Audiobook Review: Dirty Mind by Roe Horvat

Alexander Popescu is a university lecturer in a quiet German town. He's a respectable man in his thirties who stays fit, has a decent career, and travels alone - his only vice is an occasional greasy meal. And beer. And violent computer games. Nobody has to know about the other Alex - the acclaimed porn writer. His ingenious erotic fantasies earn him good money and keep his capricious mind harmlessly entertained.

When his young friend and protégé Christian transfers to Freiburg for medical school, Alex is overjoyed...and terrified that Christian will find out about Alex's indecent alter ego. The time they spend together, as lovely as it is, could overturn Alex's carefully balanced life. Suddenly, the writing is not good enough, his hair seems to be thinning, his careful hookups leave him unfulfilled, and his dreams are haunted by the innocent young man he's vowed to protect.

However, Christian is not a boy anymore. He's a grown man of 21, clever, and deadly attractive. And he's hiding some secrets of his own.

Listening Length: 5 hours and 10 minutes
Narrator: Vance Bastian

I’ve almost read every single Horvat book out there, and I’ve yet to be disappointed.

This story is a bit more light hearted, featuring Alex - professor and incognito porn writer - who while on vacation befriends a young lad named Christian, 12 years his junior and way out of his league. What ensues after that fateful night is a unique friendship carefully cultivated through correspondence over the next few years, and when Christian moves to where Alex lives to go to medical school, it sorta kinda definitely throws Alex a lot off kilter.

What ensues is a push pull as Alex struggles with his attraction to the vibrant Christian, trying to maintain boundaries but failing miserably at staunching his growing feelings. Being what Alex perceives as way too old (as well as keeping his erotic alter ego a secret) are just flimsy excuses for Alex to deny himself a chance at happiness. Luckily, Christian knows what he wants and takes the necessary steps needed to get Alex’s head out of his own ass.


Narrated by Vance Bastian, I felt that he was perfectly serviceable and I’m positive that many have and would enjoy his performance. For me though, my perceived expectations as to how I wanted these characters to sound like just did not fully mesh with Bastian’s interpretation and performance.

Regardless, this features a great slow burn, as friends become lovers and accept the age gap that isn’t and shouldn’t be a factor in their relationship (as well as that dirty little secret). Full of great UST and sexy, never shirking on the feels - that’s what I love about Horvat and this author thankfully, has yet to miss the mark!

A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.