MEN AND DESIRE, book III of a trilogy, is a continuation of Michael O'Farrell's lifetime struggle with obsessive gay sexual desires, while attempting to live as a straight man, with an uncontrollable desire to seek male sexual encounters, possibly attributed to repeated molestations as a child, beginning at seven, and continuing into his teens. He embarks on two disastrous marriages in
an attempt to live a hetero life while engaging in gay relationships. During military assignments in London and Paris, and ultimately in Hollywood when he leaves the military, he becomes involved in several gay relationships, one of which is with a famous screen idol. All his relationships are destroyed because of his inability to remain faithful because of his sexual obsession.


Michael becomes a successful novelist and screen writer in Hollywood. After his breakup with his second wife, he finally decides he has no choice except to accept his sexuality and live as a gay man. He becomes the lover of a famous male screen idol, but even then he cannot control his incessant cruising for anonymous gay sex. That leads to another disaster.


Books 1 and 2 of the trilogy, The Stinger Is In The Tail, and Let the Devil Take Tomorrow, outline the beginning of his descent into sexual obsession.