Evil at Heart (Gretchen Lowell Series #3)

Great Book, quik read

I'm going to keep this short and sweet. I picked up the book the day it came out and finished before I went to bed, and all I can say is wow. It was that good. You'd think the characters would get boring or the plot would be repetitive. However, Chelsea Cain continues to impress and the only down side of this book is having to wait for the next one. I cant wait to see what she still has in store for these characters.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Gretchen Is The Bomb

As always Ms. Cain does not dissapoint! Gretchen Lowell is so twisted and an insane genious, it's amazing. She knows just how to manipulate, and she can read people so well it is shocking.

Archie is so on the edge. If it would have been available to him he would have slipped right back into his drugged haze. I fully enjoyed this book, I was proud that Archie fought his demons, as hard as it was for him. I'm sad about he and his wife. We'll have to see, since there is most certainly an opportunity for #4.

The only thing that bothered me was all the crap that keeps happening to him and reporter, uh I mean journalist, since she prefers that title, Susan Ward. It's like, oh my gosh, what else is gonna happen. Kind of reminded me of Andy Sipowitz from NYPD Blue, everything under the sun that could go wrong did! It starts to get a little old. That and the fact that Archie lied to his partner Henry. Cop partners have a very special relationship, and Hank loves Arhie and has had Archie's back, has saved him and pulled him back from the depths so often, I was shocked that the author allowed that to be.

All in all, an awesome read. Gretchen Lowell is without a doubt a fantasic psycho, Ms Cain has outdone herself with this series and hope she gives us more!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Truly evil or just a big game of pretend?,

Previous book in this series, "Sweetheart" was scorching hot but this was more of a drawn out tepid bath, it wasn't bad but it certainly lacked the spice. I recommend reading these in order, and for those who haven't read "Heart Sick "and "Sweetheart" this shouldn't be the starting place, that said I'm happy I got to read it but a bit disappointed to how it turned out. The sheer lunacy of Gretchen being a superstar in the media world was hard to believe, people are obsessed more than ever with the Beauty Killer, her images are selling newspapers, there are clubs and secret societies obsessed with her, tee shirts and mugs with her name on them, all a game with a sick undertone, that was something I had a really hard time believing as I don't fall easily for charms and gimmicks of any sort, and I certainly don't believe in glorifying any sort of man killing scum, not even one as pretty as Gretchen. The woman who can manipulate men to do her bidding as she uses her body and seduction to keep them glued to her, is on the run and no one seems to know how to track her except for Archie, trouble is that he has voluntarily checked into a psych-ward and is considered a citizen until proven non threatening to himself.

The game is back on but this time it circles around a story that I frankly wasn't interested in, the possibility of copy-cat killings was just too much as it took the bulk of this novel into directions that didn't seem interesting. I wanted some sort of a conclusion and battle between Gretchen and Archie ad this sadly wasn't it. The writing was silky and smooth as ever but the topic was less satisfactory, something was gone from the novel, perhaps it all lays in Gretchen and without her the storyline loses it's bulk and that pleasurable buzz. If something else comes out in this series I will read it but with caution and weariness, I felt like I jumped into it and came out a bit disappointed, although it's hard to say why without spoiling most of the time line and one major reason for being disappointed depends on lack of something very specific. It was a fast read, that I can say but I didn't think it would be less pungent than its predecessor, it wasn't as gory and shocking as it' believed, more like a filler between two other books.

- Kasia S.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Catchy Title but Stale Story

Undoubtedly, the cover and title are a draw for this book, but I found the plot to be redundant and a near duplicate of so many others in the genre. In the real world, how many serial killers are there? Can't someone in the literary industry come up with a new concept or write about something equally thrilling as it is realistic?

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Amazing

Amazing

Wow great series

I am now on the Series #4 and all of them have been hard to put down. Just want to keep reading to see what is going to happen next

Disappointing!

I was disappointed in this book. I loved the first book! The second was ok. This one was monotous and borderline boring. I'm tired of Gretchen and won't read any more about this character. --K--

Amazing. Super read.

This while series is awesome. I share with everyone. Love ChelseaCain.

LOVED IT!!!!!

I think this is a great, series. I was always on the edge of my seat!!!!

Too much gore, not a great plot.

Gretchen is back!

This is a VAST improvement from the second book. It had the same amount of suspense and thrills like Heartsick and it went up one more notch. It felt a little strange though, since Archie was out of the picture for a while, until he's forced back in.

The process in forcing him back was insanely creepy. The phone calls, the text messages, even the staff and inmates where Archie was staying at for treatment made a hair raising experience. You just couldn't trust anyone and any new character introduced into the scene, you had to wonder if they were under Gretchen's influence or not. I really loved the text messaging and phone calling moments. Those really creeped me out. I thought this part of the story was very well written and gave you enough chills yet not so much that it's overdone and cheesy. The mind games played between Gretchen and Archie are really good and that also keeps you reading through the book.
The underlying main plot of the book was good and only makes sense that a possibility of a copycat killer would come into the picture. The outcome of this mystery is really good and was also pretty thrilling as well. The pace of the plot was also well done and the sudden revelations with the twists and turns are also really good. Gretchen is still, an evil manipulating witch that you can't ignore.

