The Night Season: A Thriller (Archie Sheridan & Gretchen Lowell Book 4)

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Though selfless, getting Gretchen still proves difficult. The detective is attracted to Gretchen and finally finds it difficult to deal with her crimes, due to the charms and beauty of the serial killer, which leaves the poor detective daydreaming. This weakness of the detective gives Gretchen an opportunity to be the first to attack Sheridan, leading him into a series of inhuman tortures in addition to humiliation.

When Gretchen finally releases the detective alive and hands herself over to the security forces in Portland, this leaves the detective in questions.

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His investigative and anxious character leads him to questioning himself, and finally visiting Gretchen to seek for the answer of why she never killed him yet handing herself in. The detective regains his motivation to work as a police officer in order to curb crime, successfully overcoming the charm that he always finds in the serial killer. He gets back his real self, which ensures that he is committed and fully dedicated to protecting the nation from murders, while finding justice for already committed homicides.

The hero soon stumbles on more serial murders, where the killer leaves the victim gagged, skinned and hanging on his wrists on a tree in public places, yet he escapes unnoticed. Sheridan tries his best and uses his expertise and natural investigative talent to get the serial killer, before more murders are witnessed in the country. He gets great leads to the murder and is about to get the big secret behind the murders.

However, unluckily for the determined detective, he is caught unawares and held captive for the second time by a serial killer. Commonly known as the Beauty Killer, Gretchen Lowell, initially worked in the police force with Sheridan. She later turns to serial killing as a hobby, and she takes pleasure in her actions. She even has a serial killer trademark of a heart. She is cunning enough to dodge the police, especially the detective who is on her, Archie Sheridan. This she does using various techniques, such as wearing face masks common with robbers and murderers when she is working on her victims.

She also changes this and puts on a blond wig, which changes her appearance completely. Being a lady, she is able to wear make-up that completely disguises her. Anyway, with her outstanding beauty, no one would be daring enough to brand her as a killer. Having worked in a police department, the serial killer is a professional and experienced at the techniques used by the police and the FBI to curb criminal cases, using this knowledge to her advantage. This is the same skill that she later used to get Sheridan to be one of her captives.

She is a creative thinker, with the skill great enough to get her out of a jail with maximum security several times and still continue with her hideous activities. She is also a charming woman, with the natural beauty that most men find a problem resisting attraction from.

She uses her adorable features to blind the people, both the public and the police and does her gruesome activities comfortably. This aspect also see her make the detective on her case, Sheridan, to be a bit shaken off when undertaking the investigations, sometimes finding himself in fantasy on sexual experience with the Beauty Killer. She is an independent and brave woman, relying on her own brain and physical energy to carry out any murder that she targets. She bits the rules of femininity, which dictate that women should be timid, while using the femininity that nature offered her to complete her mission.

She is ruthless and not worth being in the human race. As developed, she does not have a second thought when dealing with her victims, and it takes people by surprise when she finally turns herself in for sentence. This was a great twist of the storyline, as everyone else would have expected her to feel free after putting the Sheridan through a traumatizing experience that would have successfully acted as a threat.

Our beauty killer is absent for the most part and it brought the book back into a more believable reality. I must say that I think Susan is probably my favorite character in the series at this point. She has grown so much from being the spoiled brat we first met.

Archie is finally acting like a true hero, and our splendid cast of characters have grown by le This was a great read, it is book 4 and probably is now my favorite so far in the Heartsick series. Archie is finally acting like a true hero, and our splendid cast of characters have grown by leaps and bounds.

The series has really become very good, and I am pretty much hooked. I am glad I stuck to it. The Night Season is very fast paced, and I loved it. Our characters are battling a raging flood, and a deadly poison, while trying to catch a serial killer and rescue a young boy. It certainly kept me turning the pages. I look forward to the next 2 books of the series in the near future.

Dec 18, Nidah SleepDreamWrite rated it really liked it. When it comes to series, you take a little break from the main villain sometimes. It can be a good thing or it can not. The case with the 4th book in the series, it was a nice change of pace. I did take a little break from it, not in the mood to read it. Then came back to it and liked it enough.

