A great mix of humor and suspense. I loved the cast of characters and the casual queer representation? We love to see it.

I was slayed by this book and now I want to read it again to see what I missed the first time around. I feel like every time I got my footing I was tossed sideways into another script, and the author Michelle Gagnon did it beautifully that kept me guessing the whole time. I adore this was written in such a brilliant way with the perspective changes, all about this bad-ass woman who might just be a little crazy..or stupidly unlucky. I expected a few laughs based on the description, but I fully did not expect to be waking my husband up because I was laughing out loud so hard at the shenanigans that ensued. Killing Me is dark, unique, hilarious, twisted and action packed. The main characters were well written, but the accompanying characters were surprisingly charismatic and truly drove the story. I loved reading about Amber in this fast-paced, laugh-out-love thriller and I am now on the hunt for more books from Michelle Gagnon.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a sharp, slightly weird thriller that will keep readers on their toes with snarky humor and a sneaky serial killer. It's creative and a quick read.

I can honestly say that I have never read a book quite like this one before. Because of that, it also left me with mixed feelings at times. It was odd, definitely an odd story. Not your usual type of story which could be part of its appeal.
What a life Amber has led up to and including this time. If I'd known about the lesbian aspect in the story I probably wouldn't have chosen this book. But at least thankfully it wasn't detailed.
The people that show up in the story are detailed and interesting and the world building is really good.
The mystery woman who showed up as a serial hunter was just that..a mystery. And she remained that way for quite some time. Slowly we began to see how brilliant she was. Especially when it came to anything computers. Amber wasn't considered brilliant but she should have been because she learned to read people from the streets.
The murders and the chase was also well built. That sounds ghoulish when said about the murders but that was part of the story. So was the YEARS of the chase done by Mystery Woman. See, of course it comes out who Mystery Woman is but I'm not going to spoil it for the next reader by naming her here.
You know that saying about saving the best for last? This story did it with a bang and an unexpected HUGE plot twist and a great for some, ending.
So in the end I have to say that I liked it with some reservations.

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

This book is an absolute ball. I loved that we begin in the book with Amber, the main character, who is mad at herself because she foolishly got herself kidnapped and in the middle of a serial killers scheme. What kind of person gets mad at themselves for being abducted?! The whole vibe of this book is dark comedy, and I laughed out loud several times while reading it. It is a little bit thriller, a little bit mystery, extremely entertaining, and a lot of bit hard to put down. I was dying to know what happened. I loved reading the story in Amber's voice, I got a great sense of the type of person the author was trying to create. I also loved reading the side characters, especially Dot. It seemed like she was the best possible assistant to Amber in her hunt for the serial killer that was after her. I found this book so fun to read that I did not want to put it down, and it made for a super quick read. Loved that in the author's note there appears to be a sequel that is planned, I will definitely be snatching that up. I will recommend this book to all my friends!!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

I had no need of an audio for this book. My mind movie played this dialogue right along as I read it. Amber is definitely three dimensional, maybe delusional too. Every time she escapes one mess, she steps into another. Thank goodness she has friends to blame/ help. I've not read any of Gagnon's previous titles but based on KILLING ME, I've missed out some really good books. Library, here I come!

A serial killer book written with a side of humor. Such a fun story with a likable cast of characters lends to be quite a page-turner. Reminded me of the Finlay Donovan books by Elle Cosimano. Be ready for a wild ride with dialogue, non-stop action, and plot twists.
Highly recommend!

I received an eARC from the publisher and NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Killing Me
By Michelle Gagnon

This book begins with an abduction by a serial killer – and then it gets strange. The female protagonist is a 24 year old former con artist with a shady past named Amber Jamison…or so we are told. She is finishing up a degree in psychology – only two months from receiving her degree – when she is abducted. When the drugs wear off, she is in the throes of terror, discovering that her abductor has shaved her head and body and painted her blue. Just as he is about to finish her off, rescue comes from an unlikely quarter.

Amber's rescuer, Grace Cabot (Grimes), is actually the daughter of an incarcerated serial killer – and she has a twin brother named Gunther. It seems, according to Grace, that Gunther has followed in his father's footsteps over a number of years and hundreds of deaths – and her mission is to stop him.

