- Paperback: 411 pages
- Publisher: Pan (6 Feb 2009)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0330449818
- ISBN-13: 978-0330449816
- Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 3 x 17.7 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 23,919 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Sweetheart (Gretchen Lowell 2)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Chelsea Cain’s debut Heartsick created quite a stir, with its heady mix of familiar serial killer motifs and some striking innovations (notably the fact that her utterly ruthless murderer was a woman: the beautiful Gretchen Lowell). Cain is very much a member of the cadre of female crime writers who match their male counterparts in extreme, unsparing violence: in other words (as her new book, Sweetheart comprehensively proves), this is a young American writer in the bloody tradition of Tess Gerritsen and Karin Slaughter – and there’s nothing wrong with that.
In fact, Sweetheart is not so much a sequel to Heartsick as a direct continuation of the events of that novel. Some weeks after the events of the first book, Cain’s battered cop protagonist Archie is at the site of the new murder scene at Forest Park. Simultaneously, Susan Ward is reporting on a political case involving statutory rape and making herself very unpopular with her paper -- notably because the senator involved is an intimate of the newspaper’s owners. But then a colleague of Susan’s is killed in what appears to be a car accident, and the lethal Gretchen Lowell, the seductive serial killer of Heartsick, is raped by a guard at the prison where she is incarcerated. He subsequently kills himself, and while Gretchen is being transferred to another prison, she persuades an attendant to commit murder in order to help her escape. And Archie, to his dismay, soon becomes the recipient of the heart of the female prison guard killed in escape.
As all of the above suggests, the plotting here is even more delirious than in the first book -- and this synopsis only hints at the truly bizarre events that Chelsea Cain orchestrates. Even though a moment's consideration might make the narrative seem absurd (and there is some dodgy science incorporated into the plotting), the outrageous panache with which Cain dispatches her material sweeps all reservations aside. For those who care about such things, this is slightly less grisly than its predecessor, but it’s just as entertaining a ride. --Barry Forshaw --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
From Publishers Weekly
"Starred Review," In Cain's superb follow-up to "Heartsick," damaged detective Archie Sheridan is back home in Portland, Ore., trying to resume a normal life. Archie's ties to serial killer Gretchen Lowell still run deep, even if he's stopped their weekly visits in prison. Meanwhile, reporter Susan Ward is finishing an article accusing a beloved U.S. senator of seducing his children's 14-year-old babysitter a decade earlier. When three bodies are discovered in a local park where Archie's team found Gretchen's first victim 12 years earlier Archie worries another serial killer is at large. After the senator's unexpected death, Susan discovers links between the sex scandal and the bodies in the park. When Gretchen escapes from prison, Archie knows he's the only one who can stop her from killing. In Cain's capable hands, Gretchen is both a monster and the only person who truly understands Archie's pain. With its brisk pacing, carefully metered violence and tortured hero, Cain's sophomore effort will leave readers desperate for more. "(Sept.)"
Copyright (c) Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Praise for "Heartsick" and Chelsea Cain
"A dizzying novel. Lurid and suspenseful with well-drawn characters, plenty of grisly surprises and tart dialogue, it delivers."
--"The New York Times Book Review"
"Highly flawed but intelligent characters, a unique killer and a setting that complements a grizzly story line make this a novel mystery lovers can't afford to miss."
--"USA Today"
"In her dynamite first thriller, Cain introduces one of the most seductive and original psychopaths since HannibalLecter."
--"Entertainment Weekly"
""Heartsick" is worth all the hype... brilliant."
--"New York Post"
"A vivid literary style lifts this well above the usual run of suspense novels.... Outstanding."
--"Publishers Weekly" (starred review)
"With Gretchen Lowell, Chelsea Cain gives us the most compelling, most original serial killer since Hannibal Lecter."
--Chuck Palahniuk
""Heartsick" has it all: a tortured cop, a fearless and quirky heroine, and what may be the creepiest serial killer ever created. This is an addictive read!"
