I received a copy of this title to read and review for Wicked Reads 
 5 What-the-heck-is-going-on stars 
 I need to preface this review that it will be short and sweet, because I will not remove the entertainment value for the reader by adding anything that isn't already in the blurb. 
 I enjoyed the suspense of trying to figure out what was happening. While I enjoyed the content, what speared me on was trying to puzzle out who Malcolm was in relation to Mona, with a bunch of wild guesses being made. This kept me endlessly entertained, because generally I deduce every detail about a story in the beginning, so it's always amazing when I don't know what's going on (not in a confusing, the author doesn't know what's going on either, so the story is being written by the seat of their pants, but when it's written precisely in a controlled manner from start to finish) 
 Mona's whole life revolves around The Red, her mother's gallery. After making a deathbed vow to always keep The Red, Mona is struggling under a mountain of debt and in an economy where art lovers aren't dropping big bucks to buy from her gallery... in walks salvation, with a devilish request. 
 If you've read Tiffany Reisz in the past, expect a similar feel with the content- erotic, inventive scenes, BDSM elements, and a riding crop. With The Red, expect a more truncated experience, which I was thankful to read. No inane everyday experiences, no making coffee, or every detail of taking a shower, or phone calls made to relatives, the food eaten, or the actions to take the character from point A to C. 
 These everyday mundane actions are left up to the reader's imagination, with only the important scenes spotlit by the author. This creates a super-fast pacing, focuses on Mona and Malcolm's agreement and the things that matter- setting the scenes between the characters. However, it takes a bit away from the character building- getting to know the narrator on a deeper level and the relationship she has with Malcolm. But, if the reader uses their imagination and empathy, the gaps should be easy to fill. 
 Erotic scenes, some sensual and slightly silly, some hardcore and intense, are torn from the canvases of masterpieces. There was an ethereal feel to some of these scenes, almost fairy-tale-esque. Well thought out, highly inventive and creative, it wasn't a stick part B into slot A repetitiveness. 
 The mystery is the story itself. At the ending, I was eager for more yet surprisingly satisfied with what was left up to my imagination.