From here, the plot gets weirder as the cast of characters expands: Dot Roux, rundown motel owner in Las Vegas; Jessie, Dot's close friend and competitor; Marcella, an addicted call girl; and various other Vegas characters including a group calling themselves the Fatal Femmes. What follows is a high stakes cat and mouse game.

Although this is not a book I would normally pick up, I must admit that I couldn't walk away from it. It held my interest right to the end.

Amber, a 24 year old college student and former grifter, wakes up to find herself bound and gagged in the back of a van. That's right, she's been abducted by a serial killer. Amber isn't scared though, she's pissed off. She likes to believe that she isn't the kind of woman that would get herself into this situation so she's really angry at herself for letting this happen.

Just when she thinks her life is inevitably coming to an end at the hands of a Pikachu loving madman a masked woman appears, saves her, and kills her abductor. Once she's finished she takes off leaving Amber to wonder who this woman is, where she came from, and how she found her.

Now the FBI is knocking on her dorm room door and Amber, with her sketchy past of conning people, needs to pack up and start afresh in a new city with a new identity.

What better place than Sin City, itself.

Here she befriends Dot, a motelier, and Marcella, a sex worker and life looks to be taking a turn for the better until her masked savior arrives informing her she's in danger again. Another serial killer has their eye on her and all these women must work together to take him down once and for all.

What a fun mad-cap adventure this was. The humor is on point and plentiful throughout. These characters are deeply flawed but so endearing at the same time. I loved them all. I definitely got Finlay Donovan vibes from this not only due to the zaniness of the situations they would find themselves in but because of the strong emphasis made on female friendship and supporting one another. Also props to the LGBTQ representation. These are women you will want to root for again and again and as luck would have it there looks to be a sequel in our future. 4 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group - Putnam for my complimentary copy.

wow, what a thriller, this was such a fun and unique thriller you're thrown right into the action with ambers kidnap, and her kicking herself for getting kidnapped. I don't think a thriller has ever made me so tense and laugh so hard, the characters were snarky and sarcastic a bit annoying at times but I think that is what made me love them. and I loved the Pokemon reference it was small but I loved it.

Amber, Killing Me's protagonist, can't catch a break. She comes face-to-face with not one, but two serial killers, and a past that she can't seem to shake. Michelle Gagnon crafts a cross-country narrative as a group of misfits tries to track down a serial killer.

The characters in Michelle Gagnon's Killing Me were trope heavy--a "not like other murder victims" protagonist, a sex worker with a heart of gold, and an "it's personal" vigilante--make up the core of the crew. These characters' backstories are revealed in a way that feels perfunctory. Killing Me starts at a breakneck pace and that's exactly how it ends, but getting there is a little slow. There are some twists that are almost immediately untwisted. By the end, I was pretty sure if Amber puked one more time, so would I.

There is so much in the book that is smart and interesting, particularly for such a quick read. I'm definitely interested in reading more from Gagnon because there's definitely something there!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This was a book that started off strong but faltered a bit by overcorrecting. It's a dark comedy thriller and that shines well in the first half but as we get closer to the story, the comedic tone falls away a bit which makes it feel a little dull (in comparison). Had they not had the comedy in the first half, I think the second half would have been perfectly fine. Overall I enjoyed the MC and the plot but I wish the story felt more balanced.

Ordinarily, I feel like this story would be told from the perspective of the brilliant, badass, detached serial killer hunter whose plan is derailed when the zany girl she saves decides to team up with her, teaching her that teamwork makes the dreamwork and it's okay to have emotions and friends. But! "Killing Me" flips the narrative, following the girl who was saved from a serial killer and how her life is turned upside-down by her almost-demise.

This is a fun, female-driven read full of noir elements, true crime devotees, and lovable Vegas locals. The story is a bit convoluted, which kept me on my toes – and the second I thought I had it figured out, Michelle Gagnon flipped the script yet again and had me wondering if maybe I'm not as good of an armchair detective as I tend to think I am.