--Tess Gerritsen
"Starred Review," In Cain's superb follow-up to "Heartsick," damaged detective Archie Sheridan is back home in Portland, Ore., trying to resume a normal life. Archie's ties to serial killer Gretchen Lowell still run deep, even if he's stopped their weekly visits in prison. Meanwhile, reporter Susan Ward is finishing an article accusing a beloved U.S. senator of seducing his children's 14-year-old babysitter a decade earlier. When three bodies are discovered in a local park where Archie's team found Gretchen's first victim 12 years earlier Archie worries another serial killer is at large. After the senator's unexpected death, Susan discovers links between the sex scandal and the bodies in the park. When Gretchen escapes from prison, Archie knows he's the only one who can stop her from killing. In Cain's capable hands, Gretchen is both a monster and the only person who truly understands Archie's pain. With its brisk pacing, carefully metered violence and tortured hero, Cain's sophomore effort will leave readers desperate for more. "(Sept.)"
Copyright (c) Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Praise for "Heartsick" and Chelsea Cain
"A dizzying novel. Lurid and suspenseful with well-drawn characters, plenty of grisly surprises and tart dialogue, it delivers."
--"The New York Times Book Review"
"Highly flawed but intelligent characters, a unique killer and a setting that complements a grizzly story line make this a novel mystery lovers can't afford to miss."
--"USA Today"
"In her dynamite first thriller, Cain introduces one of the most seductive and original psychopaths since HannibalLecter."
--"Entertainment Weekly"
""Heartsick" is worth all the hype... brilliant."
--"New York Post"
"A vivid literary style lifts this well above the usual run of suspense novels.... Outstanding."
--"Publishers Weekly" (starred review)
"With Gretchen Lowell, Chelsea Cain gives us the most compelling, most original serial killer since Hannibal Lecter."
--Chuck Palahniuk
""Heartsick" has it all: a tortured cop, a fearless and quirky heroine, and what may be the creepiest serial killer ever created. This is an addictive read!"
--Tess Gerritsen
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
The first few chapters draw you in - the discovery of a body in the woods, the reporter, Susan Ward, about to tell all on Senator Castle and then his sudden accidental death and Detective Archie Sheridan re-building his life after the serial killer, Gretchen Lowell.
After that the plot falters with the story line focusing on the Gretchen-Archie relationship form the first book, Heart Sick. This relationship between killer-victim is disturbing but it is not deep enough to be an edge of the seat psychological thriller.
The main characters are not sufficiently developed, it's more of the same and the murders added in this novel are solved as an aside. There is a mysterious child who appears twice but this doesn't go any where.
I also found the style of writing simplistic to the point that it disturbs the flow both in dialogue and prose.
This is so disappointing after the first novel which was a promising debut.
After that the plot falters with the story line focusing on the Gretchen-Archie relationship form the first book, Heart Sick. This relationship between killer-victim is disturbing but it is not deep enough to be an edge of the seat psychological thriller.
The main characters are not sufficiently developed, it's more of the same and the murders added in this novel are solved as an aside. There is a mysterious child who appears twice but this doesn't go any where.
I also found the style of writing simplistic to the point that it disturbs the flow both in dialogue and prose.
This is so disappointing after the first novel which was a promising debut.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I was looking forward to book 2 featuring Archie Sheridan. I didn't expect one of the few female serial killers in modern thrillers to feature quite so heavily. That Gretchen Lovell is a nasty yet confusing character does add to the thrill of the chase. That this book is almost - but not quite - an add-on from Heartsick means that you don't really need to have read the first book before involving yourself in this. In fact, if you hadn't read number 1, this thriller would be a better read!!
I was disappointed, really, although I enjoyed the experience. Chelsea Cain is a good contemporary author with a penchant for gruesome killings in her books. Archie is a detective whose character can be developed but whether I want to read a third novel featuring these two at it yet again is a moot point. Let's have closure on Gretchen Lovell and a way forward for Archie to show us that he is more than just a scarred body - physically and mentally.
