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Freak

by Jennifer Hillier (Goodreads Author)

3.84 of 5 stars 3.84 · rating details · 536 ratings · 128 reviews

Suspense magazine chose Jennifer Hillier’s “truly frightening” debut, Creep, as one of 2011’s best novels, while #1 bestselling author Jeffery Deaver cautioned “you better call in sick—you’re not going anywhere until you finish reading.” Now, Hillier returns to the Pacific Northwest college town where one killer’s stranglehold has ebbed . . . but another sick mind has wait...more

Hardcover, 335 pages

Published August 7th 2012 by Gallery Books

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Feb 26, 2013 Susan Ashcraft rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: all

Shelves: contemporary, detective, faves, fiction, first, firstread, mystery, novel, people, recommended, suspense, thriller

Freak Review

FREAK - any abnormal phenomenon or product or unusual object; anomaly; aberration.

Abby Maddox was Ethan Wolfe's long term girlfriend. She has always claimed she had no idea that Ethan was a serial killer. After Ethan was exposed as a serial killer, Abby went on the run. Several weeks later she was picked up by the police. Cornered, she sliced Jerry's throat with the idea of getting away. She claims not to remember actually using the knife on him but swears it was self defense. Abby...more Freak Review

FREAK - any abnormal phenomenon or product or unusual object; anomaly; aberration.

Abby Maddox was Ethan Wolfe's long term girlfriend. She has always claimed she had no idea that Ethan was a serial killer. After Ethan was exposed as a serial killer, Abby went on the run. Several weeks later she was picked up by the police. Cornered, she sliced Jerry's throat with the idea of getting away. She claims not to remember actually using the knife on him but swears it was self defense. Abby is serving her second year of a nine year sentence for the attempted murder of Jerry Isaac.

Dr. Sheila Tao, a psychology professor at Puget Sound State University, was in a serious relationship with Morris Gardner. Ethan Wolfe was her student and she had been having an affair with him for a few months. At first she had had no idea that the young lover she had taken was in actuality the Tell-Tale Heart killer, Seattle's notorious serial killer. She managed to survive being a prisoner of his for 3 weeks, and now, a year later, she and Morris have worked on their relationship and are discussing marriage.

When retired Seattle PD detective Jerry Isaac is asked by his old partner to meet him at the Sweet Chariot Inn he didn't argue. After viewing the dead and mutilated body of what was once a beautiful, vibrant young woman Jerry can't figure out what her murder has to do with him, or why he was even there.

Abby Maddox claims to know something about this newest homicide but wants certain concessions to her prison sentence and will only speak with Sheila Tao and Jerry Isaac.

Is this the start of another serial killer, one looking for Abby Maddox's approval? Is Abby telling all she knows about the murder or is she holding something back?

A gripping, chilling thriller that will hold your attention and make it very difficult to put down. Just when you think you have things figured out something unexpected happens and it twists another way. Great characters, smooth suspenseful story and enough happening to keep you intrigued. Some may find it too graphic, I myself thought it worked extremely well with the story.

I received my copy through GoodReads FirstReads program and my review was unsolicited.(less)

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Feb 23, 2013 Will L rated it 4 of 5 stars

I came upon this book by chance at the library. It was on display and I am so glad I picked it up.

This novel showed me that the story of a convicted criminal is complicated and webbed with lies and poison.

The story of Dr. Tao continues from "Creep." Even though I have never read "Creep," "Freak" makes me want to read it.

In "Freak," the aftermath of the incarceration of Abby Maddox is felt when call girls are killed with the message, "Free Abby Maddox," is carved onto the backs of the lifeless bo...more

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Nov 29, 2012 William Bentrim rated it 4 of 5 stars

Freak by Jennifer Hillier

I had trouble getting into Jennifer Hillier’s first book, Creep. However once I got past the first twenty five pages I couldn’t put it down. I didn’t have to wait for that many pages this time. This book has the same cast and characters just a short time down the road from Creep. A psychopath renews the torment of former victims making the book more than a bit frightening.

