and the spiraling final act, culminating with the killer’s staggering reveal, is an exhilarating ride.
A buoyant, commendable mystery that piles on red herrings with ferocity and glee.
Review: 5 Stars for the Audiobook Version
"Mystery, Kink, and Bad Puns! Bravo!"
Barr's story moved fast from the start. The elements of mystery and her foray into the aspects of an alternative lifestyle were woven together with wit and style that makes her a refreshing read. Barr has a gift for humor and the precision of phrasing that takes you down the rabbit hole with her characters. Throughout the story, the mystery built, not only about the murders, but also about Dana, Barr's protagonist, and her weird family dynamic. The why's and who's were overwhelming in such a good way! Her characters are complex and interesting. Their relationships with one another are thought provoking and have just enough suspense to keep one on the edge of her seat.Barr's easy, matter of fact knowledge about the world of BDSM is refreshingly realistic for one who has delved into that lifestyle. The world of kink that Barr describes is inviting and approachable with characters who also are real and not just part of her scenery. I listened to this book through Audible and Hollie Jackson did a great job narrating. She has a personable voice which is very clear and easy on the ears. She was able to add personality to the characters as she portrayed them in dialogue.
Overall, I would highly recommend Expired Listings as a mystery, and also as a novel with bits of kinky eroticism, humor and a beautifully woven story with which many can relate. What's next, Ms. Barr?--Shelley Brignac, Audible Review
Review: 5 Stars
Expired Listings by D.M. Barr is a thrilling story that combines enthralling plot and detail, all delivered in flawless style. Right away, the story came to life with a gripping scene that had me feeling like I was watching a scene out of 'Criminal Minds', only better. D.M. Barr effortlessly captures the intensity of the moments and characters' emotions to draw you in and completely immerse you in the story, luring you to go with her on this engrossing journey filled with a mix of pain, pleasure, romance and darkness; and she blends all this together perfectly without allowing one part to overshadow another. Every time I thought I was close to figuring it all out, D.M. Barr threw in a fresh curve ball that made me question my theories, with a mother of all twists at end that made me realise how wrong I had been all along. D.M. Barr wrote an absolute winner that cuts across genres and delivers an amazing experience. -- Faridah Nassozi for Readers' Favorite
Review: 5 Stars Expired Listings by D.M. Barr is a masterful blend of a number of genres, exploring a serial murder investigation, kinky BDSM, and the intricacies that color the real estate industry....D.M. Barr is a master at weaving a mysterious tale around murder and sex and leaving readers exhilaratingly longing for more. Most readers will love the psychological depth of the story, the mind of a killer who considers eliminating realtors as a form of deactivating their licenses for good...From the moment that one opens the book, a lot starts happening, things that seem so well interconnected. I fell in love with the characters, the rawness of language at times, and the awesome writing. Note that this isn't a book for those who aren't used to sex scenes and raw talk. Expired Listings is a story that will entertain many people and explore what happens when the competition is stiff and professionals get desperate. Very brilliantly told mystery. --Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite
Review: 4 Stars
This book is full of humorous scenes and a lot of really interesting descriptions, including several about the BDSM-obsessed serial killer who is murdering all of these people, but the book never actually devolves into detailing out sex scenes or becoming too graphic. Instead, it sticks around in the realm of satire quite a bit and manages to remain entertaining and engaging without risking pushing a lot of audiences away by dipping into erotica. I saw very little of the story coming, and a few scenes caught me completely off-guard or made me cringe, but they never went too far to actually make me consider putting the book down. Expired Listings by D.M. Barr is a fun and raucous romp that will be a real winner with readers interested in a cross-genre work of fiction with a focus on the mysterious aspects. Great work! --Ryan Jordan for Reader's Favorite
4.0 out of 5 stars
Intriguing and twisted mystery
By Honolulubelle on September 14, 2016
Format: Paperback
Favorite Quotes:
I wanted something punny, something that would make people laugh, so I chose 'This.' That way I could enter chatrooms asking, 'Does anyone want a piece of This?' and take credit when people typed, 'This is wonderful!' or 'This is the greatest thing since sliced bread.'
