Hook Me: Let Me Go by Chelsea Cain

Title: Let Me Go
Series: Archie Sheridan and Gretchen Lowell #6
Author: Chelsea Cain
Publisher: Minotaur Books (July 1, 2013)
Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Book Description: Beautiful killer Gretchen Lowell tightens her grip on Detective Archie Sheridan in Let Me Go, New York Times bestseller Chelsea Cain’s newest nail-biter.

Detective Archie Sheridan is about to receive a birthday present from the last person he ever wants to see again: Gretchen Lowell.

The investigation into Jack Reynolds's drug enterprise is heating up and has Archie heading off to attend a masked Halloween party on Jack Reynolds's island, where Susan is a reluctant guest. But the next morning one of the guests is found murdered, and Archie quickly realizes that nothing is what it seems. Only one thing is clear: Gretchen is back, and she's been closer than anyone thinks. On Halloween Eve, with time running out, Archie will have to risk everything, and choose wisely whom to trust, if he and his loved ones are going to live through the night.

First line: Archie Sheridan had a paper birthday hat on his head and six bullets in his front pocket.
Last line read: She smiled at what she found.

Overall Impressions: I've been a fan of Cain's Archie Sheridan and Gretchen Lowell series since book one. Cain has this delightfully gritty style that had touches of wry humor that I just love. The opening is paradoxical at its juxtaposition of a birthday party and death. The sample just skimmed the surface of what the story is about.

Would I keep reading?: Yes!

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!

G is for Gretchen Lowell series by Chelsea Cain

 

For 2013's A to Z Challenge, I am talking about book series, particularly some favorite series as well as series I've been waiting to read for a LONG time.

 

G is for ... Gretchen Lowell series by Chelsea Cain

Gretchen Lowell is a female serial killer, and I just love this series! It's dark and intense and funny at times. My favorite characters are Detective Archie Sheradon and Reporter Susan Ward. Sometimes I just like to read these books to see what new hair color Susan will have. *grins*

Damaged Portland detective Archie Sheridan spent ten years tracking Gretchen Lowell, a beautiful serial killer, but in the end she was the one who caught him. Two years ago, Gretchen kidnapped Archie and tortured him for ten days, but instead of killing him, she mysteriously decided to let him go. She turned herself in, and now Gretchen has been locked away for the rest of her life, while Archie is in a prison of another kind---addicted to pain pills, unable to return to his old life, powerless to get those ten horrific days off his mind. Archie's a different person, his estranged wife says, and he knows she's right. He continues to visit Gretchen in prison once a week, saying that only he can get her to confess as to the whereabouts of more of her victims, but even he knows the truth---he can't stay away.

When another killer begins snatching teenage girls off the streets of Portland, Archie has to pull himself together enough to lead the new task force investigating the murders. A hungry young newspaper reporter, Susan Ward, begins profiling Archie and the investigation, which sparks a deadly game between Archie, Susan, the new killer, and even Gretchen. They need to catch a killer, and maybe somehow then Archie can free himself from Gretchen, once and for all. Either way, Heartsick makes for one of the most extraordinary suspense debuts in recent memory.

Click here to read my review of Heartsick.

With Heartsick, Chelsea Cain took the crime world by storm, introducing two of the most compelling characters in decades: serial killer Gretchen Lowell and her obsessed pursuer Portland Detective Archie Sheridan. The book spent four weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and garnered rave reviews around the world. But the riveting story of Archie and Gretchen was left unfinished, and now Chelsea Cain picks up the tale again.

When the body of a young woman is discovered in Portland’s Forest Park, Archie is reminded of the last time they found a body there, more than a decade ago: it turned out to be the Beauty Killer’s first victim, and Archie’s first case. This body can't be one of Gretchen's—she’s in prison—but after help from reporter Susan Ward uncovers the dead woman's identity, it turns into another big case. Trouble is, Archie can't focus on the new investigation because the Beauty Killer case has exploded: Gretchen Lowell has escaped from prison.

Archie hadn't seen her in two months; he'd moved back in with his family and sworn off visiting her. Though it should feel like progress, he actually feels worse. The news of her escape spreads like wildfire, but secretly, he's relieved. He knows he's the only one who can catch her, and in fact, he has a plan to get out from under her thumb once and for all.

Chelsea Cain has topped her own bestselling debut thriller with this unputdownable, unpredictable, edge-of-your-seat read.

Click here to read my review of Sweetheart.

Chelsea Cain’s novels featuring Portland detective Archie Sheridan and serial killer Gretchen Lowell have captivated fans through two nail-biting entries, Heartsick and Sweetheart, both of them multiweek bestsellers in The New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly.

