Trái Tim Độc Ác

Archie Sheridan & Gretchen Lowell #3

by Chelsea Cain, Đinh Quỳnh Anh (Translator)

Mỹ nhân đoạt mạng - Gretchen Lowell trốn tù thành công và vẫn đang nhởn nhơ ngoài vòng pháp luật. Không chỉ là một kẻ giết người hàng loạt, ả còn là ngôi sao nổi tiếng trong những bài báo giật gân nhằm tăng doanh số. Hình ảnh Gretchen Lowell xuất hiện khắp mọi nơi, thậm chí có cả hội người hâm mộ. Archie Sheridan vẫn tự nhốt mình trong bệnh viện tâm thần. Cho đến khi xuất hiện một thi thể cùng kí hiệu quen thuộc của Gretchen, anh quyết định rời bệnh viện để tiếp tục cuộc truy bắt Gretchen Lowell. Mỹ nhân đoạt mạng đã trở lại? Hay là ác quỷ được tạo ra từ chính những kẻ hâm mộ?

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Crime, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Horror

336 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2009

About the author

Chelsea Cain is the New York Times bestselling author of the Archie Sheridan/Gretchen Lowell thrillers Heartsick, Sweetheart, Evil at Heart, The Night Season, Kill You Twice, and Let Me Go. Her next book One Kick (August, 2014) will be the first in her Kick Lannigan thriller series. Her book Heartsick was named one of the best 100 thrillers ever written by NPR, and Heartsick and Sweetheart were named among Stephen King's Top Ten Books of the Year. Her books have been featured on HBO's True Blood and on ABC's Castle. Cain lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and daughter.

Reviews

[Mary Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

This is book Three in the Archie Sheridan and Gretchen Lowell Series. This is a very fantastic dark series. It is definitely not for the faint of heart since there is a lot of torture going on. I was up till 2am reading this book and when I fell asleep I actually had a nightmare. I recommend that you read these in order.

Archie Sheridan was held captive and tortured by Gretchen Lowell, a beautiful and sexy serial killer who has haunted the citizens of Portland, OR for years. She brags that she’s killed over 200 people, and she nearly killed Archie. He’s voluntarily admitted himself into a psychiatric hospital in an attempt to get over his addiction of Vicoden, and Gretchen herself.

Archie’s not the only one who is infatuated with Gretchen. Her crimes have been sensationalized by the media; Hundreds of “Beauty Killer” fan sites have popped up on the internet. There’s even a tour bus that drives tourists around to the spots where Gretchen’s victims’ bodies were found.

When body parts are discovered in the bathroom of a local rest stop, along with the tell-tale “hearts” Gretchen was known to decorate her crime scenes (and victims!) with, everyone believes the serial killer is killing again. Archie’s good friend, Detective Henry Sobol, new lead of the “Beauty Killer” task force, asks Archie to check himself out of the psych ward to once again join the hunt for Gretchen. Joining the hunt alongside Archie and Henry is Susan Ward, a reporter for the local newspaper, another near-victim of the Beauty Killer.

Bodies begin showing up at the sites of Gretchen’s killings. Something seems a little off to Archie. Gretchen’s MO is to remove the spleens of her victims and to carve hearts on their bodies. These new victims don’t quite fit the profile of Gretchen’s handiwork. Once again, Archie puts his own life in danger in order to find the truth behind the killings.

Chelsea Cain has once again done a stunning job! Her ability to portray such a vicious killer astounds and impresses me. As in the previous two books, Sweetheart and Heartsick, the relationship between Archie and Gretchen fascinates me! Archie’s character has performed an astounding transformation. He literally went from a bumbling love-sick puppy in Gretchen’s presence to a relatively strong character.

There are quite a few scenes in Evil at Heart that are terrifying and gruesome, even more so than any of Cain’s previous books. However, this wasn’t just randomly inserted, I think it was done to realistically capture the pure evil that resides in the killer.

I highly recommend this, and the other “Beauty Killer” books to anyone who enjoy a nice, terrifying read! Read it I dare you! Gretchen is just pure evil. I can't wait to read the fourth book and I am hoping I will be able to fit it in at the end of this month.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Evil At Heart may be the scariest book in the series in my humble opinion, because it's not about one deranged and charismatic serial killer. It's about a group(cult) of people who are obsessed with said serial killer and who maybe either helping her kill or committing copycat killings. I love True crime but I've never understood people who write letters to killers in prison or who want to own things that killers owned or created. I can understand why a person becomes a serial killer but serial killer groupies baffle me.

