Hurt for Me by Heather Levy
Rating: ★★★★★
Dates Read: 1/3/24 - 1/4/24
CW/TW (possible spoilers): rape, drugging, death/grief, sex trafficking, abduction, bdsm, and many more. please check full cw/tw before reading.
Rae Dixon, a resilient survivor of a harrowing past, has built a successful life after escaping trafficking and abuse fifteen years ago. Now, operating under the alias Mistress V, she manages a private dungeon disguised as a a spa, catering to Oklahoma City's elite.
When a client goes missing, Rae's carefully constructed world is thrown into chaos. Detective Dayton Clearwater's arrival at the spa sparks concern, as his questions pose a risk to exposing Rae's true business. As young women from her underground community also start to disappear, Rae recognizes a disturbing pattern. Together, she and Detective Clearwater must find answers before more lives are destroyed, including those they love.
Hurt for Me is a poignant exploration of a woman's journey, skillfully presented in dual timelines. Levy impressively weaves both timelines, creating a story that is not only emotionally charged but also action-packed. This novel addresses significant themes such as the stigma around sex work, the complexities of female empowerment, and the influence wielded by the "elite."
The novel shines in depicting the kink community and safe BDSM practices, giving the story an authentic feel. Levy's thorough research, as mentioned in the acknowledgments, gives the narrative so much depth and credibility. Hurt for Me stands out as my first five-star read of 2024, a showcase of Levy's storytelling skills and a deep dive into societal issues. I immediately added her debut novel to my TBR, and cannot wait to see what she does next.
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