Amber feels ridiculous when she is abducted by a serial killer. How did she not know what was happening?!? But after she is rescued, the danger really begins! This was a thrilling ride with a great ending!

This was such a fun read! The very beginning of this book lures you in and you’ll want to follow everything that happens to Amber.
But Amber isn’t who she says she is. And when a woman in a ski mask comes to her rescue, everything changes.
Winding up in Las Vegas, Amber meets a Femme group who are on the hunt for a serial killer. Little do they know, it’s someone very close.
I had so much fun reading this book. There is a twist in here which really makes you think “could it be possible?” I loved our protagonist Amber. She was so quirky and fun, but also a badass b!tch!
Definitely read this one!!

While well written by Gagnon, I didn’t find this all that humorous and the plot became a bit too unbelievable for me. If you’re going to give this a read, be sure to check the CW’s first. I DNF'd at about 53%.


I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons in exchange for an honest review.

This book was great. I loved the story and meeting Amber and Grace and Dot and everyone's story. Hoping to hear more from these characters in the future!

Killing Me
Michelle Gagnon
Pub Date: May 16, 2023
G.P. Putnam
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
This book surprised me with how good it was. Original, wildly entertaining with a protagonist whose life is a total mess. This is a laugh out loud thriller that I really needed to read. Great job Gagnon!
I’m looking forward to reading more books by this author,
5 stars

Who knew a thriller could be so dang funny! I loved the setting of the plot, not knowing which character to trust or not. I couldn't put this down and finished in one sitting. I loved the dark, mystery, funny and fabulous writing. I don't want to spoil it for anyone else just go read it NOW!!

Thank you netgalley and publishers for an e-arc of this in return for my honest review.

This book was so funny and so refreshing. I have had a falling out with the thriller/mystery genre but this made me fall in love with it all over again. This was witty and so fun to read

"Killing Me" by Michelle Gagnon is a laugh-out-loud thriller that had me entertained from start to finish. The protagonist, Amber Jamison, is a relatable and likable character whose life is a total mess. She escaped a serial killer, but then things got even weirder.
While I appreciated the humor in this book, I have to say that some of the plot points were a bit unbelievable. I found myself rolling my eyes at some of the twists and turns, and the ending left me feeling a bit unsatisfied.
That being said, "Killing Me" is still a fun and entertaining read. Gagnon's writing is engaging and fast-paced, with plenty of action and suspense to keep you hooked. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and the humor adds a nice touch to an otherwise dark and gritty story.
Overall, I would give "Killing Me" a three-star rating. While it's not a perfect book, it's still a fun and entertaining read that's perfect for fans of thrillers and dark humor. If you're looking for a book that will keep you entertained and on the edge of your seat, then "Killing Me" is definitely worth checking out.

Killing Me by Michelle Gagnon. I loved this book – I know, it’s about a serial killer, but our girl Amber, who gets kidnapped by a serial killer, acted like I think I would! How the hell did this happen to me?? I know all about how they work, yet I parked next to a windowless van??

Amber is tough, funny, and while you are worried about what will happen next, you will also find yourself laughing out loud at her reactions! The whole premise is so crazy, but I am sure you will find all the things that happen to her amazing. (you’ll still be laughing!) I am hoping there is a sequel with Amber! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher and of course the author for this fun, weird read!

I hardly know what to say. This book took me on quite the ride! It was in turns terrifying, hilarious and mindboggling. I guess you have to throw in some heartwarming at times.

The main character, Amber, starts off the book by being captured by a serial killer and then being set free by a woman she really can't stand. There is so much that happens after that. There's the pursuit of Amber by someone else as she flees for Las Vegas. Here we become acquainted with many more very interesting characters, mostly women that band together and work together to get the person pursuing Amber. There's an LGBTQ element in the book, hookers and women trying hard just to make a living in the seedier part of Vegas.

The book had some really intense scenes, but it really was funny. It was a really good time!

Thanks to Peguin Group/Putnam and NetGalley for the gifted copy.

It's a 3.5 rounded up for me!

This book was fun! It shows a lot of promise in the first couple of chapters - the writing is very in your face and the humor certainly does humor. It’s very dry and sarcastic and I can appreciate that from time-to-time. Amber is a fun character and I grew to love the posse she finds in Vegas. Everyone is a nice addition to the story.