Evil At Heart picks up roughly 2 months after the events of Sweetheart and we find our hero? Archie Sheridan drug-free but still struggling. I deduced 1/2 a star because there wasn't enough Gretchen Lowell and I found the bad guy to be a little boring. Chelsea Cain continues to write with savage grace and at this point I would read anything she writes. I tried to put this book down and read something else but this story would not let me. In the last 2 days I have finished the first3
books in this series and as I write this review book 4 is sitting right next to me.

If you've read my reviews for Heartsick and Sweetheart than you know that these books are not for everyone but if you loved those books than you will love this one as well.

Summer Reading Challenge: Read A Book That Scares The Beejesus Out Of You.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

FINALLY Archie Sheridan gets his balls back. That should really be the subtitle to this book. Evil At Heart: Archie Sheridan Finds His Balls. And it seriously can't come sooner enough after the self induced torture fest that was Sweetheart. Jesus H, I've never wanted to punch a main character in the face more then I did through that entire novel. BUT THAT'S ANOTHER REVIEW ENTIRELY. Moving on.

I absolutely loved this. We see the (somehow, didn't think it was even possible to go further) darker side of Gretchen Lowell and the consequences of being a crazy messed up beautiful serial killer that abducts children and tortures them. There's a lot of mind games in this one between Archie and Gretchen but not in the annoying WHY CAN'T YOU JUST SHOOT HER IN THE FACE way that was basically all of Sweetheart. A lot of twists where you're not sure if Gretchen is telling the truth, then you're not sure if NOW she's telling the truth, and it all gets seriously F'd up in the end but it's AWESOME. Susan is back being bad ass and hilarious as usual, and Archie, once again, finally chokes the bejesus out of Gretchen. A couple of times. It's the most fulfilled I've felt after reading a book in awhile.

The book also takes time to delve into the consequences of a media saturated culture, and how a serial killer can be glorified by the media to become an unintended role model to the public eye. Especially a beautiful one. I thought it was a great take on societal interest in murder and and our cultural obsession with beauty and power but it was subtle enough to not be preachy or overbearing. In Susan's voice it was absolutely perfect.

Thankfully, the relationship between Archie and Gretchen isn't nearly as irritating this time around as it's mostly about Archie getting his shit together and releasing the hold Gretchen has on his massively damaged psyche. It's most fulfilling. Now if Archie and Susan would just get together, this would top my list as one of the best mystery series of all time. Regardless, it's still up there for sure.

[Angela DeSilva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Binge reading this series.

[Marvin · Rating 2 out of 5]

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 murderers. While there may be an argument to be made here, I do not think it should come from a writer whose bestseller status rides on the exploits of a sexy charismatic serial killer. I think the Gretchen Lowell series is officially running on fumes. I hear there is a fourth book but count me out.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third book in the series seemed to deliver another powerful punch to the gut as Gretchen Lowell is still running loose and Archie Sheridan is so messed up that he remains in the hospital by his choice.

The cast of characters are about the same as the previous book as Susan, the reporter, is more involved in the story along with Henry, Archie's friend and boss. More bodies are piling up in this book and everyone including Archie thinks that Gretchen is back on track with her killing spree.

Susan finds out that there is a Gretchen Lowell fan club and with the help of Henry and Archie they delve deep into the club finding more than they bargained for as the fan club is lead by a psycho who wants to be just like Gretchen.

With Gretchen still on the run plus the new psycho in the mix, Archie and company are knee deep in bloody bodies. Will Archie and Henry be able to re-capture Gretchen? Does the Beauty Killer team stop the new psycho?

There was plenty of twists and turns, along with fast paced action as the book quickly moves along and yet again I find this serial killer series to be very captivating!

Looking forward to reading book four to see what happens next. Four stars for this one.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fast paced read in the series. Review to follow.

[✨Susan✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another well written thriller by Celsea Cain. I liked this book as well if not better than the last. Gretchen is not as predominant in this story but her creepiness leaks through the cracks of the other insane characters. Poor Archie is still trying to heal from all of her physical and mental abuse and I think he may be on track. Susan is still helping Archie and even though a little off center, her blind heroics come in handy. Some of us are doing this as a buddy read and I am looking forward to where the characters will take us in the next book.

[*TANYA* · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm addicted to this series!! Chelsea Cain is an amazing author!!

[Siobhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evil at Heart is the third book in the Archie Sheridan and Gretchen Lowell series. Part of me feared this series would become strained and repetitive, but three books in I’m of the firm belief this series is going to continue growing stronger and will keep us on our toes.

Honestly, I was amazed by the tale in this one. The usual undertones are felt throughout this story – everything we have come to love about the Archie Sheridan and Gretchen Lowell dynamic in the first two books – yet the story has a slightly different feel to it. It was a refreshing addition to the series, a way of guaranteeing fans will continue to return.

