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Evil at Heart (Archie Sheridan & Gretchen Lowell #3)

3.97 of 5 stars 3.97 · rating details · 5,169 ratings · 607 reviews

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,...more

Hardcover, 308 pages

Published September 1st 2009 by Minotaur Books (first published January 1st 2009)

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Dec 24, 2012 Marvin rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, kindle

While Heartsick was a nifty twist on the serial killer novel and Sweetheart was a good if predictable follow-up, the third installment of the Grechen Lowell series loses the excitement. Evil at Heart misses on many levels. Gretchen Lowell barely shows up, Archie Sheridan descends from tragic to pathetic and the author seems to be wingin' it through 80% of this novel. Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of the book is the author's choice to make an indictment of our society's habit of glorifying m...more

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Oct 02, 2009 Katie(babs) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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...more 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.(less)

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Feb 22, 2011 Michele Shimp rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2009, early

I am a big fan of murder mystery series, thrillers, serial killers (in books), interesting and flawed detectives... basically the entire murder mystery genre. It's always been my favorite type of book and I've read a bunch of them. So when I say that this Heartsick series by Chelsea Cain has jumped to the top of the list of favorites, know that it bypassed quite a few great books![return][return]I received Evil at Heart by Chelsea Cain from LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program. When I realized...more

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Jun 03, 2013 Felicia rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-read, 2013-seriously-series, 3-75-wine-glasses, audiobook, library-book

Listened for Fun (Library Copy)
Overall Rating: 4.00
Story Rating: 3.50
Character Rating: 4.60

Audio Rating: 3.50 (not part of the overall rating)

First Thought when Finished:Evil at Heart got really good the last 1/2! I couldn't put it down (or turn it off).

Story Thoughts: Chelsea Cain is brilliant at writing totally off-their-rocker characters. Her serial killer Gretchen is one of my favorites. Evil at Heart gave us another twist in the Gretchen/Archie storyline! It was full of twists,turns, and ac...more

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Feb 27, 2013 Lyn rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-thriller, reviewed

Gretchen Lowell is a psychopath and a serial killer. She is also gorgeous and intelligent. Now she's a celebrity thanks to the media who call her the 'Beauty Killer.' Fan clubs spring up on the web celebrating the number of days since her escape and waiting for her to strike again.

In this third novel of the series, Detective Archie Sheridan remains in a psych ward months after their last encounter. Archie promised not to kill himself as long Gretchen agrees not to murder anyone else. When the m...more

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Jan 02, 2013 Danielle rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: crime-thrillers, 2013-books

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

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Dec 31, 2012 Christine rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-reads

Gretchen Lowell is still on the loose and Archie Sheridan is still looking for her. But is he looking for her as a cop, or as a lover? Gretchen is a female serial killer who could stand toe to toe with Hannibal Lector and Archie not only is the detective on the case but a victim she chose to let live … the only victim she released as far as we know. They had an affair while he was held captive and tortured, so is it love or is it a game of cat and mouse. As beautiful Gretchen’s face is splashed...more

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Nov 02, 2012 Courtney rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: nw-authors, portland-authors

Chelsea Cain's serial killer novels are like Twizzlers or Tootsie Roll Pops. Unlike Snickers or Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, not everyone is going to like these "lesser" candies, but like those better-selling big-name brands, they still have their fans. Sure, they lack nutritional value. But what's the harm, as long as you don't forget to get some fiber and nutrients from other literary sources? At roughly 300 pages apiece, they're quick reads, too.

"Evil at Heart" is not as strong the first two n...more Chelsea Cain's serial killer novels are like Twizzlers or Tootsie Roll Pops. Unlike Snickers or Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, not everyone is going to like these "lesser" candies, but like those better-selling big-name brands, they still have their fans. Sure, they lack nutritional value. But what's the harm, as long as you don't forget to get some fiber and nutrients from other literary sources? At roughly 300 pages apiece, they're quick reads, too.

"Evil at Heart" is not as strong the first two novels in the series, but if you liked them you'll probably enjoy this one as well.