And let's face it - with the name Reid Wright, the man was pigeonholed into a career as either a teacher, writer, or a floppy disk.
My Review:
Expired Listings was not at all what I was expecting. I had no idea Realtors were among the least respected and most hated of professions, apparently their level of despicability ranks close to used car salesmen and politicians. The story seems to be a hybrid of genres - crossing women's fiction, family drama, suspense, and a serial killer murder mystery with an element of BDSM kink, and a dash of romance. Some of the characters were involved in the BDSM/sex club lifestyle - although the descriptions of their scenes were generally brief and limited to portions of their S&M play. Some of the descriptions had me flinching and cringing, as I am not a fan of sadism in any form.
While there were no completed sex scenes depicted - sex was frequently mentioned and there were a few interrupted erotic scenes. I would classify the overriding genre as suspenseful women's fiction with an extremely clever mystery and a cavalcade of heinous, odious, and abhorrent characters. The story was craftily erected, complicated, intricately detailed, and completely unpredictable. I enjoyed the clever humor, witty puns, intrigue and slippery storyline. D.M. Barr has to be a bit of a twisted sister to have come up with such a devious and cunning tale.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great mystery
ByCelebrity Readers AKA Carla Waluckon September 27, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
I didn’t realize there was no actual sex in the book. ::face palm:: I did it. I totally judged a book by its cover! And what a fabulous cover it is!
The MC is hilarious in this book. Her wit and charm are effortless and I love how she incorporates her BDSM lifestyle into this book without it being raunchy or uncouth. If anything it made me more interested in this lifestyle.🙂
The author wrote the people who are part of this lifestyle three dimensionally. They are not sex symbols nor are they sex addicts. They are normal people with normal jobs who happens to have abnormal tastes in what turns them on. They have families and day jobs, they go out on lunch dates and gossip. The author made it seem all very normal and ordinary. Which shows me how talented she is.
Combine that with her mommy issues and you’ve got a recipe for a great multifacated story. It reads almost like a cozy, but it is not. The mystery was very well laid out, I pegged the whodunit way later in the book than I normally do so that was pretty cool for me.
While I don’t usually read mysteries now a days, if these are the kind that are being published, I could be persuaded to pick them back up.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great erotica, suspenseful thrilling mystery. Real estate is not what you think it is about.
ByChris Phillips on October 18, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition
Expired Listings - by D. M. Barr – ISBN: 0997711817. Published by Punctuated Publishing (September 16, 2016). ($3.99 USD Amazon Kindle Edition) Reviewer received book from Author as an e-book.
October 18, 2016
Reviewed by Chris Phillips
This is advertised as an erotic suspense thriller. In all possible ways this definitely qualifies on all counts.
Dana Black is the main character of the work. She is a troubled adult working in real estate in the same company as her sister and in the same town as her mother did as well.
The only caveat is that this is erotica of a specific nature. There is no graphic sex, but there are adult situations throughout the book. From the beginning, where the murderer is dealing with a victim in their dungeon killing floor area, Barr spends a lot of time filling in the backstory until in the final chapter the surprise ending blasts into reality.
The characters are very well developed even to the point of some side characters being fully realized and very three-dimensional.
Apparently, there is a lot kinkier activity that goes on in real estate agent’s life than anyone suspected. Between rendezvous and meetings at private clubs, the people most involved find each other, learn more about themselves and each other and finally are all surprised by the truth.
Dana’s character flaws and poignantly her PTSD is a factor that keeps the true villain hidden in mysteries and shadows. Dana has experienced a trying childhood. She was apparently abandoned by her mother after her father’s alleged suicide. She grows up in a toxic town in Pennsylvania and does truly become a strong and clever woman. Throughout this she makes assumptions that are not only wrong, but she only reaches them through sketchy memories, very infrequent encounters with her estranged mother and the trial of growing up with a grandparent. She seems to be doing well for herself, but as the murders increase, in the agency she works for, she doubts herself, her lifelong ideas and even her own actions.
