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Chelsea Cain
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Sweetheart: A Thriller (Archie Sheridan & Gretchen Lowell) Paperback – September 1, 2009

by Chelsea Cain (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,163 ratings
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Portland detective Archie Sheridan, the former head of the Beauty Killer Task Force, hunted Gretchen Lowell for years before she kidnapped him, tortured him, and then let him go. Now that she is behind bars, Archie is finally piecing his life back together. He's returned home to his ex-wife and their two children. But no matter how hard Archie tries, he just can't stop thinking about Gretchen…

When the body of a young woman is discovered in Forest Park, Archie is reminded of the first corpse he discovered there a decade ago: it turned out to be the Beauty Killer's first victim, and Archie's first case. Then, the unthinkable happens: Gretchen escapes from prison, and once the news breaks, all of Portland goes on high alert…but secretly, Archie is relieved. He knows he's the only one who can capture Gretchen―and now he has a plan to get out from under her thumb once and for all. Even if it means becoming her last victim…

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Previous page
  1. Book 2 of 6
    Archie Sheridan & Gretchen Lowell
  2. Print length
    352 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Minotaur Books
  5. Publication date
    September 1, 2009
  6. Dimensions
    4.25 x 1.25 x 6.75 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    0312943830
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0312943837
  9. See all details
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The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Superb...With its brisk pacing, carefully metered violence and tortured hero, Cain's sophomore effort will leave readers desperate for more.” ―Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Cain's debut Heartsick had even the most jaded thriller fans sleeping with the lights on. She tells an equally frightening story in Sweetheart.” ―USA Today

“Profoundly creepy and disturbing.” ―The Boston Globe

“A sharp psychological inquiry into evil and obsession, as well as a deeply unhealthy love story.” ―The Seattle Times

From the Back Cover

"Sensual and engulfing…keeps us turning the pages."―The New York Times Book Review
Portland detective Archie Sheridan, the former head of the Beauty Killer Task Force, hunted Gretchen Lowell for years before she kidnapped him, tortured him, and then let him go. Now that she is behind bars, Archie is finally piecing his life back together. He's returned home to his ex-wife and their two children. But no matter how hard Archie tries, he just can't stop thinking about Gretchen…

Sweetheart

When the body of a young woman is discovered in Forest Park, Archie is reminded of the first corpse he discovered there a decade ago: it turned out to be the Beauty Killer's first victim, and Archie's first case. Then, the unthinkable happens: Gretchen escapes from prison, and once the news breaks, all of Portland goes on high alert…but secretly, Archie is relieved. He knows he's the only one who can capture Gretchen―and now he has a plan to get out from under her thumb once and for all. Even if it means becoming her last victim…

"Sweetheart is not afraid to explore damage too severe to be undone."―Los Angeles Times

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Minotaur Books; Reprint edition (September 1, 2009)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0312943830
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0312943837
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 5.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.25 x 1.25 x 6.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,163 ratings

About the author

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Chelsea Cain

Chelsea Cain

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Chelsea Cain is the author of The New York Times bestselling thrillers HEARTSICK, SWEETHEART, EVIL AT HEART, THE NIGHT SEASON, and KILL YOU TWICE. Her Portland-based thrillers, described by The New York Times as "steamy and perverse," have been published in over 25 languages, recommended on “The Today Show,” appeared in episodes of HBO’s “True Blood” and ABC’s “Castle,” 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."

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
1,163 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Virginia E. Farrell
5.0 out of 5 stars Page turning thriller a great read.
Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2008
Verified Purchase
This book is the second in a series by Chelsea Cain. While you don't have to read the first book (Heartsick) to enjoy this one, I do suggest it. There are certain story lines that are alluded to but not covered again in this book. Personally, I like this aspect. The book is fantastic on its own and allows the reader to choose to read the first novel or just savor the second.

Although I loved this book and the first, neither book is for the faint of heart. I'm not quite sure how Chelsea Cain came up with the plot line, but let's say if this is what she chooses to write about, I wouldn't want to see her nightmares. If you do not like a very very dark side in your books, including violence and sick, sick characters, this is not the book for you. However, if you love excellent writing, suspenseful plot lines, and rich characters, this is not just the novel for you, but the series. It's been a long time since I enjoyed a writer so much that I bought the book hardcover (which I did) and after a day of constant reading, am already anxiously awaiting the next novel. Definitely add this novel to your collection, it's well worth it.
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J. D. Firneno
4.0 out of 5 stars As twisted as relationships come.
Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2009
Verified Purchase
The "Heart" series has a lot going for it. There's plenty of police procedure, unsolved murders, piles of bodies, a healthy dose of gore and some damned good characters interacting with each other.

Chief amongst them we have Gretchen Lowell and Archie Sheridan. They might make for the oddest relationship in crime fiction since Clarice Starling and Hannibal Lecter. In fact, on second thought, they most certainly do. Archie can't live without three things: his work, his Vicodin and his torturer of mind and soul, Gretchen Lowell -- The extremely prolific serial killer with over 200 corpses in her wake. She's smart, well-educated in the medical field and extremely beautiful. She kills anyone -- women, children, the elderly, young -- it doesn't matter much to her.

But she didn't kill Archie. Instead, she turned herself in and left him with a nice collection of both physical and emotional scars. Ever since his capture, Archie can't do anything without thinking of her.

