Kill You Twice (Archie Sheridan/Gretchen Lowell Novel) [Hardcover]

I've finished "Kill You Twice" the 5th book in her Archie Sheridan/Gretchen Lowell series by Chelsea Cain.

Nothing makes Portland detective Archie Sheridan happier than knowing that Gretchen Lowell — the serial killer whose stunning beauty is belied by the gruesome murders she’s committed — is locked away in a psych ward. Archie can finally heal from the near-fatal physical and emotional wounds she’s inflicted on him and start moving on with his life.

To this end, Archie throws himself into the latest case to come across his desk: A cyclist has discovered a corpse in Mount Tabor Park on the eastern side of Portland. The man was gagged, skinned, and found hanging by his wrists from a tree. It’s the work of a killer bold and clever enough to torture his victim for hours on a sunny summer morning in a big public park and yet leave no trace.

And then Archie gets a message he can’t ignore — Gretchen claims to have inside knowledge about this grisly murder. Archie finally agrees to visit Gretchen, because he can’t risk losing his only lead in the case. At least, that’s what he tells himself . . . but the ties between Archie and Gretchen have always been stronger, deeper, and more complex than he’s willing to admit, even to himself. What game is she playing this time? And even more frightening, what long-hidden secrets from Gretchen’s past have been dredged up that someone would kill to protect?

At once terrifying and magnetic, “Beauty Killer” Gretchen Lowell returns with a vengeance in Kill You Twice, Chelsea Cain’s latest razor-sharp psychological thriller.

About the Author

CHELSEA CAIN’S first four novels featuring Archie Sheridan have all been New York Times bestsellers. Also the author of Confessions of a Teen Sleuth, a parody based on the life of Nancy Drew, and several nonfiction titles, she was born in Iowa, raised in Bellingham, Washington, and now lives in Portland, Oregon.

Product Details
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Minotaur Books; First Edition edition (August 7, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312619782
ISBN-13: 978-0312619787

My Review:

I highly recommend this series if you enjoy a tortured hero obsessed with a beautiful but deadly killer interwoven with great secondary characters and gruesome and descriptive crime scenes.

Portland Homicide Detective Archie Sheridan is still struggling with the ordeal of being tortured and maimed by his arch rival Gretchen Lowell.  He still bears physical and emotional scars from his terrifying encounters with the beautiful, cunning and deadly killer.  He sometimes rubs his scars (especially the heart she curved over his chest) until they start bleeding.  He has struggled to overcome his pill addiction and is now clean but not totally healed.  He suffers insomnia and his marriage ended though he sees his kids regularly.

One hot summer day Archie is called to a gruesome murder scene with his partner Henry Sobel.  A man's body was left hanging from the lower branches of a cedar tree with his wrists and ankles were tied with rope.  He was also tortured and mutilated (he was hit on the head with a hammer and his skin was carved from his chest and abdomen).  They discover he works at a local girls shelter and he finds a familiar face Pearl.  Then another body is discovered burning under a landmark.  The only clue to tie the two crimes is a white Lily.

Gretchen asks Susan Ward by way of her psychiatrist to visit her in jail so she can tell her about her very first kill James Beaton.  She describes how she killed him and drops clues that she wants Susan to relay to Archie.  She also drops a name Ryan Motley to peak his interest and make sure he would come visit her.

When he finally comes she informs him she knows who the killer is Colin Beaton.  Colin and Gretchen share a past together because they both had the same foster parents.  She also asks him to protect her daughter Pearl from Colin because she's his next target.

Archie's personal life is quite complicated with the aftereffects of his divorce and his unresolved feelings for Susan.  Then there is the new neighbor Rachel a young and dangerous women who bears an uncanny resemblance to Gretchen.  There seems to be mutual attraction between them and they start a sexual relationship and it's funny how she has heart tattoo on her back.

4/5

Books in series:

1.  Heartsick
2.  Sweetheart
3.  Evil at Heart
4.  The Night Season
5.  Kill You Twice

The Night Season [Hardcover]

I've finished "The Night Season" the 4th book in her Archie Sheridan series by Chelsea Cain.

Product Description

With the Beauty Killer Gretchen Lowell locked away behind bars once again, Archie Sheridan — a Portland police detective and nearly one of her victims — can finally rest a little easier. Meanwhile, the rest of the city of Portland is in crisis. Heavy rains have flooded the Willamette River, and several people have drowned in the quickly rising waters. Or at least that’s what they thought until the medical examiner discovers that the latest victim didn’t drown: She was poisoned before she went into the water. Soon after, three of those drownings are also proven to be murders. Portland has a new serial killer on its hands, and Archie and his task force have a new case.

Reporter Susan Ward is chasing this story of a new serial killer with gusto, but she’s also got another lead to follow for an entirely separate mystery: The flooding has unearthed a skeleton, a man who might have died more than sixty years ago, the last time Portland flooded this badly, when the water washed away an entire neighborhood and killed at least fifteen people.

With Archie following the bizarre trail of evidence and evil deeds to catch a killer and possibly regain his life, and Susan Ward close behind, Chelsea Cain — one of today’s most talented suspense writers — launches the next installment of her bestselling series with an electric thriller.

About the Author

Chelsea Cain’s first three novels featuring Archie Sheridan—Heartsick, Sweetheart, and Evil at Heart—have all been New York Times bestsellers. Also the author of Confessions of a Teen Sleuth, a parody based on the life of Nancy Drew, and several nonfiction titles, she was born in Iowa, raised in Bellingham, Washington, and now lives in Portland, Oregon, with her family.

Product Details
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Minotaur Books; First Edition edition (March 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312619766
ISBN-13: 978-0312619763

My Review:

I highly recommend this series if you like dark mystery with truly horrific killers and a tortured hero.

Storyline: Gretchen Lowell is behind bars so Archie has kicked his addiction to vicodin and concentrating on his job. He still misses it sometimes.

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 which makes them believe it was Murder. But when they then examine the other bodies, they find the same puncture mark. They now 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.

Reporter Susan Ward has been making a bigger name for herself in the newspaper industry. Archie allows her on almost every crime scene, and Susan is usually the first to scoop up the competition. She's been working on a really old story of when the town of Vanport (a place not far from their current location) was flooded and many were killed. She's 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.

As his investigation deepens, they realize a young boy is involved (a boy kidnapped over a year ago). Archie promises the parents he will retrieve 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 are heating 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 octopus.

Characters: It was great to see Susan play a bigger part in this book. She has matured alot and has grown strong without losing any of her quirkiness.

Archie is such a great detective when he's thinking clearly and not doped up with vicodin and lusting after Gretchen. It's really great to see he has cleaned up his addiction and being friendly to his ex-wife and getting along with his kids.

Was kind of disappointed only saw Gretchen at the end!

Killer: This is one sick killer who really gets off on his octopus killing. He has also conditioned the boy to return back to him and makes the boy watch his killings and participate! He definately has no remorse and we later find out why he is killing. Glad the killer got what they deserved in the end!

4/5

Thanks Anna from FSB Media for sending me this book to review, greatly apppreciated!