
The Venus Complex
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Narrated by:
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Doug Bradley
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By:
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Barbie Wilde
About this listen
A man rises out of an abyss of frustration and rage and creates works of art out of destruction, goddesses out of mere dental hygienists, and beauty out of death. It’s also about the sickness and obsession that is love. Enter into Michael’s world through the pages of his personal journal, where every diseased thought, disturbing dream, politically incorrect rant, and sexually explicit murder highlights his journey from zero to psycho.
"After purposefully killing his wife in a car accident, art professor Michael Friday finds his perspective on things has become a little...warped. Via his personal journal, we’re allowed into his mind to slowly watch the disintegration of it, bearing witness to his unnerving sexual cravings and ideas about killing: intertwined with the paintings he loves so much. As Michael writes, he’s 'turning into something dead'; but at the same time he wants to be somebody, not a nobody. Using his diary to rant against the world in general - including everything from banks to popular culture, from national holidays like Christmas to politics - he reveals more about the big, gaping hole in his own life. But as the novel goes on the first person narrative tensely builds up, displaying his dark dreams and innermost thoughts: his way of filling that void and presenting his grisly 'works of art' to the world. As intelligent and cultured as Hannibal, easily as disturbing as American Psycho and infinitely less reassuring than Dexter, this is a sexually-charged real life horror story that will definitely stay with you.” (Paul Kane, award-winning horror and fantasy writer)
“Wilde is one of the finest purveyors of erotically charged horror fiction around.” (Fangoria)
“The Venus Complex is a delicious collision of noir thriller and visceral horror. Whip-smart devious and jolting!” (Jonathan Maberry, Bram Stoker Award winner and New York Times best-selling author of Code Zero and V-Wars)
“Wilde expertly charts Michael’s diabolical descent into voyeurism, stalking and murder in a transgressive tale that would make Patrick Bateman blush.” (Rue Morgue)
"Damaged people, ultraviolence, murder and explicit sex--what’s not to love about her work?” (Chris Alexander, editor in chief, Fangoria #321)
"Barbie Wilde follows the tradition of Ellis's American Psycho and Oates's Zombie yet breaks new ground in the field of sadistic crime fiction. If you like the lurid and shocking, you'll love The Venus Complex. It's Dexter, without a moral code.” (Midwest Book Review)
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I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review
fantastically creepy
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Greatly convincing horror crime, best of it's like
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W O W
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The story itself is fairly simplistic, however, I found Michael’s methods quite ingenious and really liked how he goes about getting what he wants. The simplicity of the story is overpowered by the detail of everything that Michael leaves in his journal. This portrays a downward spiral into madness quite well. Each new entry ratchets up the tension and perversion. The only part of this story that I didn’t find completely satisfying was the ending. I don’t have any major complaints except I felt the buildup deserved something a little grander.
I would almost say that there are two parts to this book. The first part is a bottomed out professor ranting about life and giving his opinions on various topics and the second part is the rising of a serial killer talking about his exploits. I think the first part really lays out Michael’s character and does a great job of setting the stage for his evolution into a killer. Getting firsthand accounts from Michael’s journal really gets you inside the character of Michael and makes you sit shotgun on a crazy ride.
Nobody should ever pass up a chance to listen to a story told by Doug Bradley. He has the voice for storytelling. I enjoyed every minute of his narration, Doug has a fantastic voice, he provides the right amount of emotion, and really embodies Michael. I personally had the chance to meet Doug and he retold me a short story written by Ray Bradbury. His retelling and explanation of that has stayed with me longer than the written story has.
I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.
Two Cenobites take us into their world
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A Very Dark and Erotic Tale of Sex & Murder.
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The narration was perfect for this style of story. This is synergy - excellent story, powerful narration. I'd read this author again and listen to this narrator again. (I increased the playback speed for personal preferences.)
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Not for the squeamish...
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Sexual Insanity
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Journey of Darkness and horror
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Listener received this title free
Wow
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A very interesting listen
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