Introduction

Kirkus Reviews: "A buoyant, commendable mystery that piles on red herrings with ferocity and glee...the spiraling final act, culminating with the killer's staggering reveal, is an exhilarating ride."

Midwest Book Review: Exceptionally well written...a consistently compelling read from beginning to end...a masterfully crafted suspense thriller that will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to personal reading lists and community library collections.

Someone is 'deactivating' the Realtors in Rock Canyon and the only person who's even somewhat alarmed is Dana Black, a kinky, sharp-witted yet emotionally skittish agent who has no alibi for the crimes because during each, she was using her empty listings for games like Bondage Bingo with her sadistic lover, Dare. And yet, mysteriously, all clues are pointing her way.

Along with clearing her name and avoiding the wrath of the 'Realtor Retaliator,' Dana is torn: should she continue her ironically 'safe' but sterile S&M relationship with Dare, or risk real intimacy with sexy but vanilla detective Aidan Cummings?

Editorial Review

No editorial review at this time.

Excerpt

This is an excerpt from later in the novel, where kinky, former travel journalist Dana Black is remembering how she first told her best friend, confidante and colleague Endicott how she was planning to move to Rock Canyon to sell real estate. Some slight changes have been made from the original for clarity and to avoid giving away any spoilers:

“You? Real estate? I don’t think so.”

Two days later, Dana and Endicott were sitting at the Gresham Café, sharing afternoon tea, as he expressed incredulity over her newly chosen career. She doused her scone with an unhealthy helping of strawberry jam and clotted cream, burying fears of leaving Gresham, her adopted hometown, in an avalanche of sugar.

“Oh please, Endie. You could be a little more supportive.”

“Oh, I love it. You and me, working side by side. Knocking each other out of deals. Bludgeoning each other’s reputation. It’s a terrific idea!”

“I don’t plan to be that kind of real estate agent.”

“No one does. It evolves naturally. Like apes into humans. Only in reverse.”

“I can do this. I know I can. And still look myself in the mirror in the morning.”

“Uh huh. Whose mirror will that be? The one in the house you’ll be sleeping in with your married lover?”

“I knew I shouldn’t have told you about that. Endie, no one’s going to be hurt by my ‘borrowing’ their overpriced home. Especially if I’m pricing it according to their demands. And hey, I can’t exactly have him come to my house, can I? Especially now that we’ll be living in the same town. He’s known, after all.”

“Where are you moving to, anyway? In with Sis? Or Mommy dearest?”

“No way. Melanie asked, but I think that would be an awful idea. No, I found a small studio over on Grant. Very simple. Cheap.”

“And what about the Gresham house? You adore that place.”

“I’m going to rent it out. I know how much you love that daily commute. Maybe I should get a two-bedroom in Rock Canyon instead. Then you could move in with me.”

“Grayson would just love that. You’re not exactly number one on his hit parade these day, you know.”

“I don’t understand why he dislikes me so.”

“He’s very possessive. You’re in my life and he doesn’t like sharing. The fact that you came first doesn’t seem to make a difference. Now that our little joint project is over, he has no more use for you.”

Endie reached over and tugged on her hair. “But you’ll always be my little Daney Waney Subby Sub.”

She rolled her eyes and swatted him off.

“I hate when you call me that.”

“I know. Especially when you’re the least submissive person I know. That’s why I’ll say it twice today.”

She mock-punched him in the shoulder.

“I think we can make this happen. Working together could be fun.”

“I know you think that. Your naivety is adorable. Really. Have you thought about the elephant in the room?”

“What’s that?”

“You. Your face, your picture, Little Ms. Whips and Trips, going up on signs all around town. Won’t your pervy friends out you to the world?”

“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that. Scene people keep to themselves. They respect each other’s privacy. After all, if they outed someone, wouldn’t they be outing themselves in the process? No, I’m more worried about you and all these other agents screwing me out of potential deals. Would you really do that?”

“Every chance I get, baby, but don’t worry. I may throw you a bone or two while you’re starting out.”

“Gee, thanks”

“De nada, girl, this is Darwin Country. Survival of the Fittest. Watch your back, never mention details of a deal to anyone, and never take anything at face value. Remember, buyers are liars and sellers are storytellers.”

“But I don’t get it. I’m there to help them, aren’t I? How can I do that when they’re lying to me?”

“They mostly want to help themselves. They don’t really believe they need you. They think they know everything, and you know nothing. They’ll try to screw you at every turn, so they don’t have to pay you a penny more than necessary.”

“Lovely. Sheesh, you make it sound like working in real estate would be like swimming in the Amazon with a school of piranha.”

“You’d be lucky if they were only piranhas. Selling real estate in Rock Canyon is much more like swimming with the candiru.”

“The what?” Endie, the trivia buff, never missed an opportunity to remind her about how much minutiae he knew.

“The candiru. They’re tiny Amazon parasitic catfish that either swim into the gills of other fish and eat them from the inside out, or swim up the urethra or anus of humans, who later die from the infection caused by the fish rotting inside them.”

“I’ll show you, Endicott Coxwell. I’ll prove I can swim in the Amazon and avoid the piranhas and candiru.”

“If anyone can do it, Dana, my money’s on you. But while you’re in the water, watch out for the pacu. They’ll go after your balls and judging by the size of yours, it’ll be like Thanksgiving at the Waltons’.” view abbreviated excerpt only...

Discussion Questions

Each of the main characters in Expired Listings deals with loss in a different way. How does each character express that loss?

What are the causes for Dana's sexual preferences and how are they fueled by a desperate need for validation?

Though many readers don't figure out the killer's identity until the end of the book, there are clues scattered throughout. Where are they?

Where did Dana get her sense of humor and why is it integral to Dana's identity?

Some readers complain that the sex scenes in the book are only alluded to. How is the book stronger by the lack of explicit sex scenes, even though BDSM is one of the book's themes?

Does the cross-genre nature of Expired Listings work in its favor?

Weblinks

»	Publisher's Book Info
»	Follow the author on Facebook
»	Follow the author on Twitter

Book Club Recommendations

Recommended to book clubs by 0 of 0 members.

Member Reviews

There are no user reviews at this time.
Rate this book