The relationships are between Dana and others. First, is Dare, a secretive Dominant with a very twisted sense of irony. The second is Aidan Cummings, a detective. There is her sister Melanie, the shining star of real estate agents who is a workaholic with questionable ethics. Her mother, Cassandra Beckett, has a supporting role that contains a few twists when considering Cassandra is an invalid being cared for by a 24-hour live-in caregiver, Lorelei Simpson.
Then peripheral characters come into play. There is Endicott Coxwell, the gay real estate agent and bff of Dana. His involvement becomes more important as the story progresses even though he is really an important friend to Dana. Dr. Eleanor Lawrence is Dana’s psychiatrist who almost thinks she is figuring Dana out but never accomplishes it. Deborah Lee Decker, is the owner of Rock Canyon Realty that they all work for. She is truly a ruthless and self-serving person, playing everyone against everyone else making more plot twists. In an unusual development, Barr makes each of these people as real as the main characters.
The plot crosses from erotica, suspense, thrilling, murder mysteries and even some comic relief.
Throughout Barr maintains vignettes where the murderer describes the developments in the dungeon where the murders are always involved. This is all done very well and with smooth transitions between each of the many views presented here.
This is a well-written and exciting read for those who like thrills-a-minute. Again, a warning is needed. This contains erotic and consensual kink which may be upsetting to some adults and definitely not for children. 5 Stars.
4.0 out of 5 stars
An intriging read!
By Books Laid Bare & Books Laid Bare Boyson September 16, 2016
Format: Paperback
3.75 Stars
This was a story that straddled genres and appeared at times not to be entirely comfortable in any of them, it sort of danced around the peripheries but if I had to plant its feet anywhere, I would put it firmly in the mystery romance pot because although the BDSM element of the story was well played and for the most part it lay comfortably within the context of the storyline, for me it was the mystery of the murders and the eluded danger that dragged me from page to page.
I liked the fact that the author kicked things up a bit with the whole BDSM slant but there were times that I found some of the details gave me a mental image that I don’t know that I want swimming around in my head, there were some scenes that I hadn’t anticipated and preferences alluded too that I can only say weren’t entirely to my taste but each to their own and that is the joy of being able to read cross genres, it challenges you as a reader because while you can like a story, a character, a setting, you might not like every single element and that was the case for me with this book….some of the actions, described or implied caught me cold and that was a surprise.
So enough of what I didn’t like so to speak, and more of what I did like because there were definitely more positives.
This was a cleverly constructed thriller (in more ways than one), the mystery was carefully and astutely layered, it was complex in its simplicity almost and that is a talent that is not easy to master. The story was erotically aloof when necessary, saying more by implication and intimation than by gaudy description, but didn’t shy away from the BDSM elements, at times I got the feeling that the author was almost challenging me and again that isn’t always a bad thing.
I think you will find your fill with this book, it had characters that you could both love and hate, some of them were, like the story more devious than appearances would have you believe. Oh and to top it all, I didn’t even manage to suss out who the killer was.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A steamy mystery that keeps you engaged and guessing throughout!
By Kindle Customeron October 1, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
A refreshing new mystery. This book has it all. Sex, alternate lifestyles,romance ,intrigue and many twists and turns. Unlike anything I've read before. I couldn't put it down. It would make a great movie!
4.5 stars
ByIt's About The Bookon October 9, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition
Oh Lord, this story was so funny and sexy! Add in all kinds of realtor puns and it’s laugh out loud hilarious. I really enjoyed it and some of the quirks the author brought to the main character really made trying to figure out what the heck was going on hard.
I’ve never read such a satirical book about Realtors–in fact, I really don’t think about that profession much at all. But I was totally missing out because Ms. Barr not only seems to have had a great time creating this–I had a great time reading it. Using a tongue in cheek, self-deprecating tone, she made me really feel like I knew the narrator/main character. But trust her?