I was hooked with this series already. Book one gave me the dark and twisted villain I had been hoping to receive. Book two gave me the damaged lead and twisted emotions I had hoped for in regards to our main character, the damage continuing to develop. Book three gave me both of those things, along with an addictive storyline that works perfectly fine as an individual tale whilst also adding a lot to the overall series.

I feel as though this book holds a number of secrets that will become more important in the later books. There were details I found truly interesting, and yet I cannot help but hope they will prove to be truly powerful elements in the later books.

Without a doubt, I think this is my favourite in the series thus far. There is such promise of where the future books will take us, and I cannot wait to dive into more of this series.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am addicted to Chelsea Cain, but something about this book didn't vibe for me.

All the characters are becoming increasingly unlikeable, and the plot line didn't progress much. I'm wondering where this series of 6 books is headed, though.

Definitely not for the weak stomach! 🔪👁

[Shaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

This was a bit of a disappointment compared to the first two books in the series. The plot is too convoluted and too over-the-top with its many implausible twists. Sure this is fiction and I'm willing to "play along," at least most of the time, but the story-line was bordering on contrived and overtly so. The great characters are also on the verge of becoming caricatures

That said, I've still opted to bump this up to four stars because I think, despite its flaws, Cain manages to do some really important things in this book as it relates to the series and the ongoing drama that is Archie Sheridan's life. However, if book 4 fails to deliver...well, I might just have to move on.

Had this been the second book in the series, I might have passed on book 3 (yeah...I know), but as it is I am invested enough in the characters to forgive this book its shortcomings and continue with book 4.

I still think this would make a great HBO series as the cast of characters is so strong and I can't see how it could be anything but a success.

[Jannelies (living between hope and fear) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've reread this book for the second time now and it is still as terrific as the first time!

[Amanda McGill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the first two novels in the series, but I still enjoyed it.

Archie has checked himself into a mental hospital as he emotionally recovers from the abuse that Gretchen has put him through. However, bodies are appearing with Gretchen's trademark heart, so Archie has to force himself to confront Gretchen and those loyal to her.

Is it bad that I'm getting tired of Archie and Gretchen? I'm over their scenes together, which seems to be repeating themselves now that I'm into the 3rd novel. I like the other mystery and wished that more time was focused on that instead of Archie and Gretchen.

[Gabrieli · Rating 4 out of 5]

that ending wow!!!! still thing about it

[Titas · Rating 2 out of 5]

It has been 2 months since Gretchen disappeared after promising Archie that she won't kill any more. Archie is still in a mental patients' home to recover from his last encounter with Gretchen. The media is going crazier day by day with a serial killer loose again. And if this was not enough of a pandemonium, the killing starts again. The same spots of Gretchen's murders are again being decorated with bodies in a similar manner. Did Gretchen start again?

I am now disappointed with the series. The book surely is thrilling, gripping and full of adrenaline rush like the previous two but the problem is that there is no character development. Archie is still obsessed with Gretchen, Henry is failing at saving Archie and Susan is being a pain in the back like she is supposed to be(complete circle). For me characterization is very important and if they are in a series of a continuous storyline (unlike separate stories with same characters) then there must be some significant character developments.

I am borrowing a line from the movie The Dark Knight to describe Archie. He is like a dog chasing a car. He runs and runs but doesn't know what to do if he ever catches it. Archie wants to capture Gretchen, he wants to see her, hunt her, arrest her. But when she actually is in front of him, he is like dumbstruck puppy with a gun almost every time.
Doesn't Henry already know that Archie and Susan don't listen to him? Every time he tells them something, they do completely the opposite like a bunch of irritating teenagers. Then why does he never make sure about that? In a same book, they disobeys him again and again but he still trusts their words?
And last but not the least, there is still nothing about Gretchen's past. Why does she kill? Why had she started? Who is she? The book answers none.

Although the book has its thrill, suspense and rush, now the series feels really repetitive and lacks the magic of the fist two books. After reading Heartsick I really had high expectations. I really hope that the series picks itself up on the next book.

[The Girl with the Sagittarius Tattoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The back cover blurb kinda spoils it - don't read it. This is the third novel in the Gretchen Lowell/Archie Sheridan series, and that's all you need to know. Oh, and one more thing: this was a little better than the second book.

[Erin (from Long Island, NY) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm LOVING this series! Hands down my favorite right now! A little nervous that the next 1 doesn't have much Gretchen.. But i wouldn't want it to get old either. I know there are a zillion reviews (this isn't a brand new series,) i just wanted to say, if you're interested please start at the beginning! Heartsick is great.. & you just need to really get to know these "people" to fully enjoy them. Each book is in itself a complete book with an intense plot all its own.. But those characters! You're gonna want to keep going anyway, so just do yourself the favor & read them in order!

