I kept going back and forth on whether or not I liked this book. I got a hard copy from the library so I could read it again. My favorite part of Killing Me was the quirky side characters. I felt they had the most heart. Amber and Grace were not all that likable but Dot really made the story for me. This is about Amber who is taken by a serial killer. Grace rescues Amber and from here Amber decides to run away to Las Vegas. She meets a prostitute named Marcella and a motel owner named Dot. She doesn’t realize another killer has their sights on her… the premise is so good and this book could have been amazing. I found some flaws and wish the main character had some redeeming qualities in her personality but overall I did enjoy this book.

Killing Me has the best characters!!! I want to go drinking with them. Author has a new fan in me.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Amber Jamison is street-savvy. Her past has been rewritten and now she is a few weeks shy of graduating college. That is why she is pissed she is about to become the next victim of the Pikachu serial killer. She cannot believe she did not see the abduction coming. Just as she is afraid she will be killed, she is saved by a small woman who helps her escape.

Think this tale is over? Not by a long-shot. Through a series of misleading events, Amber is now on the run from life because she does not want to talk to the cops about her abduction. As she flees from TN to the west coast, she settles in Vegas where you can get lost in the crowd. However, that does not happen for her. Unbeknownst to her, one of the world's most prolific serial killers is hot on her trail. Amber is now part of a decades long game that always ends up with no survivors. Can she be the first?

Blog:
When I saw this on NetGalley, I was intrigued by the Final Girls-esque vibe – the women who would be the killer’s victims turning on him. I was skeptical I would find it humorous because, honestly, my funny bone is a little particular. But I actually found myself chortling on page one.

If you’re the type of person with an internal dialogue of self-deprecating humor about bizarre situations you find yourself in, then you’ll probably enjoy the sense of humor in this book. Regardless, you’ll be able to tell quickly if it’s for you or not, because the humor comes so quickly in the book, and that style is what’s present throughout the rest.

This is primarily told in the first person from Amber’s perspective, and she’s dry, acerbic, self-deprecating, but also whip-smart. (There are a few third person chapters that let us see things Amber doesn’t know about.) Amber is simultaneously problematic (she’s a con artist) and easy to root for. She’s richly three-dimensional. The main secondary characters are also rich and well-imagined. It would have been so easy to see a caricature of a sex worker, seedy motel owner, an Evangelical roommate, etc… yet they all are allowed to be more than what they might seem to be at first.

The Las Vegas setting rang very true to me. It depicted both the tourist bits and the seedier local areas quite well. I especially loved the run-down yet beloved film noir stylized motel as compared to the one recently made over to appeal to Gen Z and Millennials. That had me chortling.

I also really appreciated that this is a book whose main character is a lesbian but the plot has absolutely nothing to do with her being a lesbian. You could have almost the exact same book with a heterosexual main character. It’s just Amber so happens to like women. I like having this type of representation. It doesn’t always have to be about the difficulties of coming out or a romance to feature queer people.

The mystery itself was decent. The plot was certainly unique compared to other thrillers I’ve read, and I did not guess the ending. There was one twist that annoyed me only because it was solely a twist because Amber held something back from the reader. But I was willing to forgive it because she sort of breaks the fourth wall and acknowledges that she did it…which was funny.

I hope there’s a sequel, because I think there’s a lot left to explore with Amber, and she has a very interesting set-up at the end of the book.

Overall, I really recommend this to thriller lovers looking for something different. The humor and the plot really deliver.

GoodReads:
Who knew a serial killer thriller could also be a hoot and a half? I was both laughing and hooked into finding out what would happen from the very first page where our protagonist is maligning herself for being abducted by a serial killer.

Check out my full review.

*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*

Instagram:
My last read for #PrideMonth is a humorous thriller. (I didn’t even know such a thing exists.) Killing Me starts with Amber self-deprecating herself for being abducted by the Pikachu killer. I was chortling from the first page. But don’t worry, it quickly takes a turn to women outsmarting serial killers together. What’s the queer part? Amber is a lesbian. Check out my book blog for my full review. Thank you to the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for my honest review via NetGalley.
#bookalicious #thrillingreads #humorousbooks #lesbianreads #queerbookstagram

I could not get into this one, so sadly - it was a DNF for me. I have heard good things, so I know it was me.

