TORTURED LOVE
A novel of life, death and hope

By Michael Khatkar
Published by Mereo: www.mereobooks.com

Billed as ‘a sexually explicit thriller of the most twisted kind’ (definitely one to remove from the bedside table when granny stays over), Tortured Love is a debut novel with a curiously lyrical quality.

The unconventional story centres on Michael and his extraordinary effect on the lives of others, including Rebecca who he meets in hospital. Recovering from the latest brutal attack meted out by her sadistic husband, Rebecca’s spirit remains intact. Just. Meanwhile Rosemary, a child psychologist, is tortured by her own imagination. And then there’s Kai, whose life is a twisted quagmire of black-magic, sorcery and deceit.

With their lives interwoven and their fortunes changed dramatically by association, psychopaths and poets meld in a journey that constantly surprises and shocks. But while the violence (including sexual violence) is graphic, Khatkar pulls off the neat trick of maintaining a gripping narrative while exploring some bizarre threads, each of which highlights how personal influence can incite everything from suicide and murder to love and romance.

Sure to appeal to adult readers of horror, mystery intrigue and erotica this is a unique story that, even at its most unpalatable, and in spite of being profoundly disturbing, also manages to convey a message of hope. Highly recommended.

Vicky Edwards