The exhibition of sociopathic manipulative skills is the most frightening aspect of this book. My...more

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Oct 30, 2012 Jennifer Defoy rated it 5 of 5 stars

I love to read books that keep you guessing right until the end. I had no idea how this one was going to end, even if I’d been able to make a guess I doubt I would have been close. There were so many twists that by the end I didn’t even care about guessing. I was so engrossed in this story that I wasn’t even looking to the future, I was tied to the right now. The writing was awesome in this one. There are some scenes that were fairly graphic and yet it didn’t come off as being gross, disgusting,...more I love to read books that keep you guessing right until the end. I had no idea how this one was going to end, even if I’d been able to make a guess I doubt I would have been close. There were so many twists that by the end I didn’t even care about guessing. I was so engrossed in this story that I wasn’t even looking to the future, I was tied to the right now. The writing was awesome in this one. There are some scenes that were fairly graphic and yet it didn’t come off as being gross, disgusting, or in poor taste. It was gruesome, disturbing, and shocking, but it was so well put together that it didn’t really phase me. It was an important part of a very good story.

I liked how the characters were developed in this one. Everything wasn’t just thrown out there at the beginning. That would have ruined the story. As certain parts of a character’s development were needed they were expertly added to the story. But things didn’t feel like they were just thrown together. As we learned something about a character it was quickly integrated into the story. I can’t say I particularly liked any of the characters – they all seemed to have something that made them not the greatest people – but I was truly engaged and wanted to know what was going to happen to them next. Even though I felt as if I knew them all each time a twist was thrown in I would get to see a side of them that I didn’t know existed.

I can’t say enough how well written this was. Even when the story was getting gruesome I couldn’t put it down. The writing was so good that it really pulled me in. I was so drawn into the story that I just couldn’t focus on anything else. I had to keep reading because no matter what was going on in the story I just knew that something even more awesome was coming on the next page. Given all the horrible things that went on in this book I’d normally say it was very difficult to read. But with this one everything fell into place and even the horrible events were necessary.

I think this was probably one of the best written books I’ve ever read. It was exciting, and suspenseful and truly pulled me in right from the beginning. Hillier is definitely a master of her craft and I will be picking up more of her books! People always say “She/He could sing the phone book and make it sound beautiful” I think if Hillier had written the phone book it wouldn’t have become almost obsolete!(less)

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Sep 27, 2012 Miriam Downey rated it 3 of 5 stars

Read my full review at: http://mimi-cyberlibrarian.blogspot.c...

What a great book title: Freak! It is the second in a series of books about a string of serial killings (and serial killers). I reviewed the first book Creep last year, and already I am wondering what the third book will be called. I’ve been running five letter words through my mind that have to do with serial killers. I can’t come up with one, although I am sure that Hillier has.

Freak picks up where Creep left off, and although you...more Read my full review at: http://mimi-cyberlibrarian.blogspot.c...

What a great book title: Freak! It is the second in a series of books about a string of serial killings (and serial killers). I reviewed the first book Creep last year, and already I am wondering what the third book will be called. I’ve been running five letter words through my mind that have to do with serial killers. I can’t come up with one, although I am sure that Hillier has.

Freak picks up where Creep left off, and although you don’t need to read Creep, you probably don’t want to miss it. I had to read through two or three chapters of Freak before I remembered the characters and the circumstances. Abby Maddox is the girlfriend of Ethan Wolfe, the now-dead serial killer from Creep. Abby is in prison for having attacked Jerry Isaac, the police detective turned PI, who was investigating the murders Wolfe committed. Now, someone is killing prostitutes and carving “Free Abby Maddox” on their backs. Jerry Isaac is called in to investigate and the horrific fun begins again. All the cast of characters from the first book return, including Sheila Tao, the psychology professor, her fiancé Morris, and Jerry’s estranged wife Annie. A new character, Danny Mercy, is introduced, and about half way through the book, the reader begins to get creepy feelings about Danny. Something is just not adding up about her.

Abby Maddox is a very interesting character; she is such an accomplished sociopath that her behavior is almost believable—and I am saying this as if I knew enough about sociopaths to decide if her actions were believable or not. Throughout the book, she is so incredibly clever that the reader is constantly surprised at what she thinks up. Abby is as brilliant as she is beautiful and is a master manipulator. Can a serial killer be an appealing character?