Gretchen Lowell, the serial killer who escaped from prison in book 2, is still on the run. Archie Sheridan, the cop who tracked Lowell down and then was tortured by her before the series opened, has checked himself in for residential psychiatric care. Reporter Susan Ward wants to write about the Gretchen Lowell fan clubs that have popped up online and in the real world, and about the killer's impact on society. And then new bodies start popping up, leaving Archie, Susan and police wondering if Gretchen is the killer or if her fans are acting as copy cats. Peppered amid the action are flashbacks that fill in some back story of Gretchen's and Archie's interactions that are not included in the first two books.

Author Chelsea Cain has a stronger mastery of the basics of grammar, sentence structure, description, and writing well than some other writers of best-selling thrillers (I'm looking at you, David Baldacci). In this book, I felt like she was a bit sloppier with cause and effect and key details than in her earlier works. Things kept being presented as logical consequences of earlier events, and I'd have to flip back several pages to see if those earlier events had actually been described. Often, they hadn't.

This book also suffers from being a "middle of a series" work. Some conflict is resolved, but in general the status quo doesn't change much from page one through page 306. When I pick up book four, I expect to enter a world that's virtually unchanged from the book I encountered at the start of book three. I will pick it up, but only because I was given the five books already published in this series. I don't think I'd spend my own money on the rest of the series, or bother to request the rest of these works from the library.

That said, my favorite character in these books, is as compelling as ever: The city of Portland. I love how Cain roots her book in the reality of this place, where I also live. She gets Portland right -- the weather, the geography, the culture. I like her occasional asides about the silliness and stereotypes of my town. As a writer who struggles with fully manifesting setting in my work, I feel like I'm learning from Cain when I read about Portland in her books.(less)

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Jul 17, 2012 N. Hamilton rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Chelsea Cain’s third novel again features Gretchen Lowell, a Portland female serial killer, who masquerades as a psychiatrist. Being a Portland psychiatrist myself, as well as a novel junkie, I find this whole notion of a psycho psuedo-therapist rather creepy. That is the point, of course. This super thriller should not be read after eight o’clock at night by anyone who wants to sleep. For the committed insomniac: read away.

Archie Sheridan, the detective who once captured Gretchen has spent mont...more

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Jul 13, 2012 Abraham rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Evil at Heart

By: Chelsea Cain

Plot:

Gretchen Lowell is still on the loose. These days, she’s more of a cause celebrity then a feared killer, thanks to sensationalist news coverage that has made her a star. Her face graces magazine covers and there have been sightings of her around the world. Most shocking of all, Portland Herald reporter Susan Ward has uncovered a bizarre fan club which celebrates the number of days she’s been free…Archie Sheridan hunted Gretchen for a decade, and after his last p...more

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Jul 04, 2012 Billy rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Strike Three!!! Not a good series...,

I've read all 3 of the books in this series. Heartsick, the 1st, was bad; 2 stars from this reviewer. Sweetheart, book 2, was bad; I gave 3 stars, but that was kind. So here is book three. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice shame on me; fool me three times, well... the book was free from Amazon Vine so I figured I'd finish the series (still, double shame on me).

Cain's style of writing is not engrossing. Her description of person and place are uninventi...more Strike Three!!! Not a good series...,

I've read all 3 of the books in this series. Heartsick, the 1st, was bad; 2 stars from this reviewer. Sweetheart, book 2, was bad; I gave 3 stars, but that was kind. So here is book three. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice shame on me; fool me three times, well... the book was free from Amazon Vine so I figured I'd finish the series (still, double shame on me).

Cain's style of writing is not engrossing. Her description of person and place are uninventive and do not present anything that is easy to see in the mind's eye. Her attempts at suspense just come off as silly. Her description of what should be scary or gory is sad and there is no sense of blood and guts; this is supposed to be a serial killer book, so I would expect that.

Cain, who hails from Portland, still cannot, after 3 books, describe anything about the city that brings it to life. I said it on a review of one of her other books and I'll say it again here; if she writes about a place she doesn't know well (which I would assume she does of her hometown), she is in real trouble.