Gretchen Lowell is still on the loose. These days, she’s more of a cause célèbre than a feared killer, thanks to sensationalist news coverage that has made her a star. Her face graces magazine covers weekly and there have been sightings of her around the world. Most shocking of all, Portland Herald reporter Susan Ward has uncovered a bizarre kind of fan club, which celebrates the number of days she’s been free.

Archie Sheridan hunted her for a decade, and after his last ploy to catch her went spectacularly wrong, remains hospitalized months later. When they last spoke, they entered a détente of sorts---Archie agreed not to kill himself if she agreed not to kill anyone else. But when a new body is found accompanied by Gretchen’s trademark heart, all bets are off and Archie is forced back into action. Has the Beauty Killer returned to her gruesome ways, or has the cult surrounding her created a whole new evil?

Chelsea Cain continues to deliver heart-stopping thrills and chills in the latest entry in this dynamic bestselling series.

Click here to read my review of Evil at Heart.

With the Beauty Killer Gretchen Lowell locked away behind bars once again, Archie Sheridan—a Portland police detective and nearly one of her victims—can finally rest a little easier. Meanwhile, the rest of the city of Portland is in crisis. Heavy rains have flooded the Willamette River, and several people have drowned in the quickly rising waters. Or at least that’s what they thought until the medical examiner discovers that the latest victim didn’t drown: She was poisoned before she went into the water. Soon after, three of those drownings are also proven to be murders. Portland has a new serial killer on its hands, and Archie and his task force have a new case.

Reporter Susan Ward is chasing this story of a new serial killer with gusto, but she’s also got another lead to follow for an entirely separate mystery: The flooding has unearthed a skeleton, a man who might have died more than sixty years ago, the last time Portland flooded this badly, when the water washed away an entire neighborhood and killed at least fifteen people.

With Archie following the bizarre trail of evidence and evil deeds to catch a killer and possibly regain his life, and Susan Ward close behind, Chelsea Cain—one of today’s most talented suspense writers—launches the next installment of her bestselling series with an electric thriller.

Click here to read my review of The Night Season.

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.

THE NIGHT SEASON by Chelsea Cain

Title: The Night Season

Series: The Beauty Killer Series, Book Four

Author: Chelsea Cain

Publisher: Minotaur Books

To Purchase: Amazon

Book Description: With the Beauty Killer Gretchen Lowell locked away behind bars once again, Archie Sheridan – a Portland police detective and nearly one of her victims – can finally rest a little easier. Meanwhile, the rest of the city of Portland is in crisis. Heavy rains have flooded the Willamette River, and several people have drowned in the quickly rising waters. Or at least that's what they thought until the medical examiner discovers that the latest victim didn't drown: She was poisoned before she went into the water. Soon after, three of those drowning are also proven to be murders. Portland has a new serial killer on its hands, and Archie and his task force have a new case.

Reporter Susan Ward is chasing this story of a new serial killer with gusto, but she's also got another lead to follow for an entirely separate mystery: The flooding has unearthed a skeleton, a man who might have died more than sixty years ago, the last time Portland flooded this badly, when the river washed away and entire neighborhood and killed at least fifteen people.

With Archie following the bizarre trail of evidence and evil deeds to catch a killer and possibly regain his life, and Susan Ward close behind, Chelsea Cain – one of today's most talented suspense writers – launches the next installment in her bestselling series with an electric thriller.

Review: The fourth installment to Chelsea Cain's Beauty Killer series, The Night Season captures the reader in a suspenseful flood of mystery, intrigue, and the actions of a sixty-year-old corpse tied to a new serial killer.

The water is rising in Portland, and the city is in high alert to save itself. The encroaching waters aren't enough to halt a murderer, but Detective Archie Sheridan is on the case. Reporter Susan Ward, of course, isn't far behind – love reading about her new hair color in each book, by the way – and she's willing to use her sources to find connections between floods of past and present.

Although I was a little disappointed in Ms. Cain's Evil at Heart, I am thrilled with The Night Season. The dashes of history are poignant and remind that not only history has a way to repeat itself, but also a buried past will come to light. I love the witty, a little bit corny, and touching interactions between Archie and Susan and the other characters. Ms. Cain had me chortling, crying, and cringing, and she is masterful in cliffhanger chapter endings. Although it is in a series, The Night Season can stand alone and is a quick read. I highly recommend this book.

