Heartsick (Archie Sheridan & Gretchen Lowell, #1) in What's the Name of That Book???

Jul 31, 2009 Ray rated it really liked it

I've been on a big mystery kick lately. Maybe it's all of the other chaos in life (new job, new house) but a return to the simple formula and comforts of mystery and thriller writing has been delightful. However, because "genre fiction" publishes at a faster pace and the result sometimes seems to be a lot of badly written stuff. The good stuff-early Cornwell, Lee Child, Michael Connelly-really sticks out. And makes you hungry for more. Chelsea Cain might just fit the bill.

Heartsick is about a yo I've been on a big mystery kick lately. Maybe it's all of the other chaos in life (new job, new house) but a return to the simple formula and comforts of mystery and thriller writing has been delightful. However, because "genre fiction" publishes at a faster pace and the result sometimes seems to be a lot of badly written stuff. The good stuff-early Cornwell, Lee Child, Michael Connelly-really sticks out. And makes you hungry for more. Chelsea Cain might just fit the bill.

Heartsick is about a young reporter's profile of a cop hunting down a serial killer. This cop has just returned from a two year medical leave as the result of his run-in with another serial killer--a woman--who tortured him. It's this relationship that really drives the book forward and makes you want to read more. However, the actual page-to-page plot and the reporter character are quite good too.

Some perks when reading this book: 1) a younger author whose cultural sensibility jibes with my own. Perhaps this is just a perk of getting older, but this book feels like its set in my world, not my mom's (based on cultural references, attitudes of characters, etc.) 2) a strong sense of place: I love books that know where they are. And Cain's ode to Portland is a pleasure to read. 3) maybe it's a trait shared by reporters-turned-authors, but this is not a law and order, rah-rah police state type of mystery. As such, for someone with a progressive political view, it's an easier to swallow kind of mystery/thriller novel to read.

All of that said, the structure and plotting of the book could have been tightened up. There were a ton of characters too (though they were easy to keep track of). More seriously, this seems like a tough concept to make into a series (which is apparently Cain's intention). I won't go into the details of that, lest I spoil the plot, but suffice it to say that some of the ideas that made this novel compelling were somewhat resolved by its end--making it hard to imagine more that does not feel like a stretch. However, I will be ordering up the next book from my local library ASAP. ...more

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Oct 08, 2007 Jen rated it really liked it

Shelves: brain_candy, murder_mayhem_et_al, horror

This debut novel is a great addition to the serial killer chased by troubled cops genre. It's pretty gruesome, but it's well written and a true page turner. I liked the Silence of the Lamb evocations, and am glad the author addressed the similarities directly. If you like this type of book, then pick it up--very quick and juicy read. ...more

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Oct 18, 2007 The Book Maven rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-fiction, read-mystery, read-thriller

There's a problem with Detective Archie Sheridan: he is no stranger to serial killers--two years before, he was kidnapped by the Beauty Killer, a serial killer whom he had been tracking. The Beauty Killer then proceeded to torture him for several weeks before turning herself in and leaving Sheridan a complete mess, both inside and out. Now, addicted to prescription meds and hopelessly obsessed with the woman who tormented him for so long, Sheridan is charged with finding Portland's newest serial ...more

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May 27, 2009 Kate rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: age-adult, thriller, 2013

Archie Sheridan has been retired from the police force since infamous "Beauty Killer" Gretchen Lowell kidnapped him and made him her bitch. That ordeal ended with Archie nearly dying and Gretchen calling 911, saving his life. Now she's in prison and Archie is left with his life shattered and a major prescription drug problem.

With a new serial killer on the loose, Archie is called back in, and reporter Susan Ward is assigned to do a series of articles about him. Little does Susan know how involv ...more

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Dec 11, 2019 Becca Boland rated it really liked it

I wrote to a librarian friend looking for a book that was "fast and fun" after reading a few stinkers. She recommended this series and I was hooked. It might not be "fun" for everyone. They're pretty dark and fairly graphic. But that comes with the serial killer territory.

Genre: Adult books for young adults; Pacific Northwest fiction; Psychological suspense
Themes: Real life monsters; Urban police
Character: Flawed; Twisted
Storyline: Intricately plotted
Pace: Fast-paced
Tone: Darkly humorous; Grues ...more

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Jan 21, 2008 Dracolibris rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2008

A beautiful female serial killer behind bars. A cop she tortured and abused for days on end, who should be dead but keeps walking even though he can't figure out why. A young reporter hoping for her big break. A murderer of young girls on the prowl. All of these threads tie together, but what will the knot ultimately look like? And who will be able to get it undone again?

This was a very interesting read. At first blush, it seems derivative, but I did not think that for long as I delved into the ...more

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