I mean there's a little bit more Susan, with her reporter driven personality and ever changing hair dye with each book. I was okay with that. About time she got character development, well, more so in thi When it comes to series, you take a little break from the main villain sometimes.

About time she got character development, well, more so in this one. Along with the other characters of course. Near the end it got intense though. Like the last 3 books in the series so far, it does have its share of creepy moments so there's that. The pace is still fast paced as ever.

I don't know what else to say really. Good series so far. Jan 23, Kristin rated it it was amazing Shelves: I have loved all of Chelsea Cain's books in this series, and this one is no different. I know that Gretchen was a main character in the other books, but I really liked that she wasn't in this one at least not as much as the others.

I actually enjoyed just reading about Archie and Susan and the issues at hand.. I look forward to the next two books, I just wish that they would keep going aft I have loved all of Chelsea Cain's books in this series, and this one is no different. I look forward to the next two books, I just wish that they would keep going after 6! Mar 04, Angela rated it really liked it. Many riverfront properties are underwater.

One in and one in Gretchen is in jail awaiting her trial so she for once is not the star bad guy. Octopuses and kidnapped child, skeleton from the 40's and so many other factors are included. For those who may not be aware, Gretchen isn't the protagonist, but the villain, and one who has made quite an impression as amoral serial killer obsessed with Portland, Oregon detective Archie Sheridan who knew her on more intimate terms. Some would say that Archie was a willing victim because he allowed himself to be placed in the situation where she tortured and mutilated him, but he lived, and because of it, has continual mental and physical anguish.

Also, her other characters are so well-rounded and realistic, where humor pops up even during the darkest moments. Not a great crime scene to collect evidence, and even with Archie on the case, he has his hands tied. Now it has become personal for him. Also, a young boy he saved from drowning in the river maybe working with the killer by no choice of his own. Along with Susan, a reporter who tails him and has become a close ally and friend, perhaps something even more growing between them they have no idea who and why innocent people are being targeted. Susan thinks there might be a connection to a flood that occurred on Memorial Day that causes mass destruction and death.

The killer may want revenge for all the lives lost. Or perhaps the killer is just some deranged maniac with no reason? I really have to hand it to Chelsea for keeping me turning the pages. But Archie knows he has way too many issues. Susan has more than her share to get through. The Night Season worked for me because of Archie and Susan. I think Chelsea played it smart by not having Gretchen as a focal point. I really want to see her and Archie interact again, but not too much, because their relationship cannot sustain itself if every book is about them.

This is a fast paced read with writing that really grabs you. I never found myself confused at any point. Even with the lacking serial killer, I enjoyed myself. Popcorn comes to mind when reading a Chelsea Cain book. Tasty, satisfying and one where you want to read more as soon as you finish. Reviewed first at Brunner's Bookshelf This is one of those series that I keep in my back catalog. It's the kind of book you read when there isn't anything else you want to read and you need a filler. The first book Heartsick was really good and it was my first Advanced Reader copy I had ever gotten.

The story was really good and I liked the characters. As the series has gone on I have sort of fallen out of love with these books yet I keep going. This is the first book in the series that doesn't ha Reviewed first at Brunner's Bookshelf This is one of those series that I keep in my back catalog. This is the first book in the series that doesn't have the main villain Gretchen Lowell.

The other three had both her and the detective Archie Sheridan. In this book people are being killed in an odd way. All the signs from the bodies show that they have drowned but there is no water in the lungs. What can be killing people to make them drown on land? It was an interesting story but overall the book was just ok. I was one that I at least found interest to keep going on and it really wasn''t a chore to get through I just felt very benign while reading it. There is a decent mystery here trying to figure out what could possibly being done to these victims.

