Title: Heartsick
Author: Chelsea Cain
Narrated by: Carolyn McCormick
Series: Archie Sheridan & Gretchen
Lowell, book 1
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Format: Audiobook
Length: 11 hrs and 1 min
Damaged Portland detective Archie Sheridan spent ten years tracking Gretchen Lowell, a beautiful serial killer, but in the end she was the one who caught him. Two years ago, Gretchen kidnapped Archie and tortured him for ten days, but instead of killing him, she mysteriously decided to let him go. She turned herself in, and now Gretchen has been locked away for the rest of her life, while Archie is in a prison of another kind---addicted to pain pills, unable to return to his old life, powerless to get those ten horrific days off his mind. Archie's a different person, his estranged wife says, and he knows she's right. He continues to visit Gretchen in prison once a week, saying that only he can get her to confess as to the whereabouts of more of her victims, but even he knows the truth---he can't stay away.
When another killer begins snatching teenage girls off the streets of Portland, Archie has to pull himself together enough to lead the new task force investigating the murders. A hungry young newspaper reporter, Susan Ward, begins profiling Archie and the investigation, which sparks a deadly game between Archie, Susan, the new killer, and even Gretchen. They need to catch a killer, and maybe somehow then Archie can free himself from Gretchen, once and for all. Either way, Heartsick makes for one of the most extraordinary suspense debuts in recent memory.
As you might know, I’ve been on a thriller/audiobook mood.
Looking for my next “fix” I found Heartsick by Chelsea
Cain. After reading the blurb I thought this would be a perfect book for me and
my library had the audiobook, so it was a no brainer.
The blurb
explains perfectly what Heartsick is about.
There are two stories in one. The story of Archie and the serial killer Gretchen
and Archie’s
investigation of the murders of young girls that are occurring in Portland.
Although I
liked both stories I was more invested in Archie and Gretchen’s. Why? Because
their relationship was twisted, sick and intriguing as hell. Gretchen tortured
Archie for 10 days, he almost died because of her, but in his captivity he developed
a close relationship with her, one that after two years he hasn’t been able to
break. This has cost him his wife, his family and most of his friends. Thanks
to her he also created an addiction to pain pills, but despite all this he
can’t stop thinking about her, his addiction to her is stronger than himself.
The second
story was a bit predictable, but still it was enjoyable and kept me listening.
What shines
in Heartsick are the
characters, especially Gretchen and Archie. I haven’t read in a long time (or
maybe ever) a twisted character as sick as Gretchen. She is a manipulative
sociopath and seeing her in action was scary and disturbing. Archie is the
epitome of a broken character. His life is in shambles, his addiction is out of
control and although he knows that what he feels for Gretchen is completely
sick and twisted he can’t help himself. He can’t stop thinking about her; he
lives for her and for that moment every week when he can go to prison to visit
her. It was heartbreaking and disgusting at the same time; despite that, I
couldn’t stop wanting to know more and see more of their twisted relationship.
Heartsick was my
first audiobook narrated by Carolyn McCormick. It took me a long time to get used to her voice and her cadence, but at
the end I think she did a good job, especially with Gretchen and Archie. She
really brought to life the evil in Gretchen and the brokenness in Archie.
Chelsea Cain writing is fluid, engaging and very creative in a twisted
and sick way. She created one of the scariest psychopaths I have ever read and
I have to give kudos to her that her villain is a woman.
Heartsick is dark,
disturbing, violent, grim, fascinating, and impossible to put down. I’m
planning to listen to second audiobook, Sweetheart, soon, very soon.
I recommend
Heartsick to fans of
dark suspense/thrillers.
My Story Verdict: 4 Paws
My Narration Verdict: 3 ½ Paws
My Overall Verdict: 4 Paws
Other
books in the series
Heartsick
Sweetheart
Evil at Heart
The Night Season
Kill You Twice
Let Me Go
Other
reviews Goodreads
I LURVED this book. Gretchen scares the ever loving crap out of me yet oddly (especially in the rest of the series) I never think there is enough of her. Granted I could probably be happy with a book from her POV the whole time LOL
ReplyDeleteShe is so twisted and sick that is impossible not to "like" her. I just finished second book, I didn't like it as much as this one, but I don't know if it was because of the narrator or because the characters change personalities, especially Susan. WTH?
DeleteArghh I can barley read this, bloglovin is having a bad day it seems
ReplyDeleteBloglovin also acts up on this side of the word. :(
DeleteYou had me at psychopath
ReplyDeleteOne of the best I have ever read. ;)
DeleteThis sounds really interesting. I keep saying that I need to branch out and do more than just paranormal. I'm adding to my TBR.
ReplyDelete