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lauraborkpower's review against another edition
3.0
Even though Cain's Gretchen Lowell story lines are getting more and more far fetched, this is still a bloody, goofy, and fun read.
My only real issue is with the narrator of the audiobook, Christina Delaine. It's not that she's bad, but I feel that her reading of the majority of the characters is overdone. Her Susan is too whiny--and that transfers over to almost all of her other female characters (Bliss, Pearl, and even sometimes Claire, which is offensive)--her Archie was too growly, and her Gretchen was too sultry, even for Gretchen. I know she was drugged up for most of it, but it sounded like she was talking through a throat full of Jello.
About forty minutes from the end of the book I got lost in the thought of how Cain would write the next book--with yet another serial killer in the city of Portland? For the love of god! But Cain fixed that problem right quick with a nice, suitable ending. I'll be looking forward to the fifth book, but I'll get a hard copy this time instead of the audiobook.
My only real issue is with the narrator of the audiobook, Christina Delaine. It's not that she's bad, but I feel that her reading of the majority of the characters is overdone. Her Susan is too whiny--and that transfers over to almost all of her other female characters (Bliss, Pearl, and even sometimes Claire, which is offensive)--her Archie was too growly, and her Gretchen was too sultry, even for Gretchen. I know she was drugged up for most of it, but it sounded like she was talking through a throat full of Jello.
About forty minutes from the end of the book I got lost in the thought of how Cain would write the next book--with yet another serial killer in the city of Portland? For the love of god! But Cain fixed that problem right quick with a nice, suitable ending. I'll be looking forward to the fifth book, but I'll get a hard copy this time instead of the audiobook.
ingo_lembcke's review against another edition
4.0
Started October 4th, 2013.
As the next book is to new and priced to high for my taste (more than 10 Eur) this will be last book from the Gretchen-Series I will read until the price drops.
Nice one, Gretchen is back as main character and the series gets better and better.
So why only 4 stars? Some lengths with side-tracked storyline (Susan, Henry).
Nice reveal at the end, which I saw coming but guessed wrong, admittedly, I thought the reveal would be about Rachel.
Not entirely fast paced page-turner, but close enough.
Highly recommended, and although I liked the last book with an entirely different story and mostly without Gretchen, this one is for Gretchen fans and Serial-Killer-Addicted readers.
As the next book is to new and priced to high for my taste (more than 10 Eur) this will be last book from the Gretchen-Series I will read until the price drops.
Nice one, Gretchen is back as main character and the series gets better and better.
So why only 4 stars? Some lengths with side-tracked storyline (Susan, Henry).
Nice reveal at the end, which I saw coming but guessed wrong, admittedly, I thought the reveal would be about Rachel.
Not entirely fast paced page-turner, but close enough.
Highly recommended, and although I liked the last book with an entirely different story and mostly without Gretchen, this one is for Gretchen fans and Serial-Killer-Addicted readers.
vlyman's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
readingjag's review
3.0
I really like Chelsea Cain, and her writing is always great--the characters are well drawn and interesting. This one is gruesome as are all of the Gretchen Lowell books. It was also a really fast read and we got some great clues about Gretchen Lowell's past. The reason I only give 3 stars is that the premise is starting to get a bit drawn out and it feels like Cain is having to manufacture ways to continue the series. Also, my own personal issues with books about child murder made it hard for me to get through this one.
beastreader's review against another edition
4.0
There is a serial killer on the loose. The killer is leaving a trail of chopped up bodies. Detective Archie Sheridan is on the case. He is joined by his partner, Henry and reporter, Susan, who Archie saved in The Night Season.
Archie receives a phone call from Gretchen's doctor. Gretchen is a patient in the Oregon State Mental Hospital. Her doctor says that Gretchen states she has a daughter and Archie needs to save her. At first Archie believes this is another of Gretchen's tricks but he can not resist checking into it.
