Asking FBI agent Jared Keller to be less than the alpha male he is, is like asking the president of the United States to be subservient to his wife, it’s just not in his genes. So when Jared’s boss asks him to take an undercover assignment to help catch a serial killer who preys on submissive males from a popular BDSM club, he can’t imagine how he will be able to fool anyone into believing he can be lead. Detective Monica Street is committed to catching the sadistic fiend terrorizing the scene she grew up around. She’s sure she can teach Jared all he needs to know if he would just let go and experience the beauty in having a mistress. They will have to figure it out soon, because their killer is a lot closer than Jared or Monica could have imagined.

In a story where the hero is able to be strong, yet sill submissive in a way that doesn’t make him come off as weak, Journey to the Dark Side is an intense thriller packed in a petite package. Monica is relaxed with the BDSM lifestyle, even though she’s not an active participant in the scene. Her looseness sets the tone for the story, which kept me riveted because of the sexual play that at times was downright gripping. The intrigue on who the actual killer was always kept me on a slight edge. I really enjoyed Marty Rayne’s delve into this world, where sometimes pain and pleasure are but one in the same.