Wendy H. (donkeycheese) -
Helpful Score: 2
I love this series! Archie and Gretchen are addictive, so I was really looking forward to the newest book in the series, The Night Season.
Gretchen is locked up, so Archie has been concentrating on his job and trying not to think of the vicodin that he was addicted to for a few years. He's clean now, but he still misses it.
The Williamette River keeps rising. Years ago, it was breached and thousands died. Now, bodies keep being found, drowned. Archie thinks nothing of it until the medical examiner finds a puncture mark on the victim. Murder, probably. But when they then examine the other bodies, they find the same puncture mark. They have a serial killer on their hands. With more tests done, they come to the conclusion that a rare octopus is biting the victims, causing almost instant paralysis. When Archie's dear friend and partner Henry is bit, Archie can hardly breathe himself. They get Henry to the hospital in time, but the bite is deadly and all they can do is wait for the inevitable.
Meanwhile, reporter Susan Ward has been creating a bigger name for herself in the newspaper industry. Archie allows her on almost every crime scene, and Susan usually scoops the competition. She's been working on a really old story of when the town of Vanport was flooded and many killed; a place not far from their current location. She found a skeleton and believes it to be one of the victims. Archie doesn't see what the connection could be and concentrates on his current case.
When his investigation deepens, they realize a young boy is involved. A boy kidnapped over a year ago. Archie vows to the parents he will retrieve him and bring him home. But if Archie keeps jumping in the river to save people, he won't be able to save himself. His lungs are very weak from the torture he sustained from Beauty Killer Gretchen Lowell.
The stakes heat up and the killer is closer than they think. As the water rises, the deaths climb and no where near the water is safe, especially not knowing where the killer lurks with the deadly octupus.
The Night Season is a great addition to the series. It is great to see Susan Ward move forward into the passenger seat alongside Archie. When he isn't being tortured or lusting after Gretchen or trying to catch her, he is a great detective and he shines in this novel. Susan's character is strong and she grows in maturity without giving up any of her unique characteristics. Although I really enjoyed this novel, I was disappointed not to see Gretchen until the end of the book. However, it is a plus for Cain to show that she doesn't need Gretchen to write a top-notch thriller with a solid page-turning plot that will have you up late into the night. Now I can't wait for the next one! Write faster Chelsea!!
Gretchen is locked up, so Archie has been concentrating on his job and trying not to think of the vicodin that he was addicted to for a few years. He's clean now, but he still misses it.
The Williamette River keeps rising. Years ago, it was breached and thousands died. Now, bodies keep being found, drowned. Archie thinks nothing of it until the medical examiner finds a puncture mark on the victim. Murder, probably. But when they then examine the other bodies, they find the same puncture mark. They have a serial killer on their hands. With more tests done, they come to the conclusion that a rare octopus is biting the victims, causing almost instant paralysis. When Archie's dear friend and partner Henry is bit, Archie can hardly breathe himself. They get Henry to the hospital in time, but the bite is deadly and all they can do is wait for the inevitable.
Meanwhile, reporter Susan Ward has been creating a bigger name for herself in the newspaper industry. Archie allows her on almost every crime scene, and Susan usually scoops the competition. She's been working on a really old story of when the town of Vanport was flooded and many killed; a place not far from their current location. She found a skeleton and believes it to be one of the victims. Archie doesn't see what the connection could be and concentrates on his current case.
When his investigation deepens, they realize a young boy is involved. A boy kidnapped over a year ago. Archie vows to the parents he will retrieve him and bring him home. But if Archie keeps jumping in the river to save people, he won't be able to save himself. His lungs are very weak from the torture he sustained from Beauty Killer Gretchen Lowell.
The stakes heat up and the killer is closer than they think. As the water rises, the deaths climb and no where near the water is safe, especially not knowing where the killer lurks with the deadly octupus.
