sweetheart

sweetheart
gretchen lowell series #2
chelsea cain
thriller/suspense
minotaur books
published 2008

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.

When I picture Gretchen in this series I picture Alice from Luther except with blonde hair instead of Alice's red.  She's beautiful and dangerous, yet it's more than beauty that draws you to her.  She's intelligent and wicked.  She is the perfect killer.  She's abhorrently vicious, admitting to having killed at least one child.

Secrets are thrown out into the open in Sweetheart.  Archie has promised his ex-wife Debbie that he will stop visiting Gretchen in jail, but he is no longer cut out for a normal life.  He yearns for any kind of contact and when she escapes from jail he begins planning.

Susan also returns in this installment.  She's working on a huge story of corruption and sex scandals, but when her co-worker and mentor turns up dead everything starts spiraling out of control.

Cain doesn't disappoint with the shocking twists and turns as well as the stomach churning moments of terror.  I'm glad I picked up the other books in the series because I have got to find out what happens next...now.