I will say that because of the humor here (which is so welcome and fun), the stakes never felt all that high to me in this – but that was okay! Because sometimes we all just need a sort-of cozy, low-stakes thriller that'll keep you on your toes – but not awake at night.

lots of twists and turns in a deadly game of serial killer and psychopath, complex characters and an intense story make this a page turner and a must read!

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnum for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.
Amber Jamison is almost the next victim of a serial killer until an unexpected woman saves her. That is where the story takes a turn into a campy thriller.
We follow along as Amber goes on the run and meets a raucous cast of side characters.
The story was unique enough and fast-paced to keep me engaged. This story gives off the same vibes as Finlay Donovan. If you are a fan of that story, I would give this a try.
The ending of this book sets it up for a possible sequel. Killing Me is a fun ride worth your time.

Despite her seedy past, Amber is trying to live a “normal” life when she gets abducted by a serial killer. Before she can become his next victim, she’s rescued by a mysterious woman who seems to be some sort of vigilante killer hunter. Before she can get any more information, the woman disappears. When the FBI starts circling the case, Amber is forced to run from her past in a desperate attempt to hide who she really is. She lands in Vegas and when it seems like she’s become the target for yet another serial killer, she inadvertently teams up with a quirky motel manager and a sex worker. Who can she really trust and will her street smarts help her survive?

This was such a FUN and unique read. Every chapter had action and development that kept you wanting to flip the pages. The main character is eccentric and a total mess and parts of this book were laugh out loud funny. There were so many twists and turns at the end. I thought I knew what was going on but I was pleasantly surprised.

This was close to a 5 star read for me, but I took off a star because there were parts of the book where the pacing felt uneven and like it started to lose it’s grip on my attention.

I received this free ARC from netgalley for my honest opinion.

Happy Pub Day to Killing Me!

I had so much fun reading this book and it made me feel the same way I did when I read the first Finlay Donovan book by Elle Cosimano. The book opens with the same level of absurdity - A+ originality for the Pikachu murderer - and from there on it was the perfect blend of over the top ridiculous/campy fun that I could not put it down.

While this was a solid thriller/mystery, the characters are what made this truly a special book. Dot was everything and I loved seeing rule over Vegas as she cashed in favor after favor. Despite being polar opposites, Grace and Amber made a great team and I loved seeing them strategize to take down the bad guy.

I really hope the author writes more books following these characters! This is a great summer read and if you're looking for a darkly funny thriller definitely check out Killing Me.

Thank you NetGalley & Putnam for a review copy.

Happy Publication Day! Let me start by saying that there is absolutely nothing believable about this story. It requires full engagement of your suspension of disbelief. Let me follow-up by saying that I.did.not.care. - because it was such a fun ride! I wouldn't go so far as to say the MCs were likeable, but they weren't meant to be. They were well-drawn, snarky, stubborn, at times combative, and yet - funny. Likeability was found in spades in the supporting characters. All were well-written, and the chemistry between the characters, big and small, was palpable. The story sped by, and in the end I hated to leave Michelle Gagnon's quirky little world.

Other words that come to mind when thinking back on this story include sassy, fast-paced, twisty, quirky and - dare I say - a bit heart-warming. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the opportunity to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. I look forward to more from Michelle Gagnon.

Such an entertaining read! This story had it all - plot twists, humor, seedy Vegas motels, murder, a prostitute, and a bald girl named Amber.
I got some serious Carl Hiaasen vibes from this one and was completely hooked. 4.5/5 ⭐️

Killing Me by Michelle Gagnon ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A big thank you to @netgalley and @putnambooks for the ARC. Today is pub day for this book! 🎉

The description for this one claimed it was “utterly original and wildly entertaining [while being] laugh-out-loud funny.” I have to agree. This was a very original take on the thriller category, and I was entertained the entire time. I must also say that I chuckled quite a bit along the way.

The characters were the definition of a motley crew. Only in Vegas would this group of eclectic people find themselves tangled up, so I found the setting brilliant. I wanted a bit more from the characterization because I felt they could have been pushed further.

As for the plot itself, it was predictable. However, I didn’t think that detracted from the enjoyment as I was much more interested in what the characters were going to do next. It was also highly unrealistic, but maybe that’s also the magic of Vegas.

All in all, if you’re looking for a thriller that focuses more on laughs than twists, give this one a try.