The Night Season is a great addition to the series. It is great to see Susan Ward move forward into the passenger seat alongside Archie. When he isn't being tortured or lusting after Gretchen or trying to catch her, he is a great detective and he shines in this novel. Susan's character is strong and she grows in maturity without giving up any of her unique characteristics. Although I really enjoyed this novel, I was disappointed not to see Gretchen until the end of the book. However, it is a plus for Cain to show that she doesn't need Gretchen to write a top-notch thriller with a solid page-turning plot that will have you up late into the night. Now I can't wait for the next one! Write faster Chelsea!!
Rhonda (pinkcypress) reviewed The Night Season (Archie and Gretchen, Bk 4) on + 86 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I love this series, and I love Archie, Susan, and the rest of the characters. But this one was not up to the high standards of the first 3 books. The story - amazing. The writing - can't put down-able. But there was no character development, which I think needs to happen - especially in a series!
The story takes place over a span of just a short time, so that could be part of it, although it does take place a while from the last one. There's a relationship between Susan and Leo that is just barely touched on - we have no idea what Susan really thinks. And with Archie, we know that he's trying (?) to carry on, but we don't have any insight at all about what he truly feels.
The murderer in this one? I'm just left thinking "Huh?"
I wish I could give this a better review, but it just didn't do it for me.
The story takes place over a span of just a short time, so that could be part of it, although it does take place a while from the last one. There's a relationship between Susan and Leo that is just barely touched on - we have no idea what Susan really thinks. And with Archie, we know that he's trying (?) to carry on, but we don't have any insight at all about what he truly feels.
The murderer in this one? I'm just left thinking "Huh?"
I wish I could give this a better review, but it just didn't do it for me.
Susan H. (hagen007) - reviewed The Night Season (Archie and Gretchen, Bk 4) on + 27 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Very good read - I read it in a day! If you liked the others, you'll like this one. Susan still seems a bit of a twit, but her role in this book is meatier.
Helpful Score: 1
Another totally awesome Chelsea Cain book! Since Gretchen Lowell is locked up, Archie Sheridan is now free to go back to work. Surrounding a horrible flood, Portland not only has to battle the elements of rain and melting snow and the ensuing flooding, now there's a killer loose as well. Susan helps Archie and in this book, isn't as dumb as the last, so I didn't feel like choking her to death myself! Like all of Cain's books, the twists and turns are plentiful and Archie doesn't let you down. A great page turner right up until the very end.
Summer B. (Summer6ft) reviewed The Night Season (Archie and Gretchen, Bk 4) on + 77 more book reviews
I actually liked this one BETTER than the first three. It was a suspenseful story without the extreme gruesomeness of the first three. I also appreciated that there was not as much profanity in this one. The characters we love are still there and we see them in different circumstances this time around. LOVED IT!
Linda (Angeleyes) -
I loved the first three books in this series and was looking forward to this one. However, this one just did not live up to my expectations. Gretchen is not a main character is this story (and maybe it shouldn't be named Archie and Gretchen, Bk 4). The story goes off in a completely different direction. The characters are one dimentional.
Archie has never managed to evolve as a human being and suffers from severe egotism. Every murder, kidnapping or torture is always his fault. Food and sleep are a crutch and he is incessantly ill. Everyone is always concerned with his well being and he is only concerned with saving the world. There is no depth to this character.
Susan Ward has yet to evolve. Time and again she is put into life threatening situations because of her need to tag along. Her behavior has followed a predictable pattern.
Unfortunately, the serial killer aspect was really weak and I really couldn't get a good handle on why the killer acted the way they did. The killer was flat and too one-dimensional and their fascination with Susan didn't make sense. I was hoping for someone with a bigger personality, much like Gretchen, but because she's larger than life, no killer can compete.
If there is a book 5 hopefully it will go back to the formula in books 1 and 2.
Archie has never managed to evolve as a human being and suffers from severe egotism. Every murder, kidnapping or torture is always his fault. Food and sleep are a crutch and he is incessantly ill. Everyone is always concerned with his well being and he is only concerned with saving the world. There is no depth to this character.
Susan Ward has yet to evolve. Time and again she is put into life threatening situations because of her need to tag along. Her behavior has followed a predictable pattern.