I cannot recommend this as a diversion; cannot recommend this as anything. I will offer that, because the books have sold well so some people must have enjoyed the books, if you liked the 1st 2 in the series you'll probably like this. I just don't like the writing, the story, the characters (who are milquetoast at best) or the "villain". This just isn't good storytelling; its not even a good story.

This book steers away from the Archie/Gretchen connection and that probably won't help those who did like the 1st 2 books. The only good thing I can say about this book is that there is one character that was well written and that was Henry Sobol; perhaps Cain should pen some stories with him as the protaganist.

Lastly, I don't think the series is actually over. There was no indication that this was a trilogy and I fear that another Archie/Gretchen novel is coming; I WON'T be fooled again, even if the book is free. I'm done with Archie and Gretchen. Cain will have to prove herself to me before I pay for any of her works.

Good luck.(less)

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Jun 19, 2012 Best Crime Books rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Having never read Chelsea Cain I had not read the first and second instalment in the "Gretchen Lowell" series however this didn't' make the slightest bit of difference. There is enough history about the characters to be able to get a feel for the previous 2 books in this current story. Having said that I think I would like to go back and read the other two to get the bigger picture.

The story picks up with Archie Sheridan who is busy facing his own personal demons when Henry Sobol his old partner...more

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May 21, 2011 Marcie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

It’s been a while since I read the first two novels in Chelsea Cain’s twisted love saga of serial killer Gretchen Lowell and homicide detective Archie Sheridan. I loved those two crazy kids, she carving a heart in him, he throwing her in a prison cell.

Cain went to dark places, unafraid, as an author. Really hot, intense sex has a thread of violence and desperation in it. Sex and aggression, hero and villain, predator and prey. As Archie and Gretchen match wits, their roles switch back and forth....more

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May 04, 2011 Angelakfox rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Chelsea Cain’s third thriller in the “Heartsick” series, Evil at Heart, continues to follow the dangerous obsessions of detective Archie Sheridan and serial killer Gretchen Lowell. Though the (in)famous “Beauty Killer” makes very few appearances in the latest novel in the series, she wields impressive control over her fans and enemies.

Archie remains voluntarily hospitalized after his last encounter and tentative “bargain” with Gretchen, but finds himself leaving the supposed safety of the insti...more Chelsea Cain’s third thriller in the “Heartsick” series, Evil at Heart, continues to follow the dangerous obsessions of detective Archie Sheridan and serial killer Gretchen Lowell. Though the (in)famous “Beauty Killer” makes very few appearances in the latest novel in the series, she wields impressive control over her fans and enemies.

Archie remains voluntarily hospitalized after his last encounter and tentative “bargain” with Gretchen, but finds himself leaving the supposed safety of the institution when bodies bearing Gretchen’s trademark heart start appearing. Along with partner Henry and journalist Susan Ward, Archie has to determine if it’s all part of Gretchen’s latest ploy to get to him, or whether her growing numbers of admirers have found disturbing new ways to honor her.

It’s these admirers that steal the show in Evil at Heart, though its doubtful the reader will mind. While Gretchen arguably has enough charisma and character to drive what the series, her cat-and-mouse game with Archie is starting to feel a bit stale. His obsession with her seems easy enough to explain, but the reverse just doesn’t feel true. By turning her focus to the cult of celebrity—and more specifically, the cult of a mass murderer—Cain gives compelling new focus to her story, while not straying overly far from the formula that her fans have come to expect. She delivers the on the cover’s promise of “a thriller,” moving the story at a near-breakneck pace, and adding suspense with multiple—yet mostly believable—plot twists. The dark tone is unrelenting, as is the peril to characters both returning and new. Cain does not shy away from gory details; an early scene involves a toilet tank at a public rest stop filled with eyeballs. Still, they rarely feel gratuitous to the plot. One can almost sense that the writer is trying to create something of a “cerebral” thriller, with her relatively complex anti-hero complicated killer / detective dynamic. While she doesn’t entirely succeed, the result of her efforts makes Evil at Heart an entertaining, if disturbing, read.
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Feb 04, 2011 Paul Pessolano rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Chelsea Cain has invented a truly evil person in the likes of Gretchen Lowell. I can't recall anyone in literature that is more evil, more terrifing, more devious, and more interesting than Gretchen - and that includes Hannibal Lector.

