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Sweetheart: A Thriller Audiobook
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(3.00) - 6,422 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Gretchen Lowell, the world's most beautiful serial killer, has escaped from prison in Chelsea Cain's next unpredictable, edge-of-your-seat thriller, Sweetheart. With Heartsick, Chelsea Cain took the crime world by storm, introducing two of the most compelling characters in decades: serial killer Gretchen Lowell and her obsessed pursuer Portland Detective Archie Sheridan. The book spent four weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and garnered rave reviews around the world. But the riveting story of Archie and Gretchen was left unfinished, and now Chelsea Cain picks up the tale again. When the body of a young woman is discovered in Portland's Forest Park, Archie is reminded of the last time they found a body there, more than a decade ago: it turned out to be the Beauty Killer's first victim, and Archie's first case. This body can't be one of Gretchen's—she's in prison—but after help from reporter Susan Ward uncovers the dead woman's identity, it turns into another big case. Trouble is, Archie can't focus on the new investigation because the Beauty Killer case has exploded: Gretchen Lowell has escaped from prison. Archie hadn't seen her in two months; he'd moved back in with his family and sworn off visiting her. Though it should feel like progress, he actually feels worse. The news of her escape spreads like wildfire, but secretly, he's relieved. He knows he's the only one who can catch her, and in fact, he has a plan to get out from under her thumb once and for all. Chelsea Cain has topped her own bestselling debut thriller with this unpredictable, edge-of-your-seat story.
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"This sequel to Heartsick finds painkiller addicted homicide detective Archie Sheridan trying to reconcile with his ex-wife and staying away from Gretchen Lowell, the serial killer who nearly killed him. Enthralled with another case, Sheridan is shocked when Lowell escapes from prison, and he knows that he can be the only one to bring her back to justice. While the plot of this novel was pretty convoluted and a little too diffuse to pack a true wallop, Cain still shows her talent for characterization and that saves this book from becoming a melodramatic thriller by the numbers. Lowell is a Hannibal Lecter type, brilliant but twisted, and Sheridan is the drug addled, broken marriage cop from central casting, but the uneasy energy that Cain supplies between the two of them overcomes the conceits of the narrative and make it enjoyable."
— Tim (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Cain’s sophomore effort will leave readers desperate for more.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review) -
“It’s hard to say how long Cain can play out this lovers’ duel between Archie and Gretchen before they tumble into their own Reichenbach Falls, but it’s a sure thing we won’t be leaving our seats before the final curtain.”
— Booklist (starred review)
Awards
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Among shortlisted titles for Audie Award Finalist, 2009
Sweetheart Listener Reviews
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Kathleen Murphy, 12/10/2015
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" Now, this is more like it. More suspenseful, more unpredictable, more screwed up than anything I've read in a long time. "
— Proud, 2/18/2014 -
" Had to stop reading this at night - there was a cliff hanger with the end of each delightfully short chapter! This one kept me going. The next one is already on my night stand. "
— Staci, 2/15/2014 -
" Another could not put down books of hers!!! "
— Rachelle, 2/11/2014 -
" Not as good as her other book Heartsick. I felt like this was just a filler story, linking one book to another. No killer is caught and nothing exciting really happens, just a little build up of the characters. Bit of a disappointment. "
— Paty, 1/19/2014 -
" Fab, now onto book 3! "
— Claire, 1/9/2014 -
" Keep 'em coming! Will she ever be caught!? "
— Burlingame, 12/8/2013 -
" I loved this book. This is what I was hoping for when I started to read Heartsick. The dynamic between Gretchen and Archie is so disturbingly fun! "
— Bob, 9/8/2013 -
" This was another fun read. I really enjoyed catching up with Archie and Gretchen.... seeing what those two crazy kids are up to..... I have to say I did like the first one a little more, the story had a little more depth to it it seemed. I still enjoyed it though! "
