Review: Evil at Heart by Chelsea Cain

I am a big fan of murder mystery series, thrillers, serial killers (in books), interesting and flawed detectives... basically the entire murder mystery genre. It's always been my favorite type of book and I've read a bunch of them. So when I say that this Heartsick series by Chelsea Cain has jumped to the top of the list of favorites, know that it bypassed quite a few great books!

I received Evil at Heart by Chelsea Cain from LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program. When I realized that it was the third in the series, I had to go back and read the first two. See my reviews of Heartsick and Sweetheart. The thing is... it gets better with every book!

Summary: 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?

Archie is so depleted after the first two books, he doesn't really know which end is up. He's not even sure he can 'be' in the real world. His head is all messed up and yet he's still obsessed with Gretchen. Susan, Henry, and Claire are all here again, working hard to continue on while Gretchen is still out there. Then the killings start that have to be hers....or do they?

The unique thing about this book and Ms. Cain's writing is that one of the characters doesn't really 'show their face' during this story and are more behind the scenes. Yet they truly are always there. I'm sure you can guess who it is, but if not I don't want to spoil it.

Now, I do need to provide a warning. These books, especially this one, discuss some unique methods of torture. While it's not all blood and guts, it does have some descriptions in it that will stick with you for awhile. But it's such an integral part of the psyche of the characters, the book wouldn't be as good or suspenseful without it.

Evil at Heart became available on September 2nd. You need a copy! You need all three books!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Review: Sweetheart by Chelsea Cain

Second in the Heartsick (Heartsick reviewed here) series, Sweetheart by Chelsea Cain, is another great book filled with lots of suspense, drama, anxiety, great characters, and unique twists.

Summary: 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.

Loved this book just as much as the first. What a unique take on the serial killer/cop relationship. And what being a policeman can do to your family. I felt for Archie's wife, Debbie - you could tell how much she wanted her husband back and yet... On the other hand, I could feel Archie's confliction (and guilt) between wanting to be a part of his family and being drawn to Gretchen.

Then there's Susan. She's the one you yell at in the movies "Don't Go In There!!!" yet always does. Her spunk and attitude together with her self-esteem vunerability just make me want to slap her and mother her at the same time. LOL

Can you tell I liked this book? I feel like I know these characters. What an awesome writer Chelsea Cain is!!!

The best part is how she interweaves the 'other killers' - the ones that are committing the murders the cops are actually investigating now - with Gretchen and her murders, the flashbacks, the continuing drama between Gretchen and Archie, etc. It makes for a very fast-paced, don't put down book.

Read this series!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Review: Heartsick by Chelsea Cain

Last month, I received a copy of Chelsea Cain's newest book, Evil at Heart, from LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program. It's the third in a thriller/serial killer series that starts with Heartsick. Given my issues with reading books out of order, I just couldn't read the third without going back. So, back I went.

And I am SO glad I did!!!

Summary: 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.

Meanwhile, another series of murders is tearing up the Portland streets. Archie seems to be getting closer to solving this high-profile case…until he finds himself in a fatal collision course with the killer—one that inevitably leads him back to his former captor. Gretchen may be the only one who can help do justice. The only thing she can’t do, this time, is save Archie’s life.

Serial killers/thrillers like this have got to be my favorite genre of books. I've read ALOT of them. So when I find a book that is different than anything I've read in the past, I am Hooked! That's the case with Heartsick.

The story is told in forms of current time with Gretchen in prison along with flashbacks from when she held Archie prisoner and tortured him. There's just enough detail of the torture to keep you on the edge of your seat but it's not too much to gross you out. The anguish Archie feels, on many levels, combined with the psycho Gretchen's weird emotions leads to lots of interesting moments!

Also in the story are Henry, Archie's partner and Susan Ward, a reporter. They are both very wrapped into the story, into Archie and catching the bad guys. Great characters all around.

Can you tell I really liked this book? I am so glad I read it. Look for my review on the second in the series, Sweetheart, tomorrow.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Review: Blood Bayou by Karen Young

I received Blood Bayou by Karen Young from LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program. I have not read any other of Karen Young's books but after reading Blood Bayou, I plan on searching them out. It was a unique twist on the 'clear the clueless fellow' plot - and a rather good one! There are a significant number of potential bad guys, a few good yet tarnished folks and a very interesting dead gal. The characters are quite well-defined and interesting, their interactions fun to participate in.

My only drawback, and thus the 4 instead of a 5 rating is that I figured out the 'whodunit' rather early in the book. I'm not sure why because it definitely wasn't obvious, but I would have prefered to be guessing until over halfway through. Even with that, though, I thoroughly enjoyed the book and definitely recommend it to mystery lovers!

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Tuesday Teaser: I See You Everywhere by Julia Glass

My two 'teaser' sentences are from page 22 of I See You Everywhere by Julia Glass.

"Death is funny?"
"Sometimes, Louisa, yes. As a matter of fact."

TEASER TUESDAYS is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
- Grab your current read.
- Let the book fall open to a random page.
- Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
- You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
- Please avoid spoilers!

Check out other teasers around the blogs.

Our pond residents

About a week after I got the pond cleaned out, we started having visitors. These two are the most noticeable. They are coming more frequently and this is the first time I've been able to see them, go into the house to get the camera and come back out with them still in the pond. I think they are getting used to the front door comings and goings as long as we are quiet. Now, should I be working to keep them from coming back or just get used to hosing off the rocks? (Note: we live in a very active neighborhood, not in the country. No idea where these ducks live when not at our house.)

Review: The Tenth Case by Joseph Teller

In October last year, I read many reviews of The Tenth Case by Joseph Teller. Carey, at The Tome Traveller, Traci, at Traci's Book Bag, Amy at The Friendly Book Nook, and Jennifer at The Literate Housewife Review all raved about the book. They convinced me to add it to my tbr list. However the library in Indiana didn't have it at the time so I was excited to see the library here in Ohio had it. It's a good one!

Summary: Criminal defense attorney Harrison J. Walker, better known as Jaywalker, has just been suspended for using "creative" tactics and receiving "gratitude" in the courtroom stairwell from a client charged with prostitution. Convincing the judge that his other clients are counting on him, Jaywalker is allowed to complete ten cases. But it's the last case that truly tests his abilities — and his acquittal record.

Samara Moss — young, petite and sexy as hell — stabbed her husband in the heart. Or so everyone believes. Having married the elderly billionaire when she was an eighteen-year-old former prostitute, Samara appears to be the cliched gold digger. But Jaywalker knows all too well that appearances can be deceiving. Who else could have killed the billionaire? Has Samara been framed? Or is Jaywalker just driven by his need to win his clients' cases — and this particular client's undying gratitude?

This is Joseph Teller's first book. You can tell he is a lawyer and yet is able to weave a great story. It's a very simple whodunit - did she or didn't she. All the evidence is found early and it's just a matter of figuring out what could have happened. What makes it so interesting are the main characters Jaywalker and Sam. They have a unique relationship as well as being very strong, defined characters. Why is Jaywalker drawn to her? Is this a winnable case? Did she or didn't she? Why would someone frame her? These questions and many more are what drive the page turning.

As a veteran reader of crime dramas and mysteries, there were some parts of the book that slowed and, in my opinion, were unnecessary. He puts in some transcript-like parts of the trial - but sometimes the flow doesn't work well, or I would have rather had a different part as a transcript and summarize some of the parts he used great detail on.

But I enjoyed the book overall and am looking forward to the next Jaywalker book, Bronx Justice, that just came out in April. I recommend reading the other reviews and checking out The Tenth Case for yourself!

Rating: 4.5/5 stars