The Venus Fix

by M.J. Rose

Book Overview

As one of New York's top sex therapists, Dr. Morgan Snow sees everything from the abused to the depraved. From high-profile clients with twisted obsessions to courageous survivors, the Butterfield... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 077832317X
• ISBN13: 9780778323174
• Release Date: June 2006
• Publisher: Mira Books
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 4.2" x 6.6"

Customer Reviews

One of the year's best thrillers

An erotic thriller isn't the kind of book you'd expect to find on most guys' reading lists. But most novels of this type aren't as good, and as universal, as those written by M.J. Rose. Any reader, man or woman, who enjoys a sexy, suspenseful read would be advised to pick up one of her books. Rose's latest, "The Venus Fix," features the return of sex therapist Morgan Snow, a single mom and top-notch professional in her field. In a wonderfully-crafted plot, Snow is counseling a group of teenagers who are addicted to live Internet sex shows. When someone starts killing off the performers, while the boys watch, Snow is drawn into the investigation. The plot of "The Venus Fix" is fresh and intriguing, but it is the characters that push this thriller to such a high level. The relationships that fill it -- mother-daughter, doctor-patient, girlfriend-boyfriend -- are so well-developed and so real that the story takes on considerable power and poignancy.

A suspenseful novel, perfect for the beach

I have yet to find an author who integrates erotica and suspense as well as M. J. Rose. Her Butterfield Institute series is built on what I would call an ingenious premise. Dr. Morgan Snow, a sex therapist with the Institute, frequently encounters clients who find themselves embroiled in significant trouble as a result of their sexual problems. Such elements permit Rose to explore storylines that are unique yet believable. It is a given that sex specifically and passion in general have the capacity to get one into trouble. Rose proceeds from that premise and takes it to its logical conclusion, making each of her novels in that vein a riveting cautionary tale. THE VENUS FIX, the third of Rose's Butterfield Institute books, initially finds Snow treating a patient who is unknown to her --- he identifies himself only as "Bob" --- but is obviously someone possessed of power and importance. "Bob" frequently visits live Internet webcam sex sites, and this obsession is worming its way into the cracks of his relationship with his wife and destroying its foundation. At the same time Snow is working with a group of male and female high school students who are similarly obsessed with real-time websites. The males watch because...well, that's what males do. The females visit them because they literally are looking for tips to attract the males, and thus are seeking to emulate the behavior of the women on these websites. This is shocking, but Noah Jordain, a detective with the New York City Police Department's Special Victims Unit (and Snow's intermittent gentleman caller), is drawn into the world of Internet sex when a woman running one of these live sex websites dies online before a number of horrified viewers. It is quickly determined that her death, rather than being happenstance or by accident, is murder. When another incident occurs, it becomes clear that someone is targeting a specific group of women. Jordain's investigation leads him to "Bob" and a revelation concerning his identity. Snow is convinced that "Bob" is incapable of committing murder, which is challenged by "Bob's" confession. But the investigation is by no means over and causes difficulties for Snow, who must preserve client confidentiality. This becomes even more difficult when Snow comes to realize that there is a link --- which may or may not be coincidental --- between the murders and the student group she is counseling. THE VENUS FIX continues Rose's practice of interweaving complex philosophical, ethical and moral issues into a suspenseful plotline that entertains --- and yes, arouses --- while providing intellectual grist for thoughtful consideration long after the reader has completed the novel. Rose creates a rather ingenious modus operandi for the killer --- one that undoubtedly will raise the word of mouth profile for this book --- and her choice for the ultimate villain of the piece is at once sympathetic, diabolical and controversial. However, she also raises some fascina

Another Gem From M. J. Rose

I have read all of M.J. Rose's novels and they only get better and better. The vivid descriptions of New York, interesting characters, and originality of her novels will keep you glued until the very last page. This is not another serial killer 'disposable' thriller that you forget about five minutes after finishing it. The Venus Fix is a psychological suspense novel that addresses a serious issue - Internet porn addiction - and how it affects human sexuality and relationships at all age levels. You will feel as if you are sitting at a couch in a therapy session watching how the psychologist digs into the patient's brain to uncover the real issues behind the addiction. This novel, along with the first two books in this series (Halo Effect and The Delilah Complex), are the perfect summer escape books. I suggest that you find a comfortable armchair, grab a box of chocolates and a cup of coffee, and treat yourself to some hours of great reading.

A psychosexual thriller-mystery

The Venus Fix is the third book featuring Dr. Morgan Snow, a sychoanalytical sex therapist. In the current book she has a mysterious patient who will not tell her his name and even has someone come in and sweep her office for eavesdropping bugs before he will start a session. He admits to being addicted to internet cam porn sites, something his wife has discovered. He seems tortured, but is very secretive. Other patients she is following include a young trainee she is mentoring who was originally also performing to internet porn cameras to pay for her education, but who was wearing a special butterfly mask to hide her identity. There are several high school students, both male and female that she is counseling with issues of their own. The boys are frequent visitors to the porn sites and the girls are involved peripherally. All of a sudden one of the performers dies a rather gruesome death on camera, followed by a death and a near death a few days later, also on camera. There seems to be a connection and Dr. Snow tries to find it, while dealing with a rebellious teenager, her ex-husband and a lover who is also a homicide detective investigating the on-camera deaths. Someone is deliberately causing the deaths and the reader of this thriller is kept in doubt almost to the end of the book. All is not what it seems, which is the mark of a superb thriller-mystery. All the loose ends meet in the last chapter. A good read, but start it early in the day because you won't be able to put it down. J. Tom Cooper Funseeker's Radio Network Also recommended: Thriller, edited by James Patterson

A must read for parents!!

This is an important book. It should be required reading for every parent of teens. M.J. Rose has written an exceptional book about porn addiction and how it effects its users. We have heard of broken marriages, but not too much about the effect of porn on teen boys and the girls who are involved with them. Once again, we meet Dr. Morgan Snow and her lover Detective Noah Jordain. That alone would be enough to read this installment of the series, but the underlying story demands we read this book. Well written, intriquing, and a real page turner. Buy this book.