Archie Sheridan/ Gretchen Lowell - Book Series In Order

Archie has cleaned up his act and is at least off the prescription drugs in this book but he is still the overly brooding detective but now he is all on his own. Not a bad set of characters in this book but the only two that are interesting are Archie and the reporter Susan. The rest of the characters no matter how important they might have meant to be felt like they were just scenery or something to meet a page count. The ending was a little anticlimactic and felt rushed like the author ran out of ideas and just decided to end there. So for my rating I will give this 3 out of 5 stars.

The reason for this is because I didn't hate this book and there were some interesting parts throughout the book.

I feel this is very middle ground type of a book. I will probably continue the series but I'm not planning on reading the next one any time soon. It will always depend on what I can get from the library and what is up next on my to read pile. Feb 21, Cheryl rated it really liked it. Famous female serial killer, Gretchen Lowell has been arrested for the second time.

It does not look good for Gretchen this time. Meanwhile, Archie has been seeing a psychiatrist and been staying off the prescription medications for a while now. Archie is actually communicating and working with his co-workers again. Susan Ward works as a reporter for The Herald. You could almost call Susan and Arch Famous female serial killer, Gretchen Lowell has been arrested for the second time. You could almost call Susan and Archie mutual friends.

Now when there is a murder, Archie gives Susan the scoop. Like this latest murder. What at first seemed like a drowning has turned into a murder. It seems that she was poisoned. Before Archie can figure out the answers to the questions…who, what and why…another body is found. Can Archie stop the killer before it is too late? The Night Season is the latest offering from author, Chelsea Cain. While, I am a fan of Mrs. Cain and have been since day one, I realized just how much I missed Gretchen and a big presence she makes in these books. Though, I did enjoy getting to know Archie better as well as some of the other characters.

Archie showed some real backbone in this book. Susan was a nice addition. I briefly got to know here in the prior novels but this time I really got to become familiar with her and I loved her. She is full of spunk and determination.

She reminds me a bit of Nancy Drew. The killer in this book made more of a quieter presence. Though, trying to follow after Gretchen is a difficult feat to live up to. This book was a good thriller. I can not wait to read the next one. Be prepared to lose track of time as The Night Season draw you in! There is an abrupt change in tone in this fourth installment of the Archie Sheridan series, and it doesn't work at all for me. Cain trades in yucks for yuks, and frankly, it sucks. Instead of a late night scare fest, all I got was a tepid script for a police procedural.

Perhaps if this had been a standalone novel featuring new characters that were not already well-established, this style of novel would have worked better; with these characters living in the world Cain has already built for them, There is an abrupt change in tone in this fourth installment of the Archie Sheridan series, and it doesn't work at all for me. Perhaps if this had been a standalone novel featuring new characters that were not already well-established, this style of novel would have worked better; with these characters living in the world Cain has already built for them, it's odd and out of place.

Sheridan takes a back seat in this one, and very little is done to move his story forward in the series. The character of Susan Ward, who always flirts with the line between character and cartoon, definitely crosses that line this time. Gretchen Lowell isn't part of the story at all, appearing only briefly at the end to deliver a pithy one-liner to serve as punctuation to the plot. There is also very little gore, which itself is not a problem, but if you've read the first three novels in the series, there is definitely an expectation of a high and bloody body count.

The killer uses perhaps the most ridiculous murder weapon I've ever encountered, which renders what I assume to be the thrilling climax to be actually laughable. The tension Cain thought she was building just isn't there, because her idea is so ludicrous in the first place. Honestly, if this is the direction this series is going, I'm off board. Feb 18, Randy rated it liked it. Chelsea Cain's story here, like her previous books, is gripping, tense and populated with memorable, if odd, characters. But The Night Season was something of a disappointment for me.

Yes, like others, I missed Gretchen and her psycholgical drama with Archie, but my bigger concern in this book is a plot that failed to convince me to suspend my disbelief. For example, the serial killer uses a tiny, rare octopus to kill his victims--randomly, it appears. Why would he choose such a weird and danger Chelsea Cain's story here, like her previous books, is gripping, tense and populated with memorable, if odd, characters. Why would he choose such a weird and dangerous to himself method? Yes, he wears a special glove, but I wouldn't touch that thing with a suit of armor on.

