Heartsick (Archie and Gretchen, Bk 1)
Author:
Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Book Type: Hardcover
Author:
Genre: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
Book Type: Hardcover
Jennifer P. (jenners) reviewed on + 121 more book reviews
Words that describe the book: Serial killer thriller
Settings where it took place or characters you met:
1. Setting: Portland, OR, present day
2. Archie Sheridanâa damaged, painkiller-addicted ex-cop who returns to the force to catch a nascent serial killer who is targeting high school girls
3. Gretchen Lowellâan imprisoned female serial killer who is the cause of all of Archie's problems and may or may not have information about the new serial killer in town
4 Things you liked and/or disliked about it:
1. I liked the idea of a female serial killer. You don't come across one too often.
2. I liked the weird dynamic between Gretchen and Archie. The book includes flashbacks to the 10 days that Gretchen tortured Archie before inexplicably turning herself in, and the readers gets a glimpse into the disturbing relationship between the two.
3. I liked the character of Susan Ward, a young punk-rock reporter who is hand-picked to cover the police investigation and write a profile of Archieâand who ends up getting a little too involved in the case.
4. I liked the fast pace of the book, and the fact that there are more "Archie and Gretchen" books to read.
5 Stars or less for your rating?
I'm giving the book 3.5 stars. The book is a fast-paced thriller that departs from the usual "template" by having a female serial killer and a cop/killer relationship that somewhat echoes the dynamic between Clarice Starling and Hannibal Lecter in "Silence of the Lambs." The reader gets oddly sucked into the relationship between Archie and Gretchen, and I'm curious to see how this plays out in the rest of the series. I liked that Susan Ward was more than a young reporter; she had issues of her own as well as "spunk." I also liked the Portland setting as I went to college in Oregon and am a little familiar with the city. If you like serial killer thrillers, I would highly recommend this one. (Note: As with all books of this type, there are graphic depictions of violence. It certainly isn't a "cozy" mystery.)
Settings where it took place or characters you met:
1. Setting: Portland, OR, present day
2. Archie Sheridanâa damaged, painkiller-addicted ex-cop who returns to the force to catch a nascent serial killer who is targeting high school girls
3. Gretchen Lowellâan imprisoned female serial killer who is the cause of all of Archie's problems and may or may not have information about the new serial killer in town
4 Things you liked and/or disliked about it:
1. I liked the idea of a female serial killer. You don't come across one too often.
2. I liked the weird dynamic between Gretchen and Archie. The book includes flashbacks to the 10 days that Gretchen tortured Archie before inexplicably turning herself in, and the readers gets a glimpse into the disturbing relationship between the two.
3. I liked the character of Susan Ward, a young punk-rock reporter who is hand-picked to cover the police investigation and write a profile of Archieâand who ends up getting a little too involved in the case.
4. I liked the fast pace of the book, and the fact that there are more "Archie and Gretchen" books to read.
5 Stars or less for your rating?
I'm giving the book 3.5 stars. The book is a fast-paced thriller that departs from the usual "template" by having a female serial killer and a cop/killer relationship that somewhat echoes the dynamic between Clarice Starling and Hannibal Lecter in "Silence of the Lambs." The reader gets oddly sucked into the relationship between Archie and Gretchen, and I'm curious to see how this plays out in the rest of the series. I liked that Susan Ward was more than a young reporter; she had issues of her own as well as "spunk." I also liked the Portland setting as I went to college in Oregon and am a little familiar with the city. If you like serial killer thrillers, I would highly recommend this one. (Note: As with all books of this type, there are graphic depictions of violence. It certainly isn't a "cozy" mystery.)
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