Not in this lifetime…
It’s almost like icing on the cake when you add in the BDSM lifestyle Dana is leading. While Realtors’ bodies are piling up, she’s concerned about her attraction to the sexy detective who’s working the case. Can a sexy sub make it work with Mr. Vanilla?
This was a great mystery as well as having enough distractions to keep me guessing to the very end. I totally recommend this funny, engaging mystery and can’t wait to read more from this author.
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Reality of the Realty Business - a crime story
ByBarbara on October 19, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition
It is kind of hard to surprise me, I always watch crime thrillers while trying to solve the mystery before the end and "Expired Listings" was a challenge. A reader can imagine that "nothing new is under the sun" and all the plot twists possible have been done, but DM Barr just goes to show you that it isn't true! There are unexpected and well thought out twists that are very clever. I liked the premise of the book and the positing of the real estate industry as a den of iniquity. It is a "novel" idea, to borrow some of the punning of the author, but I do like puns. The book has a lot of moods to it: light hearted, romantic, and dramatic and does provide a lot of thought as to the nature of revenge. And then, there is the S&M. (It is definitely a part of the book and has inspired me to be sure to get a nanny cam when I sell my house.) It is graphic (though I have not read any of the 50 Shades book so I can't really compare that) and not integral to the plot as much as giving some psychological depth to the protagonist, Dana Black . So if that is bothersome to a reader, they can skip over it and not miss the fun of the story. Because it is a very fun story, and I look forward to reading more.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not for the Faint of hearts
By AlyciaCan28 on September 30, 2016
Format: Paperback
Expired Listings has had me intrigued since I read the description about the book. I received the book on my kindle in exchange for an honest review and I would like to state that this book blew me away! I read it in less than 24 hours I couldn't put it down! Don't judge this book by its cover! I would call it a great book for a rainy weekend. The author draws your in from the second you read the disclaimer. On that note this book does have a bit of grown up material in it so with that stated it is not for the faint of hearts! I'm not talking sex... no no not that but there is adult content. Each chapter is completely different which has you wanting to know whats the next one about, you just can't put it down! There are larger words if your not a moderate to strong reader that you may need to look up, but a simple look up and reread of the sentence you will see that was the best word to use! Overall this is a wonderful book, I loved it. I love to read but I am picky.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining
By Jo for A British Bookworm's Blog
on September 16, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition
This book walks a fine line of having just too many potential suspects, but manages to balance it so that the book remains an enjoyable read, rather than an over complicated brain teaser.
I would say that the ultimate reveal wasn't entirely unexpected, but there are definitely some elements to the story which may surprise the reader. And although there is an erotic element to the story telling, I didn't feel that it was one of the main threads, but more of a narrative tool to tie the disparate elements together.
Overall, an entertaining read.
5.0 out of 5 stars
I love books that you have no idea "who done it" ...
ByGayl Board-Rein on September 25, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition
I thought this book was riveting from the moment I first picked it up. I love books that you have no idea "who done it" and overtime you think you know but you are wrong!! So much fun to read. It's a little racy but in such a fun non explicit way. You may get a little education! I felt as if you really got to know these characters and understand who they were (you might be wrong). I couldn't put it down. A great read! Can't wait for D.M. Barr's next book!
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect Balance of Sex, Humor and Mystery
ByAmazon Customer on September 26, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition
Different than I expected, which is a good thing. I love it when a book defies my expectation. DM Barr crafted a mystery that has just the right amount of racy sex, humor and kept me guessing. Definitely a fun read and well worth the time. Looking forward to seeing what's next from Barr.
5.0 out of 5 stars
This was a great read with lots of suspense and surprise
By Solomon on October 4, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition
This was a great read with lots of suspense and surprise. I guess the main villain about 90% of the way through, but was still thrown by the reason. Twist upon plot twist! Highly recommended.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fun read, entertainingly witty
By Ken on September 20, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase
A fun read, entertainingly witty. A little kinky, but it's all foreplay - to the murders. Kept me guessing whodunnit to the end.
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