Hillier says in an interview that as soon as she finished her first novel, Creep, she had to begin the second because she had unfinished business that had to be taken care of, like try to figure out what Abby Maddox was thinking about and what she was capable of. Now, I am worrying about Danny Mercy and wondering what she is capable of…well we already got a glimmer of that in Freak. Danny, however, has a bit of a soft streak to her that Abby does not have. I wonder what that means for book three.

Hmmm…female serial killers. Most serial killers are men, but we all remember Charlize Theron in the movie Monster from 2003. Perhaps as Hillier develops this series of thrillers, we will come to know more about how female serial killers operate. What we know for sure is that Hillier’s next book will be as tightly drawn and finely crafted as her first two books have been.

The reviewer on the Horror News website has this to say: “Thriller author Jennifer Hillier’s Freak can be described in a few words: brilliant, intense, fast-paced, terrifying and an edge of your seat thriller.” I agree and for my readers that love suspense novels, both Creep and Freak really deliver a thrilling experience.

The Horror News review: http://horrornews.net/55763/book-revi...
A good summary of Freak can be found on Kirkus Reviews: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-re...
Hillier’s website: www.jenniferhillier.org/(less)

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Aug 25, 2012 Lyn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery-thriller

Kill one serial killer and along comes another. Freak is Jennifer Hillier's follow-up to her thrilling debut, Creep, which featured serial killer Ethan Wolfe. This time someone is murdering high priced escorts and afterwards carving, 'Free Abby Maddox' on their backs.

Abby Maddox was Ethan's long-time girlfriend. She's serving a nine year sentence in a maximum security prison for attempting to murder a private investigator involved in tracking down Ethan. Private investigator Jerry Isaac has ever...more

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Aug 17, 2012 Jen rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, genre

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 12, 2012 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult, thriller, murder-mystery, awesome-dialog, great-supporting-characters, loved, male-protagonist, own, thought-provoking, unique, violent

First Impressions: Creep and Freak were sent to me thanks to the good people at Gallery Books. I was told that I would be able to read Freak on its own for review purposes, so that is what I did (I have full intentions of going back and reading Creep now that I’ve read Freak). So, confession time: this is a YA blog so I mostly review YA books, but surprise! I read everything under the sun and thrillers are one of my favorite genres, especially when they are written for adults. Creep had raving r...more First Impressions: Creep and Freak were sent to me thanks to the good people at Gallery Books. I was told that I would be able to read Freak on its own for review purposes, so that is what I did (I have full intentions of going back and reading Creep now that I’ve read Freak). So, confession time: this is a YA blog so I mostly review YA books, but surprise! I read everything under the sun and thrillers are one of my favorite genres, especially when they are written for adults. Creep had raving reviews and the plot sounded addictive. Freak is the sequel to Creep, but it can stand by itself. The cover art is super creepy and the plot reminded me of one of my favorite books/movie, but I’ll get to that more in a minute.

First 50 Pages: I was a little bit worried heading into Freak that I would be missing out on a lot of the back story since I didn’t read Creep. That wasn’t the case. I thought that the author did a really nice job providing me with all of the little details that I needed to fully understand and enjoy her book. The pacing of the story was just right, in my opinion, and it didn’t have a dull moment. With some thriller novels, the plots are easily convoluted and confusing for the readers to follow. I didn’t have any issues with that while reading Freak. It was so creepy, suspenseful, and has plenty of twists and turns to keep anyone happy and engaged.

Characters & Plot: I mentioned above that Freak reminded me of one of my favorite novels, and that novel is The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris which was also made into a fantastic movie starring Anthony Hopkins. While reading Freak, it was easy to draw parallels between these two novels, but Freak still has a sense of uniqueness about it. If you have ever wondered if Dr. Hannibal Lector had been a woman, Freak might just give you something to think about.