EVIL AT HEART by Chelsea Cain

Title: Evil at Heart

Series: Gretchen Lowell/The Beauty Killer

Author: Chelsea Cain

Publisher: Minotaur Books

To Purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Evil-at-Heart-Chelsea-Cain/dp/0312368488/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282921403&sr=1-3

 

Blurb on the book cover:  Gretchen Lowell is still on the loose.  These days, she's more of a cause célèbre than a feared killer, thanks to sensationalist news coverage that has made her a star.  Her face graces magazine covers weekly and there have been sightings of her around the world.  Most shocking of all, Portland Herald reporter Susan Ward has uncovered a bizarre kind of fan club, which celebrates the number of days she's been free.  Archie Sheridan hunted her for a decade, and after his last ploy to catch her went spectacularly wrong, remains hospitalized months later.  When they last spoke, they entered a détente of sorts—Archie agreed not to kill himself if she agreed not to kill anyone else.  But when a new body is found accompanied by Gretchen's trademark heart, all bets are off and Archie is forced back into action.  Has the Beauty Killer returned to her gruesome ways, or has the cult surrounding her created a whole new evil?

In Chelsea Cain's Evil at Heart, we find that everyone is rooting for our favorite most beautiful serial killer Gretchen Lowell.  Her escape from prison inspires fan pages and perhaps even a fan club to continue her dastardly deeds.  Lies and twists abound, and the reader and characters don't know quite who to believe, even up to the end.  Personally, Evil at Heart was my least favorite of these three books.  I found the book, at times, to be too preachy on media's play on how we react to events and people.  Whether Gretchen or a Gretchen fan club killed people, I just didn't care because I didn't feel too connected to the victims like in the other books.  The best parts were the interaction between Susan and Archie.  Overall, I would still read this book for the witty and amusing remarks, but Evil at Heart lacked some heart that was prevalent in the previous two books.

SWEETHEART by Chelsea Cain

Title: Sweetheart

Series: Gretchen Lowell/The Beauty Killer

Author Chelsea Cain

Publisher: Minotaur Books

To Purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Sweetheart-Chelsea-Cain/dp/B0027CSNEY/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282921403&sr=1-4

 

Blurb on the book cover:  Portland detective Archie Sheridan, the former head of the Beauty Killer Task Force, hunted Gretchen Lowell for years before she kidnapped him, tortured him, and then let him go.  Now that she is behind bars, Archie is finally piecing his life back together.  But no matter how hard Archie tries, he just can't stop thinking about Gretchen…  When the body of a young woman is discovered in Forest Park, Archie is reminded of the first corpse he discovered there a decade ago:  it turned out to be the Beauty Killer's first victim, and Archie's first case.  Then, the unthinkable happens:  Gretchen escapes from prison, and once the news breaks, all of Portland goes on high alert.  Archie knows he's the only one who can capture Gretchen—and now he has a plan.  Even if it means becoming her last victim…

Once again, Chelsea Cain allows us a glimmer into the mind of a serial killer in Sweetheart.  The reader learns more about Archie Sheridan and Gretchen Lowell's relationship and perhaps why she didn't kill him.  Could it be love, darling, or something more sinister?  In prison or out, Gretchen finds a way to still torment Archie and strike fear in those around her.  This book focuses more on Gretchen, and I found that I enjoyed every minute of it.  Sweetheart has the flavor of Hannibal.  Overall, the thrilling adventure isn't over, and the destruction has just begun.

HEARTSICK by Chelsea Cain

Title: Heartsick

Series: Gretchen Lowell/The Beauty Killer

Author: Chelsea Cain

Publisher: St. Martin's Minotaur

To Purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Heartsick-Chelsea-Cain/dp/B001C2DEYO/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282921403&sr=1-1

 

Blurb on the book cover:  A Living Nightmare.  Portland detective Archie Sheridan spent years tracking Gretchen Lowell, a beautiful and brutal serial killer.  In the end, she was the one who caught him…and tortured him…and then let him go.  Why did Gretchen spare Archie's life and then turn herself in?  This is the question that keeps him up all night—and the reason why he has visited Gretchen in prison every week since.  A Deadly Obsession…  Meanwhile, another series of Portland murders has Archie working on a brand-new task force…and heading straight into the line of fire.  The local news is covering the case 24/7, and it's not long before Archie enters a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with the killer—and his former captor.  But this time, it's up to Archie to save himself…

Chelsea Cain's Heartsick is a fast-paced thrill ride that doesn't let up until the very end.  The characters are endearing from tortured detective Archie Sheridan, protective detective Henry Sobel, charming and deadly Gretchen Lowell, and quirky Susan Ward.  Heartsick has the feel of Silence of the Lambs with a demented twist.  Serial killer Gretchen Lowell is a true enigma and perhaps even more seductive than Hannibal Lector.  Overall, I would highly recommend this book, and so far, it is my favorite in the series.