Customer Reviews

Control Freak

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I must admit that even though I had heard about this novel before it was reprinted, I was not very eager to delve into it. I've never been too terribly interested in the murder mystery, "whodunit" genre, and from the synopses I had read, it seemed to be yet another rehashing of a cop style drama. However, I'm very glad I finally did give this novel a chance, for that is a truly misguided preconception.

Caitlin is a writer looking for the next big real-crime novel. Of course, it helps that her current love affair is with a detective named Mike. When Mike gets a call about a the murder of a young girl which involves sexual mutilation, Caitlin is eager to get the gory details for her next book. Through the help of her internet-savvy friend Wilson, Caitlin learns that the murdered girl, Eva, was a hacker known under the alias Apocrypha who had a penchant for sadomasochism. In the name of research, Caitlin decides to immerse herself in the underground world of SM.

Upon meagerly stepping into the Crypt, a mild SM fetish club, Caitlin becomes enthralled with the whole new world of sights and sounds around her. Being a dominant person at heart, she very quickly finds herself at home in a domineering role within the subculture. However, this eager submission into this whole new world may cloud Caitlin's better judgment and suck her in too deep.

Christa Faust has crafted a truly amazing, genre-transcending novel. Yes, Control Freak is part gritty crime novel, and part thriller, with a splash of romance thrown in for good measure, but it doesn't fit completely into any of those niches. Control Freak is an intimate dive into the SM scene, one which those already familiar with the scene can relate, and those new to SM can use to get a taste of this underground subculture. Faust displays a truly intimate knowledge of not just the scene itself, but the deep-rooted emotions involved with empowerment and submissiveness. Therefore, contained herein is also a tale about finding oneself, and accepting one's true place in the world.

I anxiously await any further novels by this talented writer, and highly recommend Control Freak to fans of good genre-bending literature.

Anyone who likes mystery along with the S&M world must read this book. Christa Faust writes so well that you feel like you are there with the characters. The S&M is not extreme. It is very erotic. The story takes place in New York's Village/Chelsea community. It is so real that you feel like you are there with the characters every step of the way. A must read book!

CONTROL FREAK is Christa Faust's debut as a novelist, having been a short story writer the past few years. Faust definitely writes what she knows and lives. Being a professional dominatrix has given this tale an air of authenticity others have tried but not pulled off as well.

CF opens up with a girl's murder. During the investigation, it is found out that she worked in an S & M bar. One detective, Mike Kiernan, and a girlfriend-type, Caitlin McCullough are the two main characters who do the job of finding out who killed the girl and why. Each person's way of searching for the truth is as different as the lifestyles of each. Caitlin goes on to become cxaught up in the S & M scene and Mike searches the usual police procedural way. Both find the answers, but some later than others.

This novel has a very seamy underbelly and is, ultimately, about the duality of humanity. Caitlin's dominating demeanor versus her conscience of what's "right and wrong". Her development and fleshing-out as a character is pure genius and stays true to herself all the way through the book.

Faust's prose is clean, her dialogue moves the pace of the story and her realistic portrayals of the S & M and B & D lifestyles make the horrors that are unfolding almost unbearable to read about. A great debut and a worthy competitor with Caitlin Kiernan's SILK as best debut horror novel this year. Buy and read this before everyone is talking about it. Highest recommendation.

I listened to this book as an unabridged audiobook.

A young woman named Eva is found murdered and sexually mutilated. Caitlin McCullough is a beautiful young mystery writer who is intrigued by the case when she learns the details from her police officer boyfriend Mike Kiernan. Caitlin plans to write a book about the case. After doing a bit of sleuthing she discovers Eva was well known to the (then) underground world of hacker's and SM clubs (remember this was written in the 90's). After interviewing a few of the dead girls' friends she's led to the SM club Eva frequented and delves head first into a world of pain, control and sex that awakens her to a whole new world of sensation.

Caitlin is immediately drawn to the darkness of the SM scenes in the dungeon and her snooping leads to her becoming part of the lifestyle (more like a superstar). She's clearly cut out to be a dominatrix and takes to it with a natural confidence that surprises her. The feelings of power, admiration and lust are intoxicating. She is surrounded by beautiful, young submissive waifs begging to get their asses reddened while horny men are more than willing to pay her good money for the pleasure of simply watching her get her boots licked cleaned. But the bigger draw comes in the form of a beautiful man who may or may not be mad and who remains the biggest suspect in the murder investigation.

I'll be the first to admit I'm not good at the "guessing the murderer" game and I was left guessing for quite a while though the reveal isn't any huge surprise. This book is more of a look into the life of a "normal" young woman who finds and willingly embraces the darker edges of her nature and once awakened she just can't turn back. As Caitlin is drawn deeper and deeper into the SM world, her old life and relationship inevitably fall to the wayside.

The characters were interesting and well-drawn but be warned this book doesn't flinch from the darkness within its characters and they often act in ways that don't exactly make them likable. This is a book mostly about obsession, power and giving in to desire at rather huge cost. The narrator does a fine job with most of the characters and I could clearly distinguish one from the other. The only notable exception was the portrayal of one of Caitlin's hacker friends whose voice was like bloodied nails on a chalkboard and completely cringe inducing (and damn if I can remember his name), fortunately (for me) he wasn't a large part of the novel so that's a minor nit in an overall decent performance.

Control Freak is dark, dreary, and seedy and I couldn't put it down.

Christa Faust wrotes with tremendous skill and authenticity. The novel is dark, edgy and subversive yet it never loses sight of its character's humanity. The marriage of gritty exploration of the SM world with a whodunit mystery plot is perfectly calibrated. Highly recommended. (An interesting comparison can be made with Melissa Febos' memoir Whip Smart about her experiences working as a domme and crossing the lines she had originally drawn for herself when she was starting out).

This book personifies the lost highway of youth and the sexy side of S & M and the errays of private jokers.

With a non-stop story and a heroine to die for, Christa Faust's debut novel shows the world that her talents aren't limited to S&M dungeons. Faust's words are as lush and ornate as the characters they describe; a bold and dangerous style for a bold and dangerous thriller. _Control Freak_ will have you tied up for days.

I live partially in this world and although, it went to the utmost extreme, many of the dungeon scenes were as real as it gets!

Loved the cover too !!!!

Control Freak is a very interesting book. It was recommended to me by Amazon after I bought The Scolds Bridle - and I couldn't be happier for the advice. Here, a young girl is murdered, with two protagonists attempt to find the answer. One uses typical police procedure, while the other uses her sexual skills for answers. As she investigates further she finds herself being drawn deep into the fetish lifestyle. Unfortunately for her, one of her bondage contemporaries is a murderer with a sadistic streak... Normally, I am not a huge fan or "erotic literature", however make no mistake - this is a book about murder -not sex... As the plot unfolds the reader is treated to a great deal of suspense and mystery - more than enough to make anyone lose control over their fears...

Relic113

This was the first Christa Faust book I have ever read. I was not disappointed with the story, and I found the plot unpredicatable, not getting to the identity of the killer in my mind until it was presented to me on the page. This was a plus. The story moves well, with realistic, believable dialogue and interesting characters and scenes of SM (not S&M) that I won't soon forget. There is an obvious connection in the naming of two of the main characters to Faust's real-life friend and fellow writer Caitlin R. Kiernan. You'll find out soon enough. The only flaws I found were in editing, with several typos, most of which amounted to nothing more than misspelled or added words. But these were only momentary distractions. Here, the story's the thing, and it's a good one. I've given it five stars, because I found it to be one of those books that I read late into the night and picked up first thing in the morning. What could be better?