All I could tell was that he grew up liking tropical fish and killing small animals. Didn't work for me as motivation. Susan Ward, an endearing if somewhat over-the-top character, winds up in the middle of the case for reasons which stretch credulity, but I could handle that. Where the story really lost me was when she manages to fall into the killer's clutches in a way that screams of pure coincidence.

The Night Season

Basically, she just happened to be in the area because her car breaks down in the flood. I would have found it much easier to believe if the killer had stalked her.

Anything, please--just don't use coincidence in a key situation. Three stars for clever,tight writing and enjoyable main characters, but this one wasn't up to the standard of the first three books in the Archie-Gretchen series. Mar 14, Wendell rated it did not like it Shelves: What Chelsea Cain knows about marine biology would fill a toothpaste cap the travel size with room left over for a small cephalopod.

Cain and the Creationists have that in common. In short, the science in this book — which, unfortunately, matters to the plot — is aimed at readers who struggle to grasp the Discovery Channel. There, by mentioning her name I have apparently just written a Gretchen Lowell novel myself. Jan 16, Amy rated it really liked it Shelves: I really liked this next book in one of my favorite series right now. I'm hoping that 3 was just an anomaly! If this book is any indication, I think that might be correct! Although Gretchen Lowell is not really more than a quick mention in this book, her influence permeates every page due to her lasting impact on Archie.

I love Archie and Susan so this book really gave Chels I really liked this next book in one of my favorite series right now. I love Archie and Susan so this book really gave Chelsea Cain a chance to give the reader some dedicated time with them! The story was well done and unique. Lots of intrigue and good overall storytelling.

Publication Order of Archie Sheridan/Gretchen Lowell Books

And I love how Susan's character developed throughout this novel - she was Susan at her best! Chelsea Cain does a fantastic time creating a Portland that I can see and feel, almost as if I'm there. I really enjoyed this one and look forward to getting into the fifth book in the series soon! May 07, Victoria rated it it was ok Shelves: First of all, Gretchen plays only a small role.

And while this may bother some, it does lend some needed credibility to the series as a whole. Unfortunately, the murder weapon that Cain has her latest killer use completely destroys any of that newly built credibility in its utter ridiculousness not to mention the fact that instantaneous death is not an actual biological reality in the way. This is also the second book in the series that Cain has had a dog and its owner discover the remains, and she had bodies discovered in this fashion twice in just this book - in Cain's world it seems that this is a harsh reality that nearly every dog owner will some day face.

Despite the general silliness of this book, it remains a fast and fun read, and I am sure that I will continue on with the series - I just hope the next book isn't this beyond plausible belief. Sorry to everyone who met me for a coffee the last few weeks, because all I do is fangirling about this series and especially to those who are reading this because of me and aren't hyperventilating all the time: D That being said: I get that people are missing Gretchen in this book but the book itself as a mystery is enthralling and very well-done, I really enjoyed it. What is it that Cain does so well?

Hmm, for me, it's definitely the characters. I adored e Sorry to everyone who met me for a coffee the last few weeks, because all I do is fangirling about this series and especially to those who are reading this because of me and aren't hyperventilating all the time: I adored every book from Jilliane Hoffman, because I'm a huge sucker for broken and scarred protagonists, and Archie's just my guy I want to hug that poor little puppy so bad.

Susan is a little annoying sometimes but overall such a great character as well, and Gretchen ; I don't have to say anything about her? I'm going to be so sad when the series is over! Cain lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and daughter. Other books in the series. Books by Chelsea Cain.

• Globalisation, Public Opinion and the State: Western Europe and East and Southeast Asia (Routledge A
• Kundalini. Das Erbe der Nath-Yogis (German Edition)
• Lyrics Alley
• Growing Up Transnational: Identity and Kinship in a Global Era
• Buy-In: Saving Your Good Idea from Getting Shot Down
• Pricing in (In)Complete Markets: Structural Analysis and Applications (Lecture Notes in Economics an
• Jim Hunt: A Biography