There are a few key characters in Freak and Abby is one of them. Abby is serving time in prison for her part in Ethan Wolfe’s murder spree and the assault of Jerry Isaac, a retired police officer. Abby has no intentions of serving her full term. A mysterious website pops up in her honor that is named FreeAbbyMaddox.com and it is attracting all sorts of odd balls and people not in their right minds. One person in particular had taken it upon himself to copycat Abby and is sending her love letters and is carving messages into his victim’s bodies. Hoping to have her sentence cut down to a minimum and gain immunity, Abby promises her help in finding the killer. The cop that Abby assaulted is on the hunt for the killer who is obviously a huge fan of Abby’s, so he enlists her help. Of course, not everything is what it seems to be.

Freak has some truly fantastic characters. Jerry Isaac is the main character in this story and he is desperate to find the killer with the help of his former partner, Mike Torrance, and his assistant, Danny Mercy. As much as I enjoyed these three characters, Abby is the one that shines the most for me. She is gorgeous, smart, and extremely manipulative, not to mention dangerous! Even being locked up to rot inside of a prison cell doesn’t stop her from wreaking havoc on the outside population. Abby and Dr. Hannibal Lector would get along quite well, I think. Abby might even be more dangerous to others because of her beauty. People easily fall under her spell.

There is also Sheila, who was in the first novel. Her character confused me a little bit, probably because I didn’t read Creep. It was hard to pinpoint what motivated her to do the things that she did. She is likable and I did enjoy reading about her. It was obvious to me that she had been through a lot and I’m looking forward to gaining some insight about her when I read Creep.

Final Thoughts: Freak was an exciting and sometimes terrifying thriller, one of the better ones I have come across in quite a while. The author has a gift at creating suspense and twists and turns that you don’t see coming, as well as really well-developed characters. If you are into adult thriller novels, this is a book you won’t want to miss!
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Aug 09, 2012 Brenda Casto rated it 5 of 5 stars

After reading "Creep" I became an immediate fan of Jennifer Hillier and couldn't wait to read the next installment in the series. Well all I can say "freak" was worth the wait.

There is a killer on the loose, someone is murdering high class call girls and leaving a message carved into their body. The message is Free Abby Maddox! Abby Maddox was the girlfriend of seriel killer Ethan Wolfe, from the book"Creep." She is serving a stint in prison, and turns out she has been getting love letters from...more

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Aug 07, 2012 Cheryl rated it 5 of 5 stars

Abby Maddox was the former girlfriend of serial killer, Ethan Wolfe. Ethan was a student of Dr. Sheila Tao. Sheila was Ethan's next victim when she fionally broke things off with him but she was saved. Now Ethan is dead and Abby is sitting in prison.

Someone has started up a website called FreeAbbyMaddox.com. The website is bring out a lot of freaks and another serial killer. This killer is Abby's number one fan. The murdered bodies are found with the worlds Free Abby carved into their backs. Je...more

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Aug 07, 2012 Kristin (MyBookishWays Reviews) rated it 5 of 5 stars

You may also read my review here: http://www.mybookishways.com/2012/08/...

I adored Creep, the first novel featuring Jerry Isaac, Sheila Tao, and Abby Maddox, so was anxious to see where the author would take these characters in Freak. Abby is now in prison, charged with the murder of one of the girls in EthanWolfe’s basement of horror and assaulting retired police officer Jerry Isaac. Abby has absolutely no plan to go down for murder, however, and promises to help the police find a new killer in...more You may also read my review here: http://www.mybookishways.com/2012/08/...

I adored Creep, the first novel featuring Jerry Isaac, Sheila Tao, and Abby Maddox, so was anxious to see where the author would take these characters in Freak. Abby is now in prison, charged with the murder of one of the girls in EthanWolfe’s basement of horror and assaulting retired police officer Jerry Isaac. Abby has absolutely no plan to go down for murder, however, and promises to help the police find a new killer in exchange for immunity and (hopefully) a short stretch in a minimum security prison. Someone is killing escorts and carving “Free Abby Maddox” into them with increased rage and intensity, and when they finally narrow their suspects down to a troubled man who seems more than happy to confess, it seems they have their killer. Not so fast…