Unfortunately, the serial killer aspect was really weak and I really couldn't get a good handle on why the killer acted the way they did. The killer was flat and too one-dimensional and their fascination with Susan didn't make sense. I was hoping for someone with a bigger personality, much like Gretchen, but because she's larger than life, no killer can compete.
If there is a book 5 hopefully it will go back to the formula in books 1 and 2.
This book should not be part of the Archie and Gretchen series. Gretchen was barely even mentioned. The first 3 books were great, I couldn't put them down. But I had to struggle to read this one to the end. It was confusing at times, boring at others and there was none of the action or suspense of the first 3 books. I'm glad I checked it out from the library and didn't waste my money buying it. I love Chelsea Cain and hate to give a bad review but this book was really not very good at all.
GAIL L. (my2luvsemmyandmally) reviewed The Night Season (Archie and Gretchen, Bk 4) on + 758 more book reviews
Book to me was a waste of my time....not anything like
the first 3 books and really not up to Cain's
potential as a writer. Characters were not as well
developed as in her other books....and I hope her next
book is better than this one! Sorry....2 stars
the first 3 books and really not up to Cain's
potential as a writer. Characters were not as well
developed as in her other books....and I hope her next
book is better than this one! Sorry....2 stars
Jennifer P. (ped1990) reviewed The Night Season (Archie and Gretchen, Bk 4) on + 70 more book reviews
I have become a fan of Chelsea Cain's "Archie and Gretchen" series. Even though this book is considered to be an Archie "and Gretchen" book, there is very little mention of Gretchen in it and she only appears in one true scene. I enjoyed this book, but not to the level that I enjoyed the books that were exclusively about Gretchen Lowell and Archie. The weapon used in this one was unique and there was much more focus on Susan Ward in this one, but it wasn't an on the edge of your seat crime book. This book is definitely nowhere near as gruesome as the Gretchen Lowell series. It was a quick read and I enjoyed it.
Marianne S. (sfc95) -
Book 4 is a disappointment, that is all that can be said. The characters are not a deeply developed, the storyline is insane, it does not present the thrills that books 1-3 did. Perhaps there is no series without Gretchen.
The story of Archie and Gretchen can get you addicted but this wasn't up to par for what you'd expect, the storyline doesn't have anything to do with Gretchen until the very last, the story got a little boring with all the flooding etc. and you don't really understand exactly what is going on until nearly the end when it all gets tied together but the characters seem cold and uninteresting.
Tony T. (tonysbooks) -
Not as strong as the previous Archie Sheridan stories (there is little to no Gretchen), but a well-paced murder-mystery nonetheless.
One of the most unique weapons used by a serial killer in any story I've read (no, I won't tell, you'll have to find out by reading the book).
Of course those around Archie find themselves in the killer's line of fire. These sub-plots along with a minor mystery from decades prior and the weather and a flood keep everything moving at a pace that brings the story to its end quickly and satisfactorily.
One of the most unique weapons used by a serial killer in any story I've read (no, I won't tell, you'll have to find out by reading the book).
Of course those around Archie find themselves in the killer's line of fire. These sub-plots along with a minor mystery from decades prior and the weather and a flood keep everything moving at a pace that brings the story to its end quickly and satisfactorily.
Stacy W. (whatstacy) -
Loved it!! I know I'm in the minority on this one, everyone was expecting more Gretchen Lowell action like the first 3 novels. But she is still in prison. So the series trudges on with Archie and Susan, my favorite characters anyway, they are a great duo. It appears that people are drowning in the massive floods hitting Portland, but it's really murder. The flooding and the added mystery of a missing kid adds the perfect backdrop of urgency. All the while the killer has invented a whole new way to kill people. You think that the Vanport story Susan wrote has nothing to do with the murders, but it all ties in at the end. Susan and Archie face death, several times, again, but they always manage to save each other. I don't know if I want them to ever truly wind up together, because the relationship they have now seems to work for them. This story can stand alone without having read the first 3, but I suggest starting with Heartsick. Chelsea Cain is a great writer and I was hooked from the first word, she has an interesting take on killers. It's definitely not your usual murder mystery.
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