But. After a certain point in the story when you know exactly how things are gonna play out, the book gets redundant. It also slows down significantly. It’s never nice when, in a thriller of all books, you guess the plot twists and consider it slow. The humor and the character relationships were the only thing that kept me going during those lulls. And while it felt ‘slow’, I was still moving through the book pretty quickly considering the short chapters!

Would I recommend this? With some hesitation. It served as a great palette cleanser for me having read a lot of (YA) romances right before, but would I have picked this up otherwise? Probably not. I appreciated that it made my 4-hour flight a little less painful, but I wasn’t crazy for the book in the end. I’m honestly not even sure why I requested the ARC but hey, can’t really complain too much considering the rating.

Overall, Killing Me was a good time, but I was waiting for it to be a great time.

Killing Me by Michelle Gagnon is a great read. It was totally different than I expected it to be. It starts off really funny. It stays funny but there are so many parts that are filled with tension. At one point, I was even second guessing who the killer was. The secondary characters, Dot and Marcella were so strong and I loved reading about them. I’m really hoping there will be more books about Amber.

Killing Me is like a cool breeze on a sweltering summer day. Unexpected, completely welcome, and totally refreshing. Author Michelle Gagnon has crafted a nearly perfect crime novel, full of biting wit and crackling with tension.

Amber Jamison is minding her own business and living a (mostly) normal life, when she's abducted off the street by a masked serial killer. Just when death seems all but certain, Amber is rescued by a surly blonde Glamazon vigilante. Perfect, right? Now, Amber can get back to living her life. Except, she can't. Her mysterious savior has disappeared, but the whole circus has attracted a lot of attention, including that of the police, which is the last thing she needs. Somehow Amber has managed to escape the clutches of one killer, only to blunder into the reach of another. This one much more dangerous, more prolific. Amber is caught up in the middle of his deadly, decades long game; and he isn't playing with a full deck. Amber will need all the tricks she's learned along the way and the friends she's made to even have a chance of coming out on top. Because this time, the stakes have never been higher and this killer is playing for keeps.

I literally cackled out loud at least twice, in public, while reading this book. I also put off all my chores, ignored my pets, and eschewed television in favor of devouring this novel because it is just that good. It has something for everyone: humor, heart, tension, thrills, chills, passion, romance, and redemption. I can't recommend it enough. Thank you to Netgalley and Putnam for the chance to review this advance copy. Killing Me publishes on May 16, 2023.

Psychology student Amber is sure she’s toast when a serial killer with an absurd ritual snatches her. Luckily, a mysterious woman saves her. However, Amber, fearing her shady past will be revealed, goes on the run, landing her in Vegas, where another serial killer has set up shop.

The characters, particularly the women of Las Vegas, and the wonderfully bonkers plot provided plenty of opportunities for dark humor, making the story a fun read. Vegas, with its themed settings, feels like a fully fleshed out character, particularly with noir-themed motel owner Dot and street walker Marcella showing Amber around. I liked Amber’s backstory and criminal skills, and how she used her psychology background to make sense of her experiences. The LGBT elements work well as do the elements of obsession and addiction. In a genre filled with serial killer stories, the above described facets make the story feel fresh.

Be sure to check out the acknowledgments section where the author discusses experiences with writer’s block and getting unstuck, as well as how one of the story twists came about.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to G. P. Putnam’s Sons Publishers, an imprint of Penguin Random House, for providing an Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley.

3.5 stars rounded up. Amber Jamison is only months away from getting her college degree when she is abducted by a serial killer driving a white van. How did she become such a cliché?!

Fortunately, she is rescued by a mysterious masked woman before the killer can finish her off. Unfortunately, the FBI comes calling and Amber has to make tracks, given her sketchy past as a con artist. What better place to hide than Las Vegas?

But Amber's problems followed her to Sin City, and soon she finds herself teaming up with some unlikely companions -- the noir-obsessed manager of the seedy hotel where she's staying and a sex worker with a heart of gold -- to stop a second serial killer who is closing in.

The first couple chapters of Killing Me had me literally laughing out loud, and I knew I was in for a treat. This is a big-hearted, campy serial killer thriller that doesn't take itself too seriously, with a quirky, hot-mess heroine you can't help but root for (think Finlay Donovan or Stephanie Plum). It tackles some serious subjects, but in a mostly light-hearted, humorous way. The humor, though, is somewhat uneven, and after a rollicking start I found myself wishing for more comedic moments during the outlandish situations that occur later in the book.