I was disappointed, really, although I enjoyed the experience. Chelsea Cain is a good contemporary author with a penchant for gruesome killings in her books. Archie is a detective whose character can be developed but whether I want to read a third novel featuring these two at it yet again is a moot point. Let's have closure on Gretchen Lovell and a way forward for Archie to show us that he is more than just a scarred body - physically and mentally.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I eagerly anticipated Chelsea's next book, as her first was a 5 star for me. Disappointed is an understatement though.
Archie is still obsessed with Gretchen Lowell, and he finds himself investigating 3 murders, and 2 possible accidents. These murders become so trivial in the end, I have no idea why Chelsea even put them in. Most of the plot is pointless, and leads no-where. It's more or less book one, with a couple of murders added in.
If Chelsea had concentrated on expanding Archie's skills as a detective, and putting him on new murder cases, instead of dwelling on the previous book, Sweetheart could of been more of a compelling read.
Events that happen within the book, are some-what far fetched, and are certainly an 'eye-roller' but there are parts that are still good, and Susan and Bliss are still around to add to that.
I hope Chelsea's next book, if Archie is in it, will let Gretchen fade out more, and let Archie try and recover his life back.
Archie is still obsessed with Gretchen Lowell, and he finds himself investigating 3 murders, and 2 possible accidents. These murders become so trivial in the end, I have no idea why Chelsea even put them in. Most of the plot is pointless, and leads no-where. It's more or less book one, with a couple of murders added in.
If Chelsea had concentrated on expanding Archie's skills as a detective, and putting him on new murder cases, instead of dwelling on the previous book, Sweetheart could of been more of a compelling read.
Events that happen within the book, are some-what far fetched, and are certainly an 'eye-roller' but there are parts that are still good, and Susan and Bliss are still around to add to that.
I hope Chelsea's next book, if Archie is in it, will let Gretchen fade out more, and let Archie try and recover his life back.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Brilliant!!
I loved this book and couldn't put it down. I was so engrossed in the characters and can't wait to read the second book.
Published 1 month ago by Emma
Started well but went downhill
I had high hopes for this book as I know Heartsick was well reviewed and the blurb likens it to the best killer since Hannibal Lecter. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Book chatter
Great Second Book!
After really enjoying the first book I was very happy to find the next two in the series. I was not at all disapointed I enjoyed the relationship between Archie and Gretchen in the... Read more
Published 16 months ago by CupCake
Best in the series!
Best in the series. Keeps you guessing til the end. Impossible to put down.if you hav'nt read Heart sick, read that first. Buy this and Evil at Heart!
Published 21 months ago by frankie3
Sweet sequel .. but lacks edge
Sweetheart carries on from where Heartsick finished. Archie and his family are trying to recover from his harrowing, brutal and shocking relationship with Gretchen Lowell. Read more
Published on 3 July 2009 by J. Edmonds
once more with similar feeling
This is not so much a sequel as a rewrite of the brilliant first novel by Chelsea Cain. I can imagine that Ms Cain was very reluctant to let Gretchen and Archie lie after finishing... Read more
Published on 21 April 2009 by David Spanswick
Disappointing...
I received this book as a present. After reading Chelsea Cain's previous novel, "Heartsick" and giving it a rating of 3 out of 5 stars, I was curious to see if her second book will... Read more
Published on 21 Mar 2009 by Y. Rodgers
What's with the bad reviews?
This isn't a copy of the first book. There are no more graphic descriptions of torture or gross revelations to reveal about any of the characters. Read more
Published on 20 Mar 2009 by J.P
The story continues....
In this sequel to Heartsick, though back living with his ex-wife, Archie Sheridan is still addicted to painkillers, obsessed by Gretchen Lowell and she continues playing with his... Read more
Published on 10 Mar 2009 by Big Bertha
Heartbreaking - for all the wrong reasons
A lot of readers who buy/bought this book will have done so because its predecessor (and debut) novel was really outstanding, one of the best thrillers of 2007. Read more
Published on 21 Feb 2009 by OEJ
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