This is definitely a good mystery mixed with humor via especially Amber who is so snarky, which is my favorite kind of character. She really added to the plot for me. She is kidnapped by a serial killer early on in the book. But without giving it away, she isn't only kidnapped by one serial killer in her lifetime. I generally don't find the genre of mystery "funny" but this one was, but it worked for me. I took it for how I felt the author wanted it to come across, so it didn't annoy me but it did make it more light-hearted which normally a serial killer plot is anything but. I mean, when you can kill two birds with one stone, why not?

I also liked that the pages flew by and it was a quick read without feeling slow. It had a coupe twists that were unexpected which I always love.

Michelle Gagnon's Killing Me is a quirky romp through a murder mystery. In it, we meet Amber Jamison. She comes from a family of grifters and is trying to escape that life by building a new one. She thought she had succeeded until she's grabbed by the Pikachu serial killer, who's all set to make her his sixth victim. But she's rescued by a badass woman. A mysterious woman who is reluctant to help Amber after she's rescued her. But one night, the FBI shows up and Amber makes a run for it, thinking that her past has caught up with her.

She decides to head west, and from a flyer left on her windshield, ends up in Las Vegas. There, she meets Marcella and Dot, who become her best friends. Turns out, Amber needs them to help escape another serial killer who has his eyes on her.

The characters are enjoyable. Amber is sassy, sarcastic, cynical and smart. Marcella is the prostitute with a heart of gold. Dot is hard, but once she takes a liking to you, your in. The story had a nice twist to it that left me doubting all I had thought about the outcome. Even though the pacing was a bit erratic, it was an all-around fun read.

#KillingMe #NetGalley

This was a fast paced enthralling read. I really enjoyed this author and look forward to more by this author.

Who doesn’t like some humor to go along with the thrills?! This is funny and fast paced. This vigilante read will have you swallow this book up quickly. Highly enjoyable read! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A very nice book by Michelle Gagnon. I’ve never read a book by this author before so I wasn't sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the story.

This book starts out with Amber being kidnapped by a serial killer and escaping, then fleeing to Vegas, only to find herself being hunted by another serial killer. I'd describe this as a comedic thriller, with a good twist near the end (I could hardly believe a book about serial killers could be lighthearted but still intense, but this nails it). It was a refreshing change from the typical dark thriller/mystery genre, and was an easy read that I didn't want to put down!

This story had suspense, colorful characters, and made me laugh at times. The author used a unique writing style for her main character. The setting was perfectly described, I felt I was there. Maybe there will be another adventure for Amber.

When I first started reading this book, I didn’t think it would be such a good time, but alas, here we are. Killing Me was witty, sarcastic, and a comedy of errors of a woman trying to escape multiple serial killers (and the friends she makes along the way).

This book had a couple of turns that weren’t totally unpredictable, but still very much appreciated. I felt like I knew there was always something new coming up, and it didn’t let me down. I’d definitely recommend this to people who love true crime/thrillers but also want a lighter read. It didn’t feel too dark, and it was a refreshing twist to the genre. Thanks to NetGalley for providing the arc!

Talk about a FUN book! Who knew books about serial killers, revenge, and a Pokémon fetish would be so entertaining!? Michelle Gagnon, you’ve made a fan out of me and I expect nothing less from you ever again. 😂

KILLING ME starts off with a bang, or should I say a kidnapping, and that’s only the first part of the story. When Amber Jamison is abducted in the most laughable way, she knows her life is nearing its end. However, right before her demise, she is saved by a mystery woman who doesn’t explain what her motives are by being a serial killer vigilante. When Amber is left with her serial killer dead and no explanation, she is left wondering what her next move would be. She has a past of her own that she worries will destroy her now that she’s involved with the investigation. Once Amber decides to escape to Las Vegas, she befriends a motel owner and a sex worker, creating a unique trio that lands in the crosshairs of another serial killer—Amber just can’t catch a break!

This was one of the funniest books I’ve ever read. This laugh-out-loud thriller was an expected surprise after reading back-to-back meh stories, so it’s a very refreshing read for me to say the least. I can’t WAIT to see what Michelle Gagnon has next for readers—I’ll be waiting!

Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons on May 16, 2023

Serial killer novels seem to be popular, despite the relative scarcity of real-world serial killers. Mass shooters are a more serious threat to society, but writers haven’t figured out how to turn them into interesting villains. They shoot, they get caught. No intrigue at all. Perhaps it is the scarcity of serial killers that makes them appealing to readers and writers.

There are enough serial killers in Killing Me to fill one of those cork board maps with colored pins that are connected by strings (or in this book, dental floss) to uncover patterns. Only one of the killers matters to the story, although the killer’s identity isn’t immediately clear.

The book begins with Amber Jamison painted blue, head shaved bald, and tied to a table. A serial killer is about to dismember her when Grace saves her. The map with all the pins belongs to Grace. She tracks serial killers but only because she’s chasing one in particular. She’s been chasing him for a long time. She’s obsessive about it. She’s obsessive about everything, including her diet and the unspoiled cleanliness of her home.

While Amber is grateful to be rescued, she has an attitude. Amber is Grace's opposite. Amber is messy. She enjoys fast food. It seems to Amber that Grace and the man she’s chasing are playing some sort of game with each other. Amber’s attitude isn’t improved when the suspected serial killer begins to stalk her. Amber is also worried that the FBI might be chasing her, given her checkered history as a con artist.

Amber ends up at a cheesy motel in Las Vegas before she realizes that she’s been manipulated to land at that destination. Amber doesn’t have friends before she arrives in Vegas, but she befriends the saucy motel owner and a hooker for whom Amber has the hots. The motel owner belongs to a group of women who make a hobby of investigating serial killers. Naturally, they’re thrilled to learn that Amber is being pursued by one. They’re less thrilled when they become targets.

The story is written in a breezy style that offsets its dark subject matter. Amber, Grace, and the man Grace is chasing all had difficult childhoods. The Vegas women are quirky and easy to like. Their feisty personalities add humor to the story.

The plot creates deliberate confusion about the serial killer’s true identity. The resolution doesn’t come as a shock, but the ambiguity worked by making me uncertain about how the novel might end. While the details that hold the plot together might not withstand close scrutiny (the odds of Amber journeying to exactly the right motel in Vegas, or in Vegas at all, nonwithstanding efforts to direct here there, are mighty slim), overthinking the story would cause its fun factor to evaporate.

The story moves quickly and the plot is sufficiently plausible to carry the reader to the story’s end. This isn’t the kind of book a reader will think much about after turning the last page. It’s fun while it lasts and that’s all that a beach read needs to be.

RECOMMENDED

This was such a fun spin on a serial killer story. Usually you follow an FBI agent on the hunt, not a potential victim who survived one serial killer only to be in another serial killers line of sight.

This book was a humorous story of surviving. The narrator, a serial killer survivor, was funny and kept the story from becoming too dark.

Amber is a college student and gets kidnapped. She is rescued by a woman that is very tough. Wherever Amber goes the rescuer follows her and sends her messages.
I enjoyed this book very much due to the humor included.
Thanks to the NetGalley for the ARC and to the publisher G.P. Putnam.

Amber was walking home when she gets kidnapped by the Pikachu killer. All of a sudden Amber is saved by ski mask girl when she kills the Pikachu killer. Ski mask girl lets Amber know she cleaned up the scene because Amber doesn’t want to deal with cops. Amber then gets a call from the FBI and decides she needs to say good bye to her life and move on. She heads to Vegas to work on her new start when shes all of a sudden being chased by another serial killer.
This is a quirky book and a very fast read. There were some twists in it that I wasn’t expecting. I really enjoyed this book and read it super fast!!

Serial killer suspense novel with a lot of heart and humor mixed in. This is the perfect read for fans of Stephanie Plum (Janet Evanovich) or Finley Donovan (Elle Cosimano). Amber Jamison is the latest victim of a serial killer who she is able to escape from with a little help. Most people would be thrilled to have survived, but this puts Amber in an even more precarious position. She is forced to flee and ends up in Las Vegas. There are many twists and turns in this novel, it will constantly keep the reader guessing, and this is its strength, along with a fun cast of characters. I would follow Amber on further adventures and thought this novel was very entertaining.

I absolutely loved the tone of the MC in this one and the wild plot was quite entertaining. I couldn't set it down, found it really original and loved all the twists. Thank you so much to Putnam for the ARC of this one.