This journey with our heroine was quite an adventure! I was hooked on page one and stayed hooked til the last page!
I loved all the eccentric characters our heroine ends up involved with...the thriller and suspense aspects were on point and the end had me questioning everything!
Both exciting and chilling but also laugh out loud funny with these characters!
A Five Star Read...Highly recommend!

This book was so much fun! It was a great combination of humor and suspense. I really enjoyed the quirky characters. I hope the author wasn’t kidding about a sequel, because I can’t wait for it! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Maybe I’m in the minority, but I really didn’t love this book. I felt like I was pushing myself to read it and not enjoying it much. Once I got to the 50% mark, I figured I would just try to grin and bare it and fly my way through the last half of the book.

There were some parts that I liked, and at some points I felt myself getting into it, but then something would take me right out of it again. I didn’t love the main character, I didn’t love the writing style, or the “quirkiness” that it had to it. I felt like there were too many twists and turns and “gotcha!” moments that were trying to leave the readers unsure of what the truth was. I didn’t like how there were a bunch of secrets that were hinted at and referenced to multiple times but we (the readers) weren’t told until we were nearly done with the book. I really didn’t care that much at that point what your past was like.

It was definitely something original and unlike other books I’ve read, so I’ll give it that, but it definitely wasn’t my favorite.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the eARC.

FIVE MASSIVE STARS!! Okay but seriously, I absolutely loved this book. It's the current front runner for the best thriller I've read this year and I don't see how it's not making my top overall books of 2023. ⁠
First, the story is so original. Our MC is kidnapped by a serial killer in the first chapter, escapes (this is not a spoiler if you read the description), then mayhem ensues. And that feels like an understatement.⁠
Second, the cast of characters was brilliant. What a unique lineup of (mostly) lovable people. They were so flawed and authentic, and they brought this story to life. ⁠
And finally, the pacing of the book was perfect. It was witty, laugh-out-loud funny, and brilliantly written.

Sometimes with thriller books that have a lot of darkly dramatic and suspenseful plot lines, I get annoyed by how implausible it all seems. This wasn’t written in a super serious manner though; it’s written from the viewpoint of a sarcastic and darkly funny 24-year-old. The tone of the book made all of that work in this case, and made for a very fresh read.

The synopsis doesn’t tell us much for a reason - you want to go into this fresh. Amber was drugged and kidnapped by a serial killer (this is the opening scene in the book) and right as she’s ready, albeit pissed off, to die, a
miracle happens. A strange woman in a ski mask comes in and saves the day, then disappears. Amber doesn’t go to the police because of “her past” (which is actually interesting and at times, touching), so she decided leaving town was the right choice to make.

Eventually, for a variety of reasons, she finds herself driving to Las Vegas. Soon after arriving, she meets her two new best friends: the owner of a seedy motel, and a sex worker who lives there. Sex workers aren’t allowed to bring work home at this motel though, so most women go to a nearby even crappier motel to make their money. That motel becomes the scene of a murder, and that’s when things REALLY get crazy…

I’m dying to say more, but I can’t! This was super fast-paced and I thought the characters were well written and at times, even heartwarming. The story was suspenseful from page one, and I was going to give this a 4 or 4.5 star rating… then I got to the ending. There were tons of great twists, and the story was also wrapped up neatly for those who cared about the characters. The author hinted at a sequel in the epilogue, and I AM HERE FOR IT! Five stars.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

(Thank you to Penguin Group - Putnam, Michelle Gagnon, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on May 16, 2023.)

Thank you #NetGalley and #PenguinGroup for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

Killing Me is a fast moving roller coaster of a thriller. Amber Jamison is a bit a con artist, but trying to get her life back on track by going to college to study psychology. One night she's grabbed and thrown into a van by a serial killer but rescued in the nick of time by a mysterious woman, whose motives are unclear. Her rescuer kills her attacker, but then just disappears. When law enforcement starts investigating Amber decides to pack up and head out to Las Vegas and start anew, staying in a seedy motel while resuming some of her favorite cons to earn some money. But then ANOTHER serial killer is after her...

