First published 2011
Dr. Marcus sits in his office, watching a patient across from him, but his mind fixates on seduction rather than healing. His erotic compulsions drive him to pursue both the women who trust him professionally and strangers he encounters elsewhere. He organizes his conquests with the same methodical precision he applies to his prized netsuke collection, those delicate carved figurines his wife presented to him. The doctor creates separate compartments for each relationship, treating his lovers as objects to be catalogued and controlled. His sexual appetite masks deeper psychological wounds that fuel his predatory behavior. As he exploits his position of authority, the boundaries between his professional duties and personal desires collapse entirely. The story exposes how he manipulates vulnerable people while maintaining the facade of a respectable therapist. His internal world reveals unexpected moments of self-awareness even as he continues his destructive patterns. The narrative examines the psychology behind his abuse of power and the ways he justifies his actions to himself.
Genres: abuse, contemporary, adult-fiction, psychological-thriller
Vibes: dark, emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: power-dynamics, unreliable-narrator
128 pages · Paperback · Coffee House Press
Content warnings: abuse, mental-illness, sexual-content