Tuesday 23 June 2015

2 BY CHELSEA CAIN

Chelsea Cain is a fairly recent addition to my wife’s reading and within the space of a couple of books has become a bit of a favourite for her.

I’m a little bit less impatient with my books than she is. She can quite happily (not the right word) discard a book twenty pages in, if it isn’t working for her. Me I carry on.


Suffice to say, Cain’s books didn’t get launched at the wall twenty pages in but were enjoyed and devoured. I’m hoping to have a similar experience when I do eventually get around to catching up on her 2013 and 2014 reads, not to mention the 2015 ones. (Note to self – come on Keane you slacker!) 






These two are the first in her Archie and Gretchen series and could probably be labelled as serial-killer books, which isn't everyone's cup of tea. 

I can't actually remember the last book of this trope that I read so I'm going to approach these with an open mind. Not what I would want to read all the time, but every so often is reasonable enough.

And once I have read these no doubt I will feel compelled to get the next four!




Heartsick

He thinks he sees a flash of emotion in her eyes. Sympathy? Then it's gone. 'Whatever you think this is going to be like,' she whispers, 'it's going to be worse.' When beautiful serial killer Gretchen Lowell captured her last victim, the man in charge of hunting her down, she quickly established who was really in control of the investigation. So why, after ten days of horrifying physical and mental torture, did she release Detective Archie Sheridan from the brink of death and hand herself in? Two years on, Archie remains driven by a terrifying obsession that was born during his time alone with Gretchen. One thing is clear Archie does not believe he was ever truly freed. Now Archie returns to lead the search for a new killer, whose recent attacks on teenage girls have left the city of Portland reeling. Shadowed by vulnerable young reporter Susan Ward, Archie knows that only one person can help him climb into the mind of this psychopath. But can Archie finally manage to confront the demons of his past without being consumed by them?


Sweetheart


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.

19 comments:

  1. This is one of those authors where I read the first book on release and thought it was a standalone. I liked the first one but have zero interest in reading any more about the same characters. In my world this will always be a one-book series :)

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    1. Glad to hear the first one worked well for you, kind of surprised you wouldn't want to read more of the same, but hey hoh - me I'm deluded enough to want to read everything by everyone.

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  2. Oh, yes, I've heard of these, Col. I must admit, I'm not at all the serial-killer type when it comes to my reading. Quite likely that I'm being too narrow-minded, but I really have no interest in the series. Still, I'm glad that your wife enjoys Cain's work, and I hope you'll like these.

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    1. I didn't think you were a fan Margot. My reading is a bit like my appetite - I like steak and chips, but I wouldn't want to eat it every day, I think I can manage a few serial-killer books now and then - especially if my wife has enjoyed them. I like comparing our reactions.

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  3. Yes, I can do a few serial killers every now and then too, unless it's really gruesome, so I'll be investigating further.

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    1. Vicki, my better half enjoyed them so I'm quite looking forward to another new author and some multiple murders!

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  4. I'll be interested to read your thoughts when you get round to reading these.

    I was amused/intrigued by Bernadette's comment about having enjoyed the first but having zero interest in reading a sequel. I just noticed this morning that A Curious Tale of the In-Between, about which I scribbled on Goodreads last night, is not a standalone, as I'd assumed, but #1 in a series, and my reaction was exactly as per Bernadette's to Cain's series.

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    1. We are away in a week or two's time for a long weekend, so I'm thinking of taking the first one with me. I like series myself (though I do seem to spend more time accumulating them than actually reading them). If I like/love/enjoy the first - why wouldn't I want to read a bit more of the same?

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  6. I am not too sure about these books and I will wait and see what you think about them. They must be readable, if your wife likes them so well, but serial killers are sometimes too much for me.

    I am sure you will review See Also Murder before I do, you know how slow I am. We have a 3 day weekend (4th of July) coming. It won't help a lot but I am so looking forward to it. .

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    1. Tracy, as I said to John above, I think I will try the first in a couple of week's time. I should have some firm thoughts for you then.

      Not too sure about me reviewing See Also Murder before you, I'm 120 pages away from finishing Night Tremors, before I actually start reading it. I'm lagging 5 reviews behind as it is and I usually do a few monthly round up posts as well........plus I'm kind of feeling a bit of blogger fatigue. I might cut out all my posts other than on the books I've read...I'll see.

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    2. I may get to See Also Murder review sooner. I keep juggling what I want to get done by the end of June and then, like you say, end of month AND end of quarter posts.

      I enjoy all of your posts but I don't know where you have the time and energy to do it all.

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    3. Tracy, thanks. I finished Night Tremors last night, so at least I'm starting See Also Murder! I should have wished you happy holiday for next week! I hope you get the time to chill and relax!

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  7. On the 20-page thing - I'm pretty certain I read the first chapter of the first one in one of those giveaway booklets from a bookshop. And it had the wrong effect on me - I decided I wasn't that bothered. Mind, a good review of the whole book could sway me...

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    1. Watch this space then.... (but not for a few weeks yet)

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  8. Col, this sounds like an engaging series that I wouldn't mind trying out. I think one needs to read both these books back to back.

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    1. I'm fairly sure my wife read them back to back or at least in very close proximity to each other. I'm not too sure if that is what I'll do though, probably not. Too many other things to try in July!

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  9. I've read them all but the last one. Got tired of them. I enjoyed them for the most part. I think you'll like them. Chelsea Cain has a very dark sense of humor. And she's known for her explicit descriptions of violence. I'll enjoy reading your thoughts on the first book in the series. She's like in the low B/B+ range for me. B+ would be for the first book only just to give you some idea of how much I enjoyed her work.

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    1. I like elements of humour, especially dark so another potential plus point. Definitely going to take this one away with us next week.
      B+ isn't bad - I don't think everything I read needs to be an A to be enjoyed.

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