There are still unanswered questions to Gretchen, and I'm wondering how long this is going to be. You can only stretch this storyline with Gretchen so far without making it look silly. That being said though, I've picked up Night Season already and am hoping it's just as good.

Thrilling, with a "can't put down" feeling, fans of Archie and Gretchen will definitely be satisfied with this one. Those that are new to this should read this series in order. Be advised, there is quite a bit of gore in the book those that aren't into that should stay away.

An even sicker helping from Cain!

I, once again, loved Chelsea Cain's latest offering of flawed "hero" Archie Sheridan. I so enjoy how we keep learning more from the original crimes of Gretchen Lowell and her continued mind games. Here we are given more Susan Ward, which is always a good thing. While somehow the book became even more sick than the first two books, it didn't cross the line for me, although it was close. I am looking forward to the next book but think its going to be different. I hope it still has its edge.

great read

i love this book

Heart Stopping Thriller

Just when I thought nothing could shock me, this book really scared me. God help anyone that meets up with this crazy psycho killer. The only part I found annoying was the reporter who is as childish and extremely immature. Thankfully this story doesn't depend on anything she contributes. It is all about this killer and the detective. I haven't read a thriller this good in a long time. I read all three in the series and wish there were more. Not a book to read before going to bed.

Unsure about this book

I have read all of Ms. Cain's Gretchen Lowell series and this one I am unsure whether I liked it or not -- most of the way through it I kept thinking I am tired of this series and it needs to end -- Gretchen needs to go away and Archie needs a backbone. I was tired of Archie being weak. I really like Susan though, the "journalist" -- she is something else (funny way) - but a strong personality. A book could definitely be written about her. A new character "Leo" has emerged from this book - wonder if something will come of that. If Ms. Cain writes about Gretchen again I hope it is where Archie is the stronger person and she gets her just!!!!

Lots of Gore, Little Plot

This was my first book that I have read from this author and I am under impressed. The book is filled with gore and gruesome crime scenes but that is used to cover up the lack of depth of the plot. The plot was basic and the characters were hard to believe and get in to. I think she has good potential but don't feel this is compelling reading.

Hmmm.....

I've read all three books in the series and find them very compelling. The relationship between Archie and Gretchen is messed up and while I'm not sure how I feel about that I can't stop reading the books. Definitely would recommend this series.

Third installment of female serial killer

One would think by the third installment of a serial killer series the storyline would become stale. In "Evil at Heart" the twisted relationship between Beauty Killer Gretchen Lowell and her former lover, the detective who chased her for years, Archie Sheridan endures.
Archie is residing in a mental hospital where he is receiving counseling for his strange addiction/obsession with Gretchen. He still loves her from the affair he was having with her before he realized she was the serial killer he'd been chasing for so long, and he also hates her for the physical and mental torture he's endured by her hand. Either way, he's completely and totally obsessed by her.
Gretchen is on the run, after escaping from Archie at the end of the last installment of the series, and has promised Archie that she will not kill anymore.
However, dead eyeless bodies begin showing up in places Gretchen has dumped her previous victims, and everyone fears she is on the prowl again.
Archie gets kicked out of the mental facility when an orderly kills another patient, seemingly under the direction of Gretchen. Archie correctly believes that Gretchen can get to him anywhere, and with this move she has proved it yet again.
After Archie's dismissal from the facility, he teams up with newspaper reporter Susan Ward who has covered the murders from the beginning, and his old partner, detective Henry Sobol to help search for Gretchen and investigate the new murders.
Early on in the investigation, Archie realizes the murders do not seem to have Gretchen's usual technique, and he fears they may be copycat killings. Susan aids the investigation by logging on to cult websites dedicated to the phenomenon that society has created worshipping Gretchen. Through these websites she sets up a meeting for Archie to attend, where he is regaled simply because he is Gretchen's lone surviving victim.
When Archie is taken hostage at this meeting, he flashes back to when Gretchen had him, and Henry and Susan go into a tailspin trying to find him.
Gretchen is less a main character in this installment, and more of a cultural phenomenon. People sell t-shirts, key chains, posters, books, newspapers, magazines all about her, and society is eating that stuff up. By the time she actually appears in this book, the story is almost over.
This is another wonderful tale from one of my favorite series.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

another great one in the series

This was another one in which we follow Gretchen and her evil ways. She continues to wreak havoc and keeps you guessing. I thought the first two were better than this one but it is one you have to buy to help complete the story. I have to wonder if there will be more featuring her because she has lost her prime target.

Not For The Squeamish!

I received Evil At Heart as an advanced reader's review copy. It's the sequel to Heartsick but can be read and understood without reading the prior novels. (Although I would highly recommend starting at the beginning, simply because Chelsea Cain is a brilliant writer.) This book grabbed me from the very beginning. I didn't skim over one single word. It's one of those books that will keep you up late at night reading, then keep you up later because it's so disturbing!

Evil At Heart is fast-paced and can leave you breathless. The plot follows a female serial killer whose depraved actions have earned her her very own cult following. If you like suspense and aren't horrified by gory details, then Evil At Heart is a must read.