Of course the mysterious woman who saved her before shows up and complicates things. Amber also befriends a number of quirky characters in Vegas (a prostitute and crime obsessed motel manager to name a couple) to help her figure out what's going on. To add any more details would spoil things. Hope the author is planning a series featuring this LBGTQ heroine. Recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of "Killing Me" by Michelle Gagnon. I had never heard of this book or the author, but the description was a draw to me. I love murder mysteries and humor can be hit or miss within a tense book, but I also like it when humor hits-this one did. I look forward to reading more from this author. I really liked the writing style and the "voice" of the book.

This was fun, kinda crazy & very a different take on the murder mystery gente. It’s a completely outrageous plot line, but I think that’s what made it so entertaining and hard to put down. I have to admit that twist at the end got me - I really didn’t know why to believe! Overall, this was a very enjoyable read & I would recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Killing Me is a phenomenal thriller from start to finish. It brilliantly blends thriller and comedy in the most perfect way. Filled to the brim with twists and a captivating plot, this one is sure to keep readers hooked. The characters are well-developed. The story is incredibly fast-paced. This is one not to be missed! Highly recommended! Be sure to check out Killing Me asap.

I have very little to complain about with this book. This was an ARC from Netgalley for me and I read the description and thought it was right up my alley, and sure enough, it was. It was well-written, well-plotted out, and the characters were top-notch. Amber was a great narrator and I did believe in her story. It was detailed, funny, and very dramatic at some points. The supporting cast of characters was awesome. Dot and Marcella were a blast and Jessie was a solid add-on.

I just have to say that the plot of this book was one I've never even thought was possible or a thing, It was original and while there are a lot of survivor books out there (fictional, specifically) there aren't that many where the victim becomes the hunter and I appreciate Amber taking matters into her own hands. Overall, a solid, fun, and exciting read. It is a can't-put-down read, so go forth and enjoy the heck out of it.

Amber Jamison, a former con artist, is abducted by a Pikachu obsessed serial killer. As the killer is painting her blue and shaving her head she is saved by a vigilante wearing a ski mask. This turn of events causes her to team up with the serial killer hunter and a random group of characters in Vegas to find a big time serial killer.
This cast of characters is so interesting, both caring and hilarious. Amber, Dot, Marcella, and Grace are a group of women you don’t want to mess with!
Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam Books for a copy of this eARC.

Killing Me by Michelle Gagnon. This satisfying yarn is a genre-defying pop thriller featuring aspects that may appeal to a broad range of readers. The story is elevated by a sprinkling of unusual perspectives and intriguing characters.

I enjoyed this story. It combines multiple genres and is nicely paced, well-written book that introduced engaging characters, has a nicely-wrapped ending and held my interest. A number of things (e.g., events, insights) occur during the course of the story that I wasn't expecting. The beginning hooked me, as a different take was used than those which I've often experienced. Nicely done.

This is the first book I've read by this author. As with all new-to-me things that I enjoy, I plan to look up her past and future projects. It's my understanding that the author is planning to write another book featuring this character, a prequel, which I look forward to reading.

Overall rating: 3.5 stars.

Oh dear God a serial killer novel that causes you to giggle out loud at the most inappropriate times, who knew this is what you needed to escape.

"Out of everything that had happened, this felt like the biggest violation. I'd spent all day afraid. Now I was pissed off. "That fucking asshole. I look like a Smurf after chemo."

Loved all the characters and the use of noir films, books and even Vegas became a character to move the story.

Fantastically fun and disturbing at the same time.

This was a good book, but it wasn’t for me. I’m personally just not into comedy books and this was like your perfect sitcom show. I couldn’t take the “thrill” seriously.

I did like the relationships and friendships that developed throughout. It was heartwarming and the character development was great.

One thing I will say was that I was not expecting the ending and I was almost fooled (if you know, you know)

This book has got that kill bill vibe with a true crime twist. It was amusing and witty. Another fun little fast read! Thank you to the publisher for letting me read this on netgallery.

Amber Jamison has endured a lot in her life. The grifting lifestyle of her parents, abandonment by them as a teen, eventually turning her life around, so close to earning her degree. But finding herself abducted by a possible serial killer takes the cake.