Freak focuses mostly on Jerry Isaac and his search for the killer alongside his former partner Mike Torrance. Jerry also has a new assistant, the bright, sharp as a tack Danny Mercy, who was certainly a very interesting new addition to the cast of characters. Freak is more of a straightforward “catch the killer” type of story than Creep was. Creep was more psychological, and while that aspect is still here, most of the time is spent trying to stay ahead of the killings. We do, of course, get to see much more of Abby Maddox, and she’s about as creepy as they come: beautiful, extremely smart, and, of course, a master manipulator. That girl has more tentacles than an octopus, and she manages to extend them way beyond the walls of her prison. She’s the most intriguing character in the book, and getting to know her is a lesson in chilling. We’re used to men being the psychos, but in recent years, authors like Chelsea Cain and J.A. Konrath have given us some pretty formidable, and beautiful, psychos. They’re not sitting alone in squalor, wringing their hands, muttering to themselves. Not these ladies! They’re busy manipulating every last person they come in contact with, chewing them up, and spitting them out. Makes for a very fun read. However, I was hoping Sheila had grown a bit from the last novel, but she continues to make some decisions that don’t seem to be helping her cause (ie: keeping her teaching job, in spite of her sex addiction, and not letting Abby manipulate her). Conversely, it’s her vulnerability that makes her so likeable, at least for me. We’re pretty fragile things, after all, and her need for love and acceptance, especially for someone so lovely and accomplished, are what drives her much of the time, and granted, she’s still healing from the three week horror that she went through with Ethan Wolfe. Frankly, it’s probably a small miracle that she got through it with her mind intact. Most people wouldn’t. The author is very good at creating tension, and keeping it going until the end. If you like rockin’ thrillers that just won’t quit, with plenty of twists and turns, you’ll really enjoy Freak!(less)

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Dec 08, 2012 Kamila rated it 5 of 5 stars

Read more here: http://www.sensualappealblog.com/2012...

The book was surprising, intense, engaging, and a page turner. I felt attached to the characters, as if I knew them. It was easy to visualize what was going on, her descriptions of the prison was spot on and having never been in a situation or setting like that, I felt that I really got a clear picture to imagine from just the descriptions. By the way, if you are not into the excessive descriptions in books, don’t worry – I’m not either. Th...more

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Sep 19, 2012 Jennifer rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: drama

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 09, 2012 Wendy Hines rated it 5 of 5 stars

After the conclusion of Creep, I was excited to get my hands on Freak. Dr. Tao is still recuperating from her violent and creepy experience and wants to finalize her wedding plans. Jerry is still hostile about Abby slicing his neck and the scar has made him push his wife away. Not happy, but a little bit satisfied that Abby Maddox was finally caught and is serving nine years in prison for her assault on him.

But now women are turning up dead with the words Free Abby Maddox carved into their backs...more

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Sep 02, 2012 Paul Pessolano rated it 4 of 5 stars

“Freak” by Jennifer Hillier, published by Gallery Books.

Category – Mystery/Thriller/Horror

If you read “Freak” you will have to have read “Creep” first, or you will be lost.

In “Creep” we met Abby Maddox and Ethan Wolfe, two people connected by love and the torture of other people. They were responsible for the death and torture of a dozen women. Ethan was killed and Abby given a nine year jail sentence because none of the actual murders could be pinned on her. A website is created freeabbymaddox....more

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Sep 03, 2012 Lisa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I waited a year to read Jennifer Hillier's follow up to her best -seller Creep. I am happy to say it was well worth the wait. In Freak, Hillier takes us forward a year after the events in Creep. Dr. Sheila Tao is recovered from her kidnapping by her lover, Ethan Wolfe and back at work at the university.
Abby Maddox, Ethan's Girlfriend, is in prison for her attack on private investigator, Jerry Isaac.