Who else would torture someone to near death and call 911 to save his life, who would carve a heart in a person's chest to show her love for them, and who would leave a trail of bodies, that are still being counted, Gretchen Lowell that's who!!!

Gretchen came to the...more

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Dec 29, 2010 Quinn rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010-books, mystery-thriller

I will start by saying this was not a bad book, in fact if you like gore and brutallity it is right up there with the goriest books written. Chelsea Cain is one wicked sister with a warped, bubbled and blistered mind.

I gave this book two stars because there are so many flaws in the story but two really stand out and really irritate the crap out of me. The first being, you have one of the most prolific serial killers known to human history and somehow she escapes from prison? Stupid! The second...more

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Jun 14, 2010 Kasia rated it 3 of 5 stars

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 t...more 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, one major reason for being disappointed depends on lack of something very specific. It was a fast read but less pungent than its predecessor, it wasn't as gory and shocking as it's believed, more like a filler between two other books...I think that people who are expecting a gory psycho story will be rolling their eyes more than once. (less)

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Jun 09, 2010 Denise rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

3.0 out of 5 stars Evil is as evil does..., July 3, 2009

This review is from: Evil at Heart (Hardcover)

This is the third in the "heart" series about Gretchen Lowell, the "Beauty Killer" who has become so notorious that there are tours, web sites and fan clubs set up in her honor. Previous titles include Heartsick and Sweetheart.

What's her claim to this fame? She has kidnapped, tortured, and murdered many men and women through the years -- her most infamous escapade involved the near killing and...more

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May 31, 2010 Brendan rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fast-reads, mysteries

The third book in this series seems hurriedly written and probably would have benefited by being more carefully edited. As the series has progressed, I have found myself liking Susan Ward less and less. She increasingly makes foolish "only-in-horror-movies" choices that seem especially unlikely for someone who has been in life-threatening situations with serial killers twice in the past six months. Plus I never find her one-liners funny and don't know why she insists on making them in front of k...more

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Apr 02, 2010 Carmaletta Hilton rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Hannibal Lecter is known as the best part of Silence of the Lambs, and yet he was only in about 20 minutes of the movie, if that. Chelsea Cain seems to be taking the comparisons of Lecter and her character, Gretchen Lowell, kind of seriously, because Gretchen is the best part of this series, and she was very rarely actually in this book.

Taking the comparison further, the more I read, the more Archie reminds me of a cross between Will Graham in Red Dragon and Clarice in Silence of the Lambs. (Be...more Hannibal Lecter is known as the best part of Silence of the Lambs, and yet he was only in about 20 minutes of the movie, if that. Chelsea Cain seems to be taking the comparisons of Lecter and her character, Gretchen Lowell, kind of seriously, because Gretchen is the best part of this series, and she was very rarely actually in this book.

Taking the comparison further, the more I read, the more Archie reminds me of a cross between Will Graham in Red Dragon and Clarice in Silence of the Lambs. (Be aware, I'm talking about the movie, as I haven't read either book yet)

The tease of Gretchen killing again was nicely done, however, the teasing aspect only lasted a small time before it became very clear that she was not killing again. Once that hit, I was kind of reluctant to go on, but because it was moving so quickly and there was the chance of Gretchen later, I kept going. Some of it was worth it, some was not.

The best thing about this series is the relationship, the connection, between Gretchen and Archie. The idea of a female serial killer, a BRUTAL female serial killer when such a thing is so rare, is what first attracted me to these books. Archie's obsession with Gretchen and the way it ruined his life pulled me in. Archie and Gretchen were the reason I continued to read even though the story was so overrun with a character that I can't stand.

I hate Susan. I get this idea that we're supposed to like her, we're supposed to want her and Archie to hook up, but I just don't like her. She's selfish and she's annoying and she's the perfect example of what's wrong with journalism. Even her little speech in Ian's office means very little. Why? Because she STILL wrote the article, further cashing in on Gretchen Lowell. Her drug use and repeated mentions of doing this or that bad thing in college feel like she's trying too hard to be edgy and cool.