Overall, Killing Me is a lot of fun and has excellent LGBTQ+ representation and some decent twists and turns. I'm definitely hoping for a sequel -- I'd love to ride along with Amber on her future misadventures. Thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the advance reading opportunity.

Well, I immediately need to go run out and buy every other book by Michelle Gagnon. "Killing Me" was such a great mystery with the BEST cast of characters and all sorts of weirdness (the best kind). I don't like comparing novels, but I felt like novel managed to strike the perfect balance of mystery and fun, similar to Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. I really, really hope that this is just the first in a series and I get to see all of these characters again soon!

Have you, like me, bemoaned the demise of the Spellman series by Lisa Lutz? Darynda’s “Charley Davidson” or any of The Guru’s less spooky missives (hey, Uncle Stevie!)? Do you appreciate the off-kilter believability of those scary-Florida geniuses, Hiaasen & Barry (Dave, that is)? Cackled -probably inappropriately- at wonder shows like “Barry”, “Killing Eve”, “Poker Face” or “Arrested Development”? Eat up the snarkiness, eye-rolling parts of our days? If so, kiddies - step right up; it’s gonna be a bumpy ride…. but a good, Disney-delight kind!

I had this book pop up on several “If you like that, you’ll like this” lists and sites, so thank you for starters to Netgalley & the publisher for this ARC. This is the first time in a good while that I have immediately wanted to write the review after desolately realizing I’ve come to the end of the book.

I don’t like delving into the storyline, giving a lot of detail. You can read that on the dustjacket (or for modern times, on the “About” link), so I will simply say that these are some of the most amenable, intriguing and thought-provoking characters I’ve seen in ages. The protagonist, Amber, is the ideal “blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light” character you want to root for, feed a dinner to fatten up & give a huge HIGH FIVE for the obstacles she’s overcome. That mindset holds true for pretty much the entire cast; the author has managed a hat-trick that I thoroughly enjoyed being on the field for! The pretty unique storyline, fast-paced narrative (love the quick insights to some of the minor characters) & WIT are top reasons for all to pick this tale up NOW.

All righty, kiddies - I’m off to creep this awesome new-to-me author’s backlist & anxiously peer out the curtain for that hinted sequel to come be-bopping down the road. Y’all have fun!

Free eARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher for reviewing purposes!

This book was pretty entertaining- a fun cast of characters, good action and suspense. It reminded me a little of the Natasha Lyonne show Poker Face- a main character with a past who's kind of a mess but trying her best, the Vegas setting, etc. It took me a little bit to get into it- this book was sitting at 12% read for about a month, but then I finished the rest in one sitting because once it got rolling, I really wanted to find out what happened next. Overall, a pretty fun ride, but I don't know that I'd be that excited to pick up a sequel if this turned into a series.

3.5 stars rounded up

This book started out so good but it got bogged down by details.

The initial plot of the book was super engaging and i loved the snarky and sarcastic humor of the main characters. However, halfway through the plot changed; from a black humor mystery to more of a thriller. The humor that was present in the beginning was scarce, and unfortunately I got bored.

This book puts a new spin on catching serial killers:
-A moody and sarcastic fmc
-wacky characters
-a las vegas setting
-noir references
-and some light murder

This wasn't my cup of tea, but its perfect for fans of a quirky and chaotic read about catching serial killers.

This was one wild ride of a story.  I thought I knew what I was getting myself into when I started it, but boy oh boy was I wrong.  But in a very fabulous way.

Amber has a lot going on, even before she's kidnapped by a serial killer.  She's almost done with her psychology degree and nearly broken free of her complicated past.  I knew I was going to like Amber from the very first page.  Despite her desperate circumstances, she always manages to find a bit of humor or sarcasm to fit the moment, temporarily lightening the mood.  She never gives up, however, and is determined to stop this serial killer.  Or literally die trying.  

The side characters are really what make this story.  Jessie, Marcella, and Dot do their best to give Amber a home and a place she might want to stay for the long term.  Grace, on the other hand, is unpredictable and keeps everyone on their toes, including Amber.  She really shakes up everything anytime she's anywhere near a scene.  

This is the first book I've read by this author, but I'm definitely going to have to seek out more of her work.  The writing style is easy and engaging, making the book fly by.  Also, I loved the humorous and modern point of view coming from Amber.  She has a very interesting view on the world colored not only by her past, but her present insane situation. When you add in all the little misdirections, the small things that make you stop and say, "Wait... what is really going on here?", you end up with a fun and yet still intense story about friendship and murder.