Finally here: A can't-put-down who-done-it thriller that is filled with graphic "sizzling hot" images, credible lifelike situations, and interesting characters described in realistic case-study features, which creates captivating introductions as the story unfolds.

The author, Robert Birch, is a psychologist and marital/sex therapist, yet he smoothly combines his professional talent with his gift of storytelling in this racy first full-length novel. The reader becomes intimately acquainted with each character, perhaps due to Birch's case-study style of introductions (which is always an interesting read; right?) -- although just when you think you know all the juicy (and sexy!) details on everyone, Wham!! The culprit of the crime is a definite surprise...which is what a successful mystery is all about.

Fellow readers: sit tight, fasten your seatbelts, and pay attention...this is a fun ride! Highly recommended -- but also not for the squeamish: Robert Birch utilizes his knowledge as a sex therapist throughout the book and few people will walk away from this read without learning a thing or two...or three. Fun, fun, fun!!

Mr. Robert Birch, do we get an encore?

A compelling and sexually provocative mystery as told by a cast
of substantive characters.
The author has skillfully infused this fictional tale with humor
and intrigue, all the while providing us with real insight into
human/sexual nature that this reader has found extremely fascinating, and helpful.
Don't Pass It Up!

In "Settling the Score," author Birch does a nice job of weaving erotic fiction with a complex and tightly-knit murder mystery plot. In too many erotic novels, the sex is gratuitous and the plot merely a lame excuse for the sex scenes. In "Settling the Score," though, Birch, a sex therapist, not only has his characters linked by their varied and realistic past and present sexual liasions, but explores the way that each character's sexuality became what it and relates that to each character's overall personality and actions in the novel. The sex is organic to the action.

I liked the variety of the sex scenes and his ability to sensitively portray, among others, the shy, the repressed, those looking for love, the twisted and all sorts of real human types.