Killing Me by Michelle Gagnon is a crazy ride from start to finish. Both funny and dark with wonderful companion characters, this was a really fun read with tension and action ramping up toward the end. I look forward to more antics from these characters in the next book of this series. 3.5/5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this complimentary ARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I devoured this in one sitting after the first chapter hooked me. I can't really explain the appeal of this book without likening it to Dexter if it was a drama-dy. It's equally a thriller as much as it's a comedy. I love the endless cast of female characters. The puns and jokes. It was well thought out and entertaining as hell, even if the ending was super predictable I would recommend!

When I first started reading again, I was looking for thrillers with a little bit of humor. To my surprise that would be a difficult thing to find. When I saw the description on Netgalley, I knew I HAD to read this book. I am so thankful to NetGalley, Michelle Gagnon, and Penguin Group Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons for gifting me the ARC of this book.

I truly enjoyed the banter between the characters and how the Las Vegas scenes were written ( I felt like I had been there before). I loved all the characters and their background stories too. This book is funny, faced paced, and full of surprises! The only thing, I would change is keeping the pace of the sassiness throughout the remaining half of the book. Aside from that, I couldn't wait to finish the book to see what happened but also, I wished it would never end. I hope to read more thriller & humor books by Michelle Gagnon. I'm a new fan!

She escaped a serial killer. Then things got weird.

Amber Jamison cannot believe she’s about to become the latest victim of a serial killer—she’s savvy and street smart, so when she gets pushed into, of all things, a white windowless van, she's more angry than afraid. Things get even weirder when she’s miraculously saved by a mysterious woman…who promptly disappears. Who was she? And why is she hunting serial killers?
You’d think escaping one psychopath would be enough, but Amber’s problems are just beginning. Her close call has law enforcement circling a past she’s tried to outrun. So she’s forced to flees across the country, ending up at a seedy motel in Las Vegas with a noir-obsessed manager and a sex worker as her unlikely companions...and danger right behind. She’s landed in the crosshairs of the world’s most prolific killer, caught up in a deadly game that’s been going on for years. To survive, she's forced to dust off her old playbook and partner with someone she can’t trust. The odds are against her, but sometimes you just have to roll the dice.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5438289869

KILLING ME by Michelle Gagnon opens with Amber Jamison narrowly escaping a serial killer by the skin of her teeth—and with the help of a mysterious woman. With her own secrets to hide, and law enforcement a little bit too close to comfort, Amber flees to Las Vegas. Then she discovers that another, more sinister killer has her as their next victim.

I love a good, fun thriller. Amber is a hilarious protagonist, a bit of a mess but strong in hot water. I liked the characters, I liked the banter, and I liked the quick pacing. The best part was the ambiance: a noir-themed backdrop of seedy motels, questionable characters, and Vegas grit and glitz. It's a little on the wacky side; the dark humor may not be for everyone, but there's a good balance of serious emotions that gives the plot and characters some realistic depth.

This is an easy read, perfect for those who like thrillers that don't take themselves too seriously.

Thank you to G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I think as the first book in a series, this works very well.

When I was reading it, I wasn't sure if this was intended to be a stand-alone book or the beginning of a series, and frankly, I wasn't sure it worked at all as a stand-alone. The concept is interesting enough and the characters are, for the most part, distinctive and fun, but there is <i> a lot </i>of table-setting in the book. Something close to the first two-thirds (more than half for sure) of the book seems like its dedicated to establishing characters and moving them around the chessboard before the big climax. The issue is that there's very little plot movement while this is happening. We're just kind of hanging out in Las Vegas with colorful characters while a mystery lightly simmers below the surface like its the first ten minutes of a Murder She Wrote or something.

But when the book does shift gears it really gets going. The mystery comes together, and the Vegas setting is put to much better use, giving the atmosphere an almost <i>Poker Face<i> vibe, and the stakes and drama are ratcheted up. The book goes from a nice leisurely read to a real page-turner in the last fifteen percent or so of the story, which if nothing else, is the perfect time for a book to peak.

I look forward to the next story in this series now that the characters have been established. I think there is a lot of potential.

I want to thank NetGalley and PenguinGroup Putnam for my ARC copy.