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Evil at Heart (Archie Sheridan & Gretchen Lowell) by Chelsea Cain
Book Summary InformationAuthor: Chelsea Cain Edition: Hardcover Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published) Published: 2009-09-01 ISBN: 0312368488 Number of pages: 320 Publisher: Minotaur Books
Book Reviews of Evil at Heart (Archie Sheridan & Gretchen Lowell)Book Review: Still Hooked on Archie and Gretchen (B Grade) Summary: 3 Stars
Evil at Heart is the third book by Chelsea Cain that showcases the barely forty year old homicide detective Archie Sheridan who fell victim to serial killer Gretchen Lowell. For two years Gretchen has been Archie's everything. She has been in his thoughts, much like a drug that he craves everyday even though he knows if he has her, she will be the death of him. She almost killed him once, by holding him captive for ten days and torturing him in the worst ways imaginable to the human mind. Archie lived through it and has been trying to get his life on track. In Heartsick we were given a small piece on why Archie was so obsessed with Gretchen and she with him. In Sweetheart we saw Archie brought down by this sick and evil woman because of his own stupidity. I won't go in great detail why my opinion of Archie changed after reading Sweetheart, because it's a big spoiler, but let's just say his physical and emotional suffering and guilt is enough for the wrongs he felt he has done against his wife, family and co-workers.
At the end of Sweetheart, Gretchen, who is known as the Beauty Killer, escaped from prison and lead Archie on a merry chase. She is now on the loose because of a pact Archie made with her. As long as he doesn't kill himself, she won't kill any other people. Now two months later Archie is in a mental hospital recovering and Gretchen has become a media superstar. She is a celebrity idol whose face is on billboards and countless magazine covers. There is even a bus tour that takes tourists to the various places where she killed. Even with all this exposure, you would think someone would spot her. But Gretchen is an untraceable phantom. Suddenly, bodies start piling up and are found in very sickening ways. Is this Gretchen at play again or perhaps a copycat? A copycat could be a good possibility because Gretchen has a fan club and many of her fans want to be just like her.
Archie's former partner Henry Sobol is called on this case and Susan Ward, reporter for the Herald, who thinks of Archie as a friend and has seen Gretchen's work up close thinks there are more to the killings than meets the eye. And because Archie is the only one who knows about Gretchen and her crimes in everyway possible, Henry asks him to help with the case. Archie doesn't think Gretchen is the one doing the killings and he rather stay at the hospital drifting away where he has no responsibilities.
Gretchen wants Archie back into the game and because she is a master manipulator, she is able to get to him even though he is under lock and key. He has no choice but to join the investigation in a different way where the rules no longer apply to him. He doesn't care if he `s putting himself in harm's way because he know Gretchen won't allow anyone to hurt him unless she can be the one holding the knife against his throat herself.
Chelsea Cain has written another suspenseful and riveting thriller with many twists and turns. Evil at Heart is a bit more gruesome than her last two novels because the way the victims are killed are told in great detail. This time Archie is a bit more pathetic. He has lost everything, from his wife to his job, as well as the person he thought he was. He comes across a bit too weak and stupid. I used to hold Archie in high regard even though he was obsessed with Gretchen. But because the dynamics of their relationship changed in Heartsick, I lost a bit of respect for him. I actually feel pity for this man and I am at the point where I've begun to question why Gretchen is obsessed with Archie as he is with her. Gretchen likes to prey on weak men. Archie seems very weak and I believe he didn't he may have been this way from the start.
Gretchen is always an interesting character to read. She is a very masterful character who brings forth a great deal of confusion. Gretchen's "screen time" is very slim. Just by the characters and public keeping her first and foremost, she comes alive. This is so very surprising because even though Grechen doesn't make many appearances, she is the most important part of Evil at Heart.
The final showdown, yet again between Archie and Gretchen, will have you a scratching your head. What Archie goes through to find Gretchen or the killer responsible for the copy cat Beauty Killings gets a bit ridiculous. How much more suffering is Archie going to go through for the sins of his past? I'm surprised he wasn't in a vegetative coma by the amount of abuse his body goes through. Gretchen always comes out smelling like roses. Everything rolls off her back and we still don't know her motivation for things and why she has such strong feelings for Archie. What is about Archie that makes him stand out from all the rest of her victims? I think it's about time Chelsea gives us some insight on what makes Gretchen tick.
Overall, Evil at Heart is a fast read that many readers will enjoy. Things are left in such a way that things are not over between Archie and Gretchen and I do believe Chelsea has a few more tricks up her sleeves. These tricks may come as a surprise because she may have a new centralized story where Archie and Gretchen may finally become supporting characters instead of being the main ones.
I know if Chelsea were to write another book, with or without Archie and Gretchen, I will be there to read it.
Katiebabs
Heartsick
Sweetheart
Summary of Evil at Heart (Archie Sheridan & Gretchen Lowell)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?
Chelsea Cain continues to deliver heart-stopping thrills and chills in the latest entry in this dynamic bestselling series.
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