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 3rd book in the Archie Sheridan and Gretchen Lowell series by author Chelsea Cain. I had previously read the first 2 books in the series and enjoyed them but to be honest I found this one less entertaining. Maybe the story has worn thin or maybe it was simply that the main character featured a lot less in this novel. This series needs to be read in order to fully appreciate and I am willing to give this series another chance with the 4th book.

[Tim The Enchanter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, I wrote an excellent review of this book but it seemed to disappear. I really hate rewriting reviews so I am going to write a mini review as I may never rewrite it.

This installment was below par for the series. These novels are character novels and very good character novels. This installment chose plot over character and it just did not work very well. Thankfully, it gets pulled together by the end and it ends on a high note. I expect better from Chelsea Cain and hope Archie and Gretchen are back with a bang in the fourth installment.

[Sandra Hoover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished - I was held captivated & read Evil at Heart straight through...simply could not put this book down. My heart is still pounding, head spinning, & my mind is mush. Intense, intriguing, chilling suspense at its best! Every single time I thought I had finally figured it out, Cain jerked it away, twisted it around, & had me screaming OMG! My favorite of the series thus far...A Page Burner! Brilliant!

[Perri · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third book in the Heart series isn't as straight forward as the first two -but not the less exciting for that. In Evil at Heart we focus less on Gretchen and more on popular culture: people who are fascinated by serial killers, join fan clubs and even psychic/behavioral changes by the vulnerable. Since Cain's intended audience is most likely fascinated by Gretchen, I have to wonder if she's talking about us. Three and a half stars

[Danni The Girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be honest I did judge the book before I read it, I thought how good would this be with a woman writer writing about a woman serial killer. I was so engaged throughout the whole story it was bloody brilliant.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars--I liked the book. I enjoyed the self-awareness of this novel. It makes fun of our obsession with serial killers (there's a TV show in the book called "American's Sexiest Serial Killers"), while at the same time the series is about a sexy woman serial killer with a body count of 200+.

[Yvonne (It's All About Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished reading: May 31st 2020

"Susan shook her head. She had a copy to write. She didn't have time to be murdered by Gretchen Lowell."

This is the second time my TBR jar had to remind me I needed to continue this series... I'm not sure why, as I loved the first two books, but it is not happening again as I'm now determined to finish the series ASAP. Book three Evil At Heart is without doubt another winner. I have a weak spot for serial killer and detective thrillers, and this series gives us best of both worlds by putting Beauty Killer Gretchen Lowell and detective Archie Sheridan in the spotlight. Before I continue, I have to stress that this is one of those series you need to read in order, because you won't be able to understand the complicated relationship between Archie and Gretchen otherwise (and Claire, Henry and Susan as well for that matter). It's worth it though! It has been fascinating to get a glimpse inside the head of such a twisted mind as well as seeing the development of Archie after surviving such a horrible event. Evil At Heart provides us with an interesting new twist and I literally raced through the pages while trying to discover the truth. This book is dark, this book is disturbing, this book is seriously twisted... But oh so good if you think you can stomach it! A little warning is in place though as some scenes can get pretty gory, but if I love a well written, dark and twisted serial killer thriller this is series is a must.

P.S. Find more of my reviews here.

[Katie(babs) · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[KC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much love

[Nathan Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ending twist had me laughing in disbelief at Gretchen’s psycho ass once again!! Her saying “men are so simple” right before the big reveal sent a shiver down my spine. I’m having a really good time with this series.

[Carmaletta Hilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know how, somewhere in the middle of Hannibal, you get the feeling Thomas Harris decided he just didn't give a crap about his readers anymore and started turning Hannibal Lector--heck, the whole novel into a grotesque parody of itself?

It'd have been so easy for Chelsea Cain to do that with the third novel in her series about Archie Sheridan and Gretchen Lowell, which starts off with Gretchen still on the run and Archie still under voluntary psychiatric evalution, and there are moments where, if you weren't paying full attention, you'd think that's what was going on. Instead, the parodic moments are for the most part folded neatly into a running sub-theme about the cultural fascination with serial killers like Gretchen, a theme that takes a dark turn when some of her fans start to identify a little too deeply...

Although it occasionally starts to feel like the train is in danger of losing its momentum, Chelsea Cain still has some secrets left to reveal in Archie and Gretchen's backstory, and enough new curveballs to make it pretty obvious that we could be looking at a fourth novel in this series, to say the least. I, for one, ain't complaining about that.