Kill You Twice is book five of Gretchen Lowell books. So glad to see Gretchen again. Just like Archie, she has cast a spell over me and I can not get enough of her. I like that she was featured more in this book than the last one. She has a presence that captivates your attention. The way she described her first kill with no emotions was creepy. I really liked that in this book, I got to know more about who the "real" Gretchen is and what started her on her killed spree. The best scenes were the ones involving Gretchen and Archie. They have this great chemistry in a sick and twisted way. While, Gretchen still has power over Archie; he was getting stronger and finally starting to have a life again. It was also good to see Henry and his relationship with Clarie blossoming.
Susan has grown on me. I like her spunk. I don't know where her relationship with Leo will go but I hope that they can work things out. I think Leo is a good guy, even with his secrets. I would like to get to know more about him as well. The ending made me happy because I know the next book will be really good. The only down fall with this book was that now I have to wait for the next one. Kill You Twice is a one seat read and just might keep you up at night clutching a knife in one hand while you read this book in the other!
Archie receives a phone call from Gretchen's doctor. Gretchen is a patient in the Oregon State Mental Hospital. Her doctor says that Gretchen states she has a daughter and Archie needs to save her. At first Archie believes this is another of Gretchen's tricks but he can not resist checking into it.
Kill You Twice is book five of Gretchen Lowell books. So glad to see Gretchen again. Just like Archie, she has cast a spell over me and I can not get enough of her. I like that she was featured more in this book than the last one. She has a presence that captivates your attention. The way she described her first kill with no emotions was creepy. I really liked that in this book, I got to know more about who the "real" Gretchen is and what started her on her killed spree. The best scenes were the ones involving Gretchen and Archie. They have this great chemistry in a sick and twisted way. While, Gretchen still has power over Archie; he was getting stronger and finally starting to have a life again. It was also good to see Henry and his relationship with Clarie blossoming.
Susan has grown on me. I like her spunk. I don't know where her relationship with Leo will go but I hope that they can work things out. I think Leo is a good guy, even with his secrets. I would like to get to know more about him as well. The ending made me happy because I know the next book will be really good. The only down fall with this book was that now I have to wait for the next one. Kill You Twice is a one seat read and just might keep you up at night clutching a knife in one hand while you read this book in the other!
jwoodsum's review against another edition
4.0
another chilling entry in the series; not as gruesome as some of the others and good character development; we learn a little about Gretchen's background which is interesting
janedreader's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best in the series, very fast paced and riveting
ridgewaygirl's review against another edition
4.0
I've enjoyed the Chelsea Cain series about serial killer Gretchen Lowell and the detective in charge of catching her and who was tortured by her, Archie Sheridan, so far. Usually, I dislike books where the serial killer comes across as a super-human, Hannibal Lechter-type creature (ordinary serial killers are fine, of course), but Cain takes that tired set-up and makes it work. For one thing, she writes with a lightly humorous touch that keeps the inevitable angst and suffering from drowning the story. Her characters, even the powerful serial killer, are so well described, as to make each one familiar. And she does so with that old chestnut of showing, not telling, so the physical appearances are less important than the personalities and those personalities are never one note, even for the secondary and tertiary characters. But the series is not at all character driven. No, each book is an adrenaline rushed race to the finish line, packed with action that all shouldn't work but somehow does. I mean, none of it should work. Cain stretches believability with unlikely escapes and odd murder methods, but she's able to drag the reader along with no apparent effort on her part.
The fifth book in the series opens with a gruesome murder and from the first chapter leaves very little breathing room. Gretchen wants to talk to Archie about the new series of murders, but he's trying for mental health and is staying well away. So Gretchen gets Susan, a now unemployed journalist, to visit her instead, suggesting that she knows who the murderer is and providing clues and red herrings to string Archie and his task force along. It was an altogether satisfying read, although it must be noted that Cain doesn't pull any punches and her books are not for the squeamish.
The fifth book in the series opens with a gruesome murder and from the first chapter leaves very little breathing room. Gretchen wants to talk to Archie about the new series of murders, but he's trying for mental health and is staying well away. So Gretchen gets Susan, a now unemployed journalist, to visit her instead, suggesting that she knows who the murderer is and providing clues and red herrings to string Archie and his task force along. It was an altogether satisfying read, although it must be noted that Cain doesn't pull any punches and her books are not for the squeamish.