Release Date: 14/08/14
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
SYNOPSIS:
Kick Lannigan, 21, is a survivor. Abducted at age six in broad daylight, the police, the public, perhaps even her family assumed the worst had occurred. And then Kathleen Lannigan was found, alive, six years later. In the early months following her freedom, as Kick struggled with PTSD, her parents put her through a litany of therapies, but nothing helped until the detective who rescued her suggested Kick learn to fight. Before she was thirteen, Kick learned marksmanship, martial arts, boxing, archery, and knife throwing. She excelled at every one, vowing she would never be victimized again. But when two children in the Portland area go missing in the same month, Kick goes into a tailspin. Then an enigmatic man Bishop approaches her with a proposition: he is convinced Kick's experiences and expertise can be used to help rescue the abductees. Little does Kick know the case will lead directly into her terrifying past...
REVIEW:
As a fan of Chelsea’s Gretchen books I fell in love with the way that she managed to bring the gore alongside cracking story telling into a title that was nigh on impossible to put down, so when an author goes into a new series I’m always a little wary in case what made the previous titles magical is missing from the new books.
What unfurls within is a story that has not only a kickass heroine but a tale that really kicks the butt of a lot of other books out there. It’s a whole host of fun to sit back and whilst the principle player is physically tough its her emotional aspect that is heavily flawed that allows the reader to get a real handle upon her.
All round a book that I had a lot of fun sitting sown to read and one that I was more than pleased I devoted the time to.
Release Date: 04/03/11
SYNOPSIS:
Heavy rains have burst the banks of the Willamette River; several people have died in the furiously rising waters . . . but the latest victim didn't drown: She was killed before she went into the water. Soon, other victims are found, and Police Detective Archie Sheridan realizes that Portland has a new serial killer on its hands. Reporter Susan Ward is on the story, but she's also got other leads to chase, and some secrets can be too frightening for prying eyes . . . with Archie following a bizarre trail of evidence, and Susan close behind, the pair must unearth the identity of a vicious murderer, and uncover the truth behind a mystery more than sixty years old . . .
REVIEW:
As a fan of the previous Gretchen Lowell titles I really couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book as I never know what the beautifully crazy serial killer is going to do next. The only thing I do know is that it will be inventive, it will be twisted and certain characters will return to face the wrath time and again. So I was a little disappointed when I found out that she only really had a cameo at the titles end with the rest of the book devoted to a new killer with a remarkable method of murder.
Or rather it would have been remarkable had the author dialled it back a bit and come at it from a more logical point of view. Without going into detail about the murderous method I would suggest that if you are to read this title that you have to suspend your disbelief to the nth degree and when backed with an interesting subplot backstory the reader will be highly entertained. Finally add the usual degree of prose, decent pace as well as wonderful authorly voice to the title and you know that it’s a pretty decent title provided you can escape the illogical mess of the murder method especially of a certain state trooper who personally I think is more comedic than of any real sense. If however you do want to stick within the realms of possibility then this may not be Chelsea’s best title for you and you may wish to return to an earlier title for a wonderful sense of righteous murder by one of the Crime World’s most memorable serial killers.
BOOK BLURB:
Since serial killer Gretchen Lowell went on the run, following Detective Archie Sheridan's latest near-fatal encounter with her, the city of Portland has descended into Beauty Killer hysteria. Even fan sites have sprung up online, where admirers of Gretchen can congregate to discuss their heroine. When a spleen is discovered at a local rest stop, Detective Henry Sobol is at first sceptical it is Gretchen's work. It is only when he sees the rest stop's wall - covered in hundreds of tiny red hearts that Henry realises its time to contact Archie ...Archie Sheridan has spent the last few month's in the city's psychiatric hospital, battling with his addiction to painkillers and his strange obsession with the woman who tortured him. But soon he, along with the Beauty Killer taskforce and journalist Susan Ward, find themselves investigating a new spate of killings - when bodies start to turn up at local beauty spots, their eye-balls removed. Could this be the work of a copy-cat? Or has Gretchen really returned? One thing is certain, whoever is behind these brutal murders, they will do whatever it takes to get to Archie.
REVIEW:
What might come as a bit of a surprise was that I was introduced to Gretchen by Chelsea’s US publishers, not that we met face to face (which considering that she’s perhaps one of the quirkiest serial killers out there is perhaps a good thing. LOL) but it did rouse my curiosity enough to give the book a go. What did get to me slightly was that it was the third book in the series and as such did leave me wondering how much I’d missed, would I be able to pick it up and enjoy it or would I just be letting myself in for a world of hurt with the confusion of having missed the rest.
What unfurled was a great introduction to the series for someone who’s unitiated as the principle named character only appears briefly allowing the reader to get into more background with the other cast members. It works extremely well, it’s a fascinating trip into the world of an unusual mind and the author not only brings this across well but gives you enough of twist to keep you glued. Add to the mix a character recovering from mental as well as physical trauma who’s forced back into a world he may not be ready for and it’s a real humdinger of a novel. Great stuff and I’ll shortly be ordering the other books in the series to get the full works and treatment according to Dr Lowell.
Hail Mighty Readers,
Chelsea and her publishers (St Martins Press and Pan Macmillan) wanted us to let you about the I Heart Gretchen Lowell Website as well as to offer the chance for you to try an excerpt from her latest novel for free.
Great times.
Hail Mighty Readers,
Our friends at Zeitghostmedia have asked us to let our readers know about the forthcoming novel by Chelsea Cain.
With reviews by authors such as Steven King, we think that she's going to be a name to follow in the UK. So whilst this is currently a US release, we look forward to bringing you the review of this scary novel in the near future.Evil at Heart Book TrailerChelsea Cain's Website
Book Blurb:Since serial killer Gretchen Lowell went on the run, following Detective Archie Sheridan's latest near-fatal encounter with her, the city of Portland has descended into Beauty Killer hysteria. Even fan sites have sprung up online, where admirers of Gretchen can congregate to discuss their heroine. When a spleen is discovered at a local rest stop, Detective Henry Sobol is at first sceptical it is Gretchen's work. It is only when he sees the rest stop's wall - covered in hundreds of tiny red hearts that Henry realises its time to contact Archie ...Archie Sheridan has spent the last few month's in the city's psychiatric hospital, battling with his addiction to painkillers and his strange obsession with the woman who tortured him. But soon he, along with the Beauty Killer taskforce and journalist Susan Ward, find themselves investigating a new spate of killings - when bodies start to turn up at local beauty spots, their eye-balls removed. Could this be the work of a copy-cat? Or has Gretchen really returned? One thing is certain, whoever is behind these brutal murders, they will do whatever it takes to get to Archie.