Jerry is asked by his former police partner, Mike Torrance, to assist in a series of homicides tha...more

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Apr 05, 2013 Alexis rated it 4 of 5 stars

In my opinion, Freak was better than its predecessor, Creep. The pace of the book was a little faster, and I preferred the point of view of former detective Jerry Isaac than I did professor Sheila Tao. I also think that Abby Maddox was a better, more cerebral villain. Maddox is much more cut-throat (pun intended) and detached, and is one helluva criminal mastermind. Her skill of manipulation is heavy throughout the book, and is fed by fact that she, as an alleged serial killer, has this united,...more

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Aug 18, 2012 Lisa Regan rated it 5 of 5 stars

It doesn’t get better than this. With Freak, the sequel to her debut novel, Creep, Jennifer Hillier has reached new levels of greatness. Freak picks up about a year after the conclusion of Creep. Jerry Isaac is recovered from his near-fatal encounter with Abby Maddox, girlfriend of the late serial killer, Ethan Wolfe. At least on the outside. Jerry still struggles with the aftermath of Maddox’s attack on him and the last thing he wants to do is get sucked into an investigation involving her—but...more It doesn’t get better than this. With Freak, the sequel to her debut novel, Creep, Jennifer Hillier has reached new levels of greatness. Freak picks up about a year after the conclusion of Creep. Jerry Isaac is recovered from his near-fatal encounter with Abby Maddox, girlfriend of the late serial killer, Ethan Wolfe. At least on the outside. Jerry still struggles with the aftermath of Maddox’s attack on him and the last thing he wants to do is get sucked into an investigation involving her—but that’s just what happens. Maddox is in prison for what she did to Jerry but on the outside, a serial killer is loose and that killer is carving the words FREE ABBY MADDOX into the victims’ skin. Jerry soon finds himself smack in the middle of the hunt for Seattle’s newest serial killer and face to face with the woman he hoped never to see again—Abby Maddox, who claims to be able to help said investigation. Readers will be happy to see the return of Dr. Sheila Tao from Creep who assists Jerry with the investigation against her fiancé’s wishes and her better judgment. What follows is a twisty thrill ride that will leave readers waiting with bated breath for the other shoe to drop right up to the very last page.

What Hillier does best is create and maintain tension. Every single page crackles with it. Not one single word is wasted in this novel. Taut is the word that comes immediately to mind. The plot is tightly and expertly constructed, bolstered by characters who are both flawed and immensely likeable. Hillier’s protagonists are compassionately and honestly written and their counterparts, the soulless, manipulative Abby Maddox and her legion of freaks are just as fleshed out, their sociopathic behaviors laid out so perfectly by Hillier that it will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up.

Just when you think you’ve got this novel figured out, Hillier turns everything you know on its head. The twist at the end of this novel is handled even more expertly than the one at the end of Creep. Everything about this novel is exquisite. It is thriller writing at its absolute best. Hillier’s sophomore effort shows that not only can she hold her own in the big leagues but she’s going to be knocking them out of the park for a long time to come. In fact, she makes it look easy. Fans of the thriller genre will not be disappointed!
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Sep 21, 2012 Lorri rated it 4 of 5 stars

I actually liked this second book better than the first, Creep! There was more action and you didn't know who was involved and telling the truth until the end. Sheila and Morris have moved on with their lives, but still have not gotten married. Jerry and his wife have separated because of his bitterness after being attacked by Abby. Then Sheila and Jerry meet with Abby to try to get information from her about recent murders. She is willing to give them information in return for moving her to a m...more

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Aug 12, 2012 Shandy Jo rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: suspense, psychological-thriller, thriller, reviews-2012

I have to say I enjoyed this book a lot more than the first one. I think this is because there were more twists in this plot line. Even though I had a good idea what was going on I wasn't 100% sure. This pushed me to read so I could figure out what was going on.
Abby was a great psycho, she excelled at manipulating people, perhaps a little to well. She had a whole Hannibal Lector thing going on. One character, I can't say which or it'd spoil the book, I found utterly transparent from the get go....more

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Jun 18, 2012 HKd rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

*** Received as a First Reads Giveaway ***

This by a local Toronto author and so I read the first book "Creep" before I read this. Both books were a very easy read (I read each book in one sitting): the writing is clear and the story moves quickly. I found the plot in Creep a bit messy with details of the Sex Addiction (if you're going to have a lead character who's a sex addict then maybe you could allow yourself more sex scenes?) and the Alcoholism and was glad that both topics - as well as min...more

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Jun 23, 2012 Jody rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: giveaways-first-reads

I won this book from a first reads giveaway on Goodreads

I read this book, in all honesty, just because I won it as a first read giveaway, and becaue it isn't released until August. This book made me realize something, to always keep my mind open. Why is that? I LOVED this book.