The thing I don't buy the most is her and Archie. I don't feel like Susan likes him. I feel like she's using him. She may have convinced herself that she likes him, or maybe she pities him, but once she's over her own version of the Gretchen Lowell obsession, she won't want anything to do with him. Her life is about the story, and when Archie isn't the story anymore, I don't see her staying around. The same goes for Archie, really. Susan plays into his Gretchen obsession, and now that Gretchen is locked away again and his love of Gretchen has turned into anger, I don't see him lasting too long with Susan.

Overall, it was pretty good. If Susan's part in the book had been lessened, I might have even bumped it up to four stars. There isn't very much in the story that couldn't have been done without her, and it would have felt more fluid. Also, I have to take away because that whole bit with Frank and his "sister" seemed odd, and it was like it was thrown in there as a last minute "twist" without much thought. Because of that, I would like to give it 2.5 stars. I bumped it to three because of the last few chapters with Archie and Gretchen.
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Oct 11, 2009 Diane rated it 5 of 5 stars

Evil at Heart, by Chelsea Cain, is book #3 of a series which features serial killer, Gretchen Lowell, and Detective Archie Sheridan, who have played a game of cat and mouse in the first two books: Heartsick, and Sweetheart. Although the author uses flashbacks in each novel, which is helpful for recall, or to those who have not read the prior books, this series is so good, I'd recommend reading the books in order to get the full gruesome effect.

Gretchen is a sexy, serial killer, know as the "Beau...more

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Oct 01, 2009 Shannon rated it 4 of 5 stars

I've started this review now four times and still have no clue what to say. So I'll start with this: I am a die-hard fan of Chelsea Cain, despite being someone who has avoided suspense/thriller/mystery novels for years. But I adore Cain's Archie Sheridan, with his tortured - literally - body and soul, a man who, while fighting to regain some sense of normalcy, has learned that defining "normal" is no longer simple. And Gretchen Lowell...is she a serial killer with a soft spot for Archie? Did she...more

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Sep 20, 2009 Tim Niland rated it 4 of 5 stars

His ten plus year battle with serial killer Gretchen Lowell has taken a toll on Detective Archie Sheridan. As this novel begins he's under voluntary psychiatric confinement, reeling from vicodin addiction and a failed suicide attempt. His nemesis is on the loose, and when bodies start turning up in Portland, it looks like she has begin to strike again. Archie, the wounded warrior, leaves the hospital only to confront a strange subculture that has evolved: Gretchen Lowell fan clubs have sprung up...more

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Sep 14, 2009 Boof rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2009, thrillers-mystery-crime, arc-and-review-copies, usa

I loved this! I didn't realised when I picked this from Amazon Vine that
it was the 3rd book in a series and when it arrived I did wonder if it would be OK as a stand alone read. I needent have worried, it's fine on its own although it has now made me want to race out and buy the first two in the series.

The series is about a sexy, female serial killer, Gretchen Lowell, who in this 3rd book has escpaped from jail shortly before a new spree of killings begin. Police are not only trying to work out...more

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Sep 10, 2009 Sue rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is the third book featuring detective Archie Sheridan and serial killer Gretchen Lowell. Gretchen, also known as the Beauty Killer, is on the loose. Archie is in a mental health facility attempting to recover from the physical and psychological wounds she has inflicted on him. The media has glamorized the vicious murderer and now Beauty Killer fan clubs are springing up left and right. When body parts start turning up at previous murder sites, Archie is called upon to help capture Gretchen...more

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Jul 12, 2009 Ron rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: dark-humor, disturbing, police-procedural, serial-killer, thriller

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

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Jul 29, 2011 Christiana added it

This book was a fast read. At first, I didn't really like the style or really how the whole situation was introduced. The family on vacation seemed a bit forced and some of the language seemed unrealistic.

However, having not been introduced to the characters in the other books, this one stands fine on its own and creates enough of a dynamic and intrigue to understand some of the motivations behind the characters.