I won't give anything away but here in Sweetheart (the second book in the series), Archie's life is going down the tubes. He's still popping pills and his liver is paying the price. He is making an attempt at family life with his kids and ex-wife but Gretchen is around every corner in Archie's mind. He's stopped his weekly visits to her in prison and perhaps everything is starting to mend slowly.

Until she escapes from prison during a routine transit.

This was a really fun and fast read. And it has me drooling for the next book in the series. We get a nice glimpse into Gretchen this time around. And I liked what I saw. She shows some very human emotions and it makes you wonder what is coming next. Good stuff Chelsea.
3 people found this helpful
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Bethann Breitenkamp
5.0 out of 5 stars I am addicted
Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2014
Verified Purchase
just by chance I saw Chelea Cains book Heartsick first...never having the slightest idea that it was a series or that I could not put it down.I have had an eye infection for quite some time and out has been difficult to read.Thank God for Whispersync. I would never have now gone through 4 of this series so far in a couple of weeks and have gotten several people addicted since I started.This is a great, sick, perverted, twisted, challenging story and plot.Thank you Chelsea...Don't stop writing and Thank you for the hours of fascinating reading...or rather being read to.I tried Audible and did not like it at all.Whispersync allows me to still imagine in my head what the characters voices sounds like.Audible ruins that for me...Happy reading and Happy hunting!!!
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birthstone56
5.0 out of 5 stars ....great series to get involved in....
Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2023
Verified Purchase
....the continuing collusion between Archie and Gretchen is a psychological masterpiece by Chelsea Cain....
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Cornflake Girl
4.0 out of 5 stars Read it in lass than a day.
Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2010
Verified Purchase
This book is Chelsea Cain's follow-up to the thriller Heartsick. I see no reason why anyone who didn't like that book would bother to read this. Many reviewers are complaining about the rampant cursing and (few) descriptions of sex in this book. I don't get it. I mean, these are all consentual adults. What's the problem? And I don't understand why fully grown adults have problems with the f-bomb. But if you do, why are you reading murder mysteries? Murder mysteries are full of cops. And cops, if you've ever watched a movie you'd know, curse all the time. But I digress.

I finished this book in half a day; it was such a quick read. My only gripe was that the B-storyline, like in Heartsick, was lacking. In my opinion. But the book overall was great. Lots of suspense. And I think Gretchen Lowell is one of the most interesting serial killers I've ever seen, and I've seen my share. Luckily, not in person. Other reviewers complained about gratuitous descriptions of what people were wearing and too many scenes with fringe characters (like Susan Ward's hippie mother) but none of that stuff bothered me. Susan's mother serves to better explain why Susan is the way she is. And the descriptions of what people wore didn't bother me either; it was there to give you a better mental picture of these people.

All around I loved it. And I'd highly recommend it to fans of the first book. But if you didn't like the first book, you probably won't like this one either. That feels like it should be obvious, but if you read some of these negative reviews you'll find that it isn't.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Avid reader
5.0 out of 5 stars A thrilling and unforgettable book!
Reviewed in Canada on November 10, 2019
Verified Purchase
A very memorable book! Gretchen, a serial killer with 200 known victims and Archie, a detective who devoted his life to catching her are not the ordinary book heroes. They are obsessed with each other in their own ways. Archie makes an attempt to come back to his family and cuts the Sunday's visits to prison but Gretchen escapes the prison and the game is on again.
Is he going to catch her, or he is going on a romantic getaway with her? Does he even makes a difference any more?

This is thrilling and captivating book which is difficult to forget.
One person found this helpful
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Pencraig
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 3, 2018
Verified Purchase
Not sure what it says about me but this book was every bit and disgustingly horrible as the first and it had me gripped from the first page. Strong characters well drawn, horror, drama, humour and a fascinating glimpse of madness and self destruction. Irrisistable.
One person found this helpful
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Erica Halliday
2.0 out of 5 stars Archie Sheriden is hard to like
Reviewed in Australia on May 5, 2021
Verified Purchase
Archie Sheriden is supposed to be a flawed hero but he lost me in this book with his self centred ways affecting his best mate, wife and kids. There was little character development and the plot was a bit far fetched. Give me Kim Stone anyday- sorry.
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Clara Violetta
5.0 out of 5 stars Goosebumps...
Reviewed in Germany on October 25, 2014
Verified Purchase
I devoured the whole series in one week. Yes, ONE.
One of the most thrilling, shocking, gripping series I've ever read.
Little warning though: not recommended for sensitive and anxious people.
These books have huge nightmare-inducing potential...
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ミステリーママ
5.0 out of 5 stars ああ、怖かった
Reviewed in Japan on November 14, 2010
Verified Purchase
グレッチェンの呪縛から逃れられないアーチ―は、またも、連続殺人の捜査に。アーチーに前作で助けられアーチーに好意を持つ新聞記者のスーザンは、有力議員のスキャンダルを追っていた。アーチーは、立ち直れるのか、スーザンの追う事件との関連は・・・・。
これ以上言うと興ざめになってしまうのでやめます。前作が怖すぎて、買ったものの読み始められずにいましたが、読み始めると止まらなくなりました。
今作も、読み終わると心臓が冷たく鳴っているような気がしました。夜一人で読まない方がよいかも。
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