This is NOT the type of book I would normally pick up to read. I usually pick all my books from the young adult section. This book kept me on the edge of my seat every page.

The other interesting thing, I didn't read the...more

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Jun 22, 2012 Tana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: drama, crime, giveaway, mystery, psychological, yaoi-yuri

I've gotten an advanced and uncorrected copy of Freak form a goodreads giveaway, so there are several typos and other mistakes in here.

Although this is a sequel to Creep, you don't need to read Creep to understand Freak. There are enough explanations here and there to understand the main points from the first book.

I found this story rather well-written. There are hints throughout the book regarding the true culprit behind the bloody and year-long mission of freeing Abby Maddox, the girlfriend of...more I've gotten an advanced and uncorrected copy of Freak form a goodreads giveaway, so there are several typos and other mistakes in here.

Although this is a sequel to Creep, you don't need to read Creep to understand Freak. There are enough explanations here and there to understand the main points from the first book.

I found this story rather well-written. There are hints throughout the book regarding the true culprit behind the bloody and year-long mission of freeing Abby Maddox, the girlfriend of a deceased psychopath who was convicted for the suspected murder of a women and the assault of a policeman. However, despite the hints, it is rather difficult to guess who the true culprit is until he/she is revealed, because of all the other people involved in his/her manipulations.

The ending is also rather interesting. (view spoiler)

However, I found the developmwnt of the relationship between Abby and the culprit rather quick. Of course, this novel isn't focused on their relationship, but still. They first met in prison - one as a criminal, the other as a worker. Then after a short period of time, they fall deeply enough for the culprit to plan for Abby's escape using whatever means neccessary, even though it meant the deaths of several young women.

Abby using the culprit to help her gain her freedom is one thing. (After all, she had manipulated several people to do her bidding while in prison.) But, having Abby fall in love with the culprit so fast, despite having a close relationship with another person for 8 years, is another.

I just don't get why or how Abby could fall in love with the culprit so much and so fast that she had even put off her revenge the culprit threatened to break up with Abby if Abby tries to go back for her revenge.

Anyhow, all in all, I'd have to say that this is a good mystery novel, though it was rather difficult to have a sense of the time passing between chapters. I wouldn't mind reading Creep if I could get a hold of it.(less)

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Sep 05, 2012 Judy rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult, read-in-2012, thriller

Initial thoughts before reading: I was greatly amused when I read this synopsis, because I thought...Abby Maddox? Is this the sequel to that lovely gem of a novel "Beautiful Disaster"? And then when I read on, I didn't even realize it wasn't until the second paragraph. I actually thought this was quite a clever plot twist if Trevor and Abby started becoming a deranged, serial killing duo.

I was kind of disappointed when it wasn't.

But anywho. This is the sequel to the completely unrelated book b...more Initial thoughts before reading: I was greatly amused when I read this synopsis, because I thought...Abby Maddox? Is this the sequel to that lovely gem of a novel "Beautiful Disaster"? And then when I read on, I didn't even realize it wasn't until the second paragraph. I actually thought this was quite a clever plot twist if Trevor and Abby started becoming a deranged, serial killing duo.

I was kind of disappointed when it wasn't.

But anywho. This is the sequel to the completely unrelated book by a completely unrelated author starring a completely unrelated Abby Maddox. I had problems with the first book, but it was entertaining and engaging enough for me to want to read the second.

Actual review: So yesterday the book came in via interlibrary loan and I was feeling quite tired and up for a night of vegging on the couch and relaxing. I was in the right mood for a thriller and I decided to dive into this book.

In some ways, the book does not disappoint. The story is quite interesting in that we get to follow Abby Maddox in "Creep", who has since then been captured and is sentenced to 9 years in jail for slashing Jerry Isaac's throat. The problem that arises is that there are women who are dying with the phrase "Free Abby Maddox" carved into them, and the question is - what role does Abby play in the murders?

