 "This series is starting to get disturbing, and repetitive" | 2009-10-27 |
| - Reviewed By User: A268KXWPVKHIC7 |
I really enjoyed the first two books in the series, and picked this one up with much anticipation. AS I read through the novel, two thoughts continued to trouble me. First, and probably least important, enough already. How long can Ms Cain milk the same storyline? I have read other series where killers pop back in a few novels later, but again, and again, and again. Enough!
The second, and more troubling thought, was that this series gets more and more disturbing. I read many mystery writers, so I am not some lightweight who can't take a little gore here and there, or some strange relationships. But this series seems to be lowering itself into nothing but. The nature and description of very warped, sick, torture seems to have sunk to a new low. I am no psychiatrist, but I am starting to actually get uncomfortable wondering what is in the mind of the writer who feels the need to get so into that. And by deduction then, what is in the minds of all the readers who rated this book so high?
I personally am tired of the repetition, tired of the sickness of the protaganist/antagonist sexual relationship, and tired of the continuation of nauseating new ways to torture. I will stick with other writers who can take on similar subjects without sinking to such tactics to sell books. |
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 "Another entertaining read in Gretchen's saga..." | 2009-10-22 |
| - Reviewed By User: AVZN0Y1B4TUS3 |
I liked this one better then "Sweetheart". I still wish Gretchen Lowell would show up more often - as I'm sure most of us do - but Cain's writing and forensic knowledge still make for a great read.
Sometime soon, Julia Roberts is going to play Gretchen. She just HAS to... |
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| "We Heart Gretchen Lowell" | 2009-10-16 |
| - Reviewed By rstoehr |
If there really were a beautiful, yet deadly serial killer like Gretchen Lowell, what would be your reaction to her? Would you be disgusted? Fascinated? Attracted? Would you fall in love with her, even just a little? How would the rest of the country (or the world) react to her?
This is what 'Evil at Heart' takes a pretty hard look at, and that's one of the things I love about Chelsea Cain - she goes where few dare to tread.
The great thing about the Gretchen Lowell series is that each book is a little different. Each tells a gripping, exciting story, and each explores some very dark territory, but each takes a slightly different angle on it. This is so refreshing, when many series seem like the same story with different characters, rehashed over and over again, Chelsea Cain just keeps the surprises coming.
In 'Evil at Heart,' Cain explores the cult of personality that has developed around Gretchen Lowell. With fan clubs and 'Run, Gretchen!' t-shirts, magazine covers and websites galore, Gretchen has developed a rabid following of people all too interested in her 'work' as a serial killer. A new series of clues appears, starting with a spleen found in a public toilet, with the walls decorated in little red hearts, pointing to the idea that Gretchen has started killing again. Detective Archie Sheridan is spending some time in a psych ward, trying to get over his Vicodin addiction and his deeper addiction to Gretchen herself. Reporter Susan Ward is also trying to deal with her own experiences, hoping to further interview Sheridan, and starting to look into the new set of potential murders.
In the course of the book we learn more about the past relationship Gretchen and Sheridan shared, and more about what happened when she was actively killing. More than that, Cain explores the obsession and grim fascination many of us seem to share (myself included) when it comes to serial killers, and how at some point the killer seems to become more interesting to us than the victims. When I was reading about the Gretchen Lowell tours and merchandise and chatrooms in the book, I couldn't help but think how very plausible it would be in the real world. It's an unexpected direction for the story to take, and a pleasant surprise that it could be done while still telling a pretty gripping yarn.
Much like in her first two books, Cain goes places in 'Evil at Heart' that are uncomfortable, and occasionally gruesome. This book (and this series) is not for the faint of heart, but for those who are willing, it is consistently thrilling and surprising, explores some important ideas about our fascination with the dark heart of humanity, and will likely keep you guessing until the very last page.
Taken together, that makes for an excellent case for just why we 'heart' Gretchen Lowell and Hannibal Lecter and those like them. It also makes a very, very good book. |
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| "Couldn't Put it Down!" | 2009-10-12 |
| - Reviewed By book-loft |
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 "Beauty Killer". Sensationalized by the media, there is even a tour bus that visits the sites around Portland, Oregon where her victims were found. She leaves her trademark on her victims, similar mutilating marks on the body, and removal of various body parts (eyeballs being a specialty).
I don't want to give away any details so just let me say, if you don't mind a gruesome story with lots of graphic detail, this psychological thriller is not to be missed. Fast-paced and extremely creepy, this book did not disappoint. I can't tell if there will be a book #4 to this series, but I certainly hope so. ---RECOMMENDED
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 "I liked it but at times it was a bit too much..." | 2009-10-06 |
| - Reviewed By thisthatneverything |
| I enjoyed this book quite a bit. At times it made me sick to my stomach with the all the gory details & I don't have a weak stomach either. That being said, I'm sure some people will really enjoy this but for those that have a weak stomach I think this book could be a bit much for them. There were some really sick & twisted characters in this book & for some people it may be a bit too much but if you really enjoy a good action packed thriller/murder mystery then this would be a great book for you. Unfortunately I wasn't able to read the first two books in this series & I felt left out at times but for the most part I think if you're wanting to you'll be able to jump right into the series here. If I could do it over though I would certainly have read the other books in the series prior to this one. This was my first Chelsea Cain book & I really enjoyed her style of writing. I thought this book was very well written & I can't wait to read more from her. |
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| "Read out of order, but still an entertaining read" | 2009-10-04 |
| - Reviewed By goldasu |
| I'm sure it would have helped to read Heart Sick and Sweetheart before reading Evil at Heart, none the less I enjoyed this book. From the beginning I was engaged in the story line. I kept thinking throughout the first half of the book that I have to get the first two books in the series. The author put enough details from the previous books that I wasn't completely lost but intrigued on what had happened. I won't give a synopsis of the book because I hate finding out important facts from book reviews myself. I thought the book was well written, with interesting characters, and a great storyline. I have yet to read a murder mystery with a female murderer quite like Gretchen. As long as you like murder mystery with some graphic writing, this book should be in your "to read list". I'll be interested to see where Chelsea Cain takes the next story of detective Archie Sheridan and murderer Gretchen Lowell. |
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