I didn't like the constant flashbacks in the beginning being as the chapters were...more

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Jul 22, 2009 Michael rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2009, mystery, vine-program

It would be easy to compare Chelsea Cain's series featuring serial killer Gretchen Lowell to the best-selling series by Robert Harris featuring the unforgettable Hannibal Lecter. Both series have catapulted their respective authors to immense fame and respect within the publishing community and while Harris has the fame, Cain's series about Lowell is showing signs of having better legs for a long-run of stories. Or, at the very least, that Cain has some kind of plan and something new to say in t...more It would be easy to compare Chelsea Cain's series featuring serial killer Gretchen Lowell to the best-selling series by Robert Harris featuring the unforgettable Hannibal Lecter. Both series have catapulted their respective authors to immense fame and respect within the publishing community and while Harris has the fame, Cain's series about Lowell is showing signs of having better legs for a long-run of stories. Or, at the very least, that Cain has some kind of plan and something new to say in the crowded world of serial killer novels.

"Evil at Heart" is Cain's third installment in the Gretchen Lowell series and it may be the most chilling. One of the themes explored is the world's fascination with killer Gretchen Lowell, including bus tours of some of her crime scenes, web sites devoted to the killer (including fan fic) and a newspaper editor who wants to find an angle or tie-in to Lowell for each issue to keep newsstand sales at a high rate. In the light of the recent events surrounding the death of Michael Jackson and the media circus that has become, Cain's observations about celebrity and the cult of celebrity that can spring up are extremely timely and well observed.

What's more chilling is how far some of these fans are willing to go to emulate Lowell's success. As with previous installments in this series, the novels are not for the faint of heart or those with a low tolerance for scenes of torture. It's not graphic, but Cain deftly weaves in just enough details to allow your imagination to take over and fill in the rest in far more grisly detail than any book could ever hope to do.

All of this overcomes a slow start to the story, with things only really taking off and shifting into gear at the halfway point of the novel. What we get in the first half is essential set-up and some work on developing some of these characters, as well as setting up some of the plot twists that come in the novel's second half. But if you're patient, you will be rewarded with an ending that will leave you thinking and wondering when the next installment will be published. (less)

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Jan 08, 2013 Ash rated it 4 of 5 stars

I've seen from other reviewers that Evil at Heart was not the favorite. I agree with ome of the arguments made: it did seem a bit all over the place with no real and clear storyline. The gist of it is that someone is leaving body parts, mainly eyes, in areas where the victims of the Beauty Killer, aka Gretchen Lowell, were found.

It isn't a shock when the police and the media think that Lowell is killing again. She has been free for 67 days or so. However, things get murky when an I Love Gretchen...more

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Dec 25, 2012 Amy Scissors rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I can't help it: I love the twisty, over the top, complete implausibility of this book. Coincidence after coincidence keeps the plot moving swiftly along, and as long as you can suspend your disbelief for a couple hours, this is an enjoyable, quick read.

As this was a middle-of-the-series book, the overarching plot barely moves forward. Instead, Cain focuses on a series of copycat murders and throws in a couple of Gretchen/Archie sexytime flashbacks for good measure. I feel that, while the first...more

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About Chelsea Cain

Chelsea Cain is the New York Times bestselling author of the thriller detective novels Heartsick, Sweetheart, Evil at Heart and The Night Season. Both Heartsick and Sweetheart were listed in Stephen King's Top Ten Books of the Year in Entertainment Weekly. Chelsea lived the first few years of her life on an Iowa commune, then grew up in Bellingham, WA, where the infamous Green River Killer was "th...more

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“Great. First the anonymous call. Now letters. Body parts all over town. It was like a scavenger hunt for psychos. Running after clues with a half-deranged, serial-killer-obsessed, recovering-addict cop was not a good idea. Then again...” — 5 people liked it

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avg rating	preview: Evil at Heart Goodreads rating: 3.97 (5169 ratings)
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6404582-evil-at-heart?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1312064553l/6404582.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6404582-evil-at-heart?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Evil at Heart by Chelsea Cain[/url]

Evil at Heart (Archie Sheridan & Gretchen Lowell #3)

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