Of course, from the beginning of the book, we know as readers that Abby Maddox does have a hand in the murders. The question is, how will the author as the puppeteer make us believe in Abby as the sinister villain plotting her future and freedom through these murders?

The reason I call these books thriller-lite is that everything is predictable. From the moment one of the characters appeared on the page, some warning bells were already ringing in my head. Absolutely nothing surprised me in this book, in comparison to "Creep", which still managed to do some interesting things with the generic story.

In comparison, this one was ok, but not as thrilling as Creep, and Jerry is not as exciting of a narrator as Sheila, even with her "I'm a psychology professor, how did I get involved with a psychopath?????" thoughts every few minutes.

It was a fast read, I was kept somewhat interested from beginning to end, but it's a forgettable novel. (less)

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Sep 03, 2012 James Jr. rated it 5 of 5 stars

In the just released sequel, "Freak", Hillier takes the story from "Creep" further as Ethan is out of the picture, but his girlfriend and partner in crime, Abby Maddox, is in jail for the crimes that either one or both of them committed. However, women are turning up dead all over Seattle. They are the spitting image of Abby Maddox and they have the phrase: Free Abby Maddox scrawled onto their bodies. Dr, Tao, Jerry Isaac, Detective Torrance and the surviving characters have their worlds turned...more

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Oct 14, 2012 Coquille Fleur rated it 4 of 5 stars

First of all, I didn't read Creep, the first book, but Freak was still awesome and now I really want to go back and read Creep. This second novel certainly stands on it's own. I don't read a lot of serial killer books at all. I've read one Jeffrey Deaver novel and some Stephen King, so I'm not a real horror junkie or anything, though I adore Dexter. My point is that this book was really good, despite the fact that I'm not a super horror reader. I literally stayed up waaay too late because I just...more

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Aug 15, 2012 Paul rated it 5 of 5 stars

What a book!
I immediately started on this right after reading Creep.
Abby's in maximum security for slashing retired police detective Jerry Isaac- Lots of fan mail and media exposure.
freeabbymaddox.com website started and killings occur.
Abby's knowledge of victim's location gets her transferred to
minimum security - where she escapes and exacts revenge on Dr. Sheila Tao.

I like the way the author shows us the clues for the final twists
in the first few chapters -
So right up front and easy to mi...more

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Jul 22, 2012 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

When I started reading this book I didn't realize it was the second book in a series but let me tell you, it didn't matter. I really enjoyed this book and found it to be quite the page-turner. I think I may even pick up the first book, Creep, to read the beginning.

This book starts with Abby Maddox, girlfriend of a serial killer (who they suspect played a part in the killings) in jail for an assault on a police officer. However, when bodies start turning up with the words 'Free Abby Maddox' carve...more

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Jun 25, 2012 Lorraine rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I have to say that I was so excited to win this novel from Goodreads First Reads! I had noticed that Jeffery Deaver had commented positively on the author's ability and I am a fan of Jeffery Deaver's works! I must say, I was not disappointed! What a fast read, what a creative mind! The story and the characters came alive in my mind, I could not wait to turn the page to see what happened next! I will not divulge too much info on the story line itself, would not want to ruin it for my fellow reade...more

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Apr 06, 2013 Melinda rated it 3 of 5 stars

Just like her first book, Creep, this was a freaky read, but if you are someone that needs closure at the end of a book, then this is NOT the book for you. Just like Creep, then ending leaves you wanting more, and I assumed that there is now a third book in the series, but from what I see online, there's not. I don't think I'd read another book that plays off of the one before by this author, b/c I feel like the characters have really nowhere else to go. How many times can you escape death by th...more

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About Jennifer Hillier

Jennifer Hillier was born in Toronto, which is where she spent the first three decades of her life. When her husband was offered a transfer to Seattle, she didn't know which would be worse: leaving Canada or moving to the West coast. She spent her first few months on American soil bemoaning her existence and writing her first novel. Now nicely settled in the Pacific Northwest, the only thing she m...more

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