Waking in the laboratories of Capricio Corps, a leading maker of drones whose dodgy techs have mistaken her for one of their creations, she finds herself covered head-to-toe in a permanent latex suit and mask.

She manages to escape, but is turned away by her own apartment’s security people who assume she’s a drone.

Drones are a regular feature in this future city, performing complex tasks for their human owners, and are able to pass without notice on the streets, on public transportation and on the sidewalks.

When security officers find the latex-clad Claire wandering the streets, they assume they’ve caught a drone with no ID papers. She gives them the first human name that comes to mind, and is returned to the home she previously shared with Lisette, as the property of her ex-lover.

Obviously a city populated with latex-covered servants is the stuff fetishists’ dreams are made of, and this comedic novel exploits this theme to the hilt, exploring submission, servitude and sexual urges, which are regulated in the drones’ programmed sleeping pods.

There are many mysteries the couple must solve, such as why Claire is the model for so many drones, and how she ended up in this position. Lisette is a very capable ally, and as the woman and her drone live in close proximity again, albeit in extremely different circumstances, their relationship blossoms.

I liked this novel a lot, and not just because I’m a minor character in it! The writing is sharp, intelligent and funny, much like its author. It has tremendous crossover potential with its slightly familiar fantasy of latexed submissives figuring prominently in the plot. Well recommended!

amazon.co.uk/Claire
thefetishistas.com/AFlameInTheWater
essentiallatex.com/HeidiPatterson

Published November 11, 2015