Monday, October 21, 2013

Book Review: Kill You Twice by Chelsea Cain

Title: Kill You Twice
Series: Archie Sheridan and Gretchen Lowell #5
Author: Chelsea Cain
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Genre: Thriller, Mystery

Format Read: Kindle
Length: Novel
Source: Purchased

Nothing makes Portland detective Archie Sheridan happier than knowing that Gretchen Lowell—the serial killer whose stunning beauty is belied by the gruesome murders she’s committed—is locked away in a psych ward. Archie can finally heal from the near-fatal physical and emotional wounds she’s inflicted on him and start moving on with his life.

To this end, Archie throws himself into the latest case to come across his desk: A cyclist has discovered a corpse in Mount Tabor Park on the eastern side of Portland. The man was gagged, skinned, and found hanging by his wrists from a tree. It’s the work of a killer bold and clever enough to torture his victim for hours on a sunny summer morning in a big public park and yet leave no trace.

And then Archie gets a message he can’t ignore—Gretchen claims to have inside knowledge about this grisly murder. Archie finally agrees to visit Gretchen, because he can’t risk losing his only lead in the case. At least, that’s what he tells himself . . . but the ties between Archie and Gretchen have always been stronger, deeper, and more complex than he’s willing to admit, even to himself. What game is she playing this time? And even more frightening, what long-hidden secrets from Gretchen’s past have been dredged up that someone would kill to protect?

At once terrifying and magnetic, “Beauty Killer” Gretchen Lowell returns with a vengeance in Kill You Twice, Chelsea Cain’s latest razor-sharp psychological thriller.



Teaser: “You’ve digitized your files,” he said. “I’m impressed.”

“We have guns, too.” [40% Kindle version. I had to laugh at this.]

Review: A bold killer strikes Portland once again in Kill You Twice by Chelsea Cain.

Gretchen Lowell won’t keep her claws out of Detective Archie Sheridan’s skin. Then again, he might not mind it too much. Cain’s brilliant characters are back. It’s always fun to see what new hair color Susan, a reporter, has as well as what evils Gretchen Lowell can think up. We see a new side to Gretchen in this novel. There is a sense of vulnerability to the infamous serial killer. Archie is still damaged, but he’s trying to move on—perhaps even with the hot blonde living in his apartment building.

The writing is fast-paced and intense. Cain has a gritty yet witty edge to her writing. It’s always a joy to read her work. I enjoyed delving into the history of Gretchen Lowell as well.

Kill You Twice by Chelsea Cain kept me on the edge of my seat! I love Cain’s Archie Sheridan and Gretchen Lowell series.

Five Bookworms = I loved it!