— Sandy, 7/16/2013 -
" Great series with tons of twists and turns. "
— Jaimee, 4/29/2013 -
" I've just discovered Chelsea Cain and just love her! "
— Josephine, 4/14/2013 -
" Much better than Evil at Heart, I actually think in ways I liked it better than Heartsick even. Really looking forward to book #4 in the series - here's hoping Gretchen gets her comeuppance! "
— Jery, 1/22/2013 -
" so far a great, fast-moving thriller!! "
— Kaeli, 1/12/2013 -
" De eerste helft van het boek was zozo. Dan begon het weer op tempo te komen. En kom je dingen te weten die veel verklaren. "
— Beate, 12/6/2012 -
" The sequel to "Heartsick" was SO irritating. I'm not sure if I can even attempt to make it through the third one!!! "
— Melissa, 11/13/2012 -
" I didn't realize this was a sequel when I picked it up and read it....I will go and get the first book now! Very good! "
— Peggy, 11/16/2011 -
" Enjoyable but not quite as good as the first novel. It filled some gaps about the relationship between Archie and Gretchen, his nemesis, but this could have been incorporated in the first novel. "
— Theresa, 10/8/2011 -
" Even more twisted than the first one. "
— Mariesa, 7/21/2011 -
" I think this was even better than Heartsick. Once I started reading, I was hooked and couldn't put it down until I knew the whole story. "
— Frankie, 6/24/2011 -
" Surprisingly well-written (for its genre) and a very creative -- and creepy -- tale. I picked it up off my wife's pile of books because I was unexpectedly sans novel, and thoroughly enjoyed it. "
— Grey, 6/3/2011 -
" Awesome sequel to Heartsick. Chelsea Cain has proved to be quite an author. Although this book wasn't as fast paced as the first one, it was definately engaging. I really enjoyed it. "
— Lexa, 5/30/2011 -
" This book was somewhat disturbing. Not sure I'd read anything else by the author. "
— Kathy, 5/29/2011 -
" I did like this book a bit more then the first one. However the ending was a bit off for me. I don't know how they are going to pick up in book 3. "
— Amber, 5/23/2011 -
" Not nearly as good as Heartsick, but still worthy of the time spent reading it. I can't imagine many more offerings in this series without the entire thing becoming a joke, but if there's a third, I'll give it a go. "
— Deb, 5/10/2011 -
" Not as good as her other book Heartsick. I felt like this was just a filler story, linking one book to another. No killer is caught and nothing exciting really happens, just a little build up of the characters. Bit of a disappointment. "
— Paty, 4/26/2011 -
" Meh. I really liked the first one. found myself rolling my eyes through this one. I'll probably read the others but i think i need a break from Archie and Gretchen. "
— Holly, 4/20/2011 -
" Gretchen Lowell is a terrifying killer I couldn't help but admire. Obsession can get you into all kinds of trouble. "
— Kris, 4/16/2011 -
" A terrific sequel to the first volume in this series - the plot got a little far-fetched towards the end, but overall a very enjoyable read. Love the characters - even Gretchen. "
— Meredith, 4/13/2011 -
" There is something about these books and the relationship between detective Archie Sheridan and serial killer Gretchen Lowell that alternates between the sick and surreal. Like a train wreck it's hard to look but you can't look away either. "
— Deb, 4/12/2011
About Chelsea Cain
Chelsea Cain is the author of the New York Times bestselling Archie Sheridan/Gretchen Lowell thrillers Heartsick, Sweetheart, Evil at Heart, The Night Season, Kill You Twice, and Let Me Go. Her Portland-based thrillers have been published in twenty-four languages, recommended on the TODAY show, appeared in episodes of HBO’s True Blood and ABC’s Castle, been named among Stephen King’s top ten favorite books of the year, and included in NPR’s list of the top 100 thrillers ever written. According to Booklist, “Popular entertainment just doesn’t get much better than this.” Born in Iowa and raised in Bellingham, Washington, she now lives in Portland, Oregon.
About Carolyn McCormick
Carolyn McCormick has appeared in the films A Simple Twist of Fate and Enemy Mine. She has appeared on television as Dr. Olivit in Law & Order for more than a decade and as a guest on The Practice and Star Trek: The Next Generation. Her Broadway credits include roles in The Dinner Party and Private Lives. Her audiobook narration has won her three AudioFile Earphones Awards.