Book Review: ‘The Anatomy Of Desire: A Novel’ By L.R. Dorn

The debut novel from the writing team of real-life husband and wife is a well-crafter story based on the world of social influencers, sexuality and a tragic death in a lake. It’s written as a true-crime documentary and reads like nothing else I’ve read recentenly. It’s told from the point of view of all the people involved in the case, step by step through the trial and aftermath. You won’t want to put it down.

Cleo Ray had a tough childhood with bible thumping parents, the loss of a older sister and being raped. She managed to escape her midwest life and get to the Los Angeles area and her successful uncle, who took her in. She developed her social media brand and makes a good living doing it. She meets Rebecca, called Beck by everyone, and they start a secret relationship. She’s also dating Sandy, a fellow influencer and is a man. Cleo is bi-sexual and soon Beck finds out about Sandy and is furious. She thinks that Cleo is going to marry her. They go to the lake one day and rent a canoe and Beck is soon found dead and Cleo is missing. She’s the prime suspect and is arrested and charged. Cleo changes her story a few times and shocking details about her past and what really happened come out and then we have the compelling trial. We have to follow along to see how this all plays out in a trail for the ages.

You can pick up The Anatomy Of Desire in stores on Tuesday, May 11 from William Morrow.