This was a delightful read. Loved the Vegas scenes and people. Interludes were fun POV shifts. I had a great time

OK, so I want to see a lot more of these two women. Amber and Grace need to find another reason to work together. There were so many wonderful, strong, and quirky characters in this book that I felt I knew them. These are the kind of people who you need a follow up on.

This was a truly original group. Start off already abducted by a serial killer? And that isn’t even the real story. Who runs after being saved from certain death…from the cops? Someone with something to hide. A crazy serial killer that Criminal Minds wouldn’t even try to pull off barely makes it past the beginning of the book. Amber runs fast and ends up in the seedier side of Las Vegas (which is saying something). She meets the exact right people and plans how she is going to rebuild her life. But her past comes back in a way she wasn’t expecting.

I could not put this one down.

This book reminds me of Finley, Donovan, and I loved it. It was just enough of a thriller to keep me entertained, but it was also really funny and not too scary. The twist at the end also completely had me guessing it was great all the way to the last page. Definitely looking forward to reading more by this author.

You know when you have a book for months, just never get around to reading it, and then finally do read it and wonder what took you so long!? Yeah, that’s me with this book. Killing Me is the perfect blend of humor and suspense and I absolutely LOVE the Vegas motel setting. Our main character Amber “made” the book for me; she is still sassy as ever, even after surviving a serial killer. Amber surrounds herself with a group of truly bad ass women. I love that basically all of the characters in this book are women and they band together in this really bizarre situation. You’ve got the mysterious, vigilante woman who saves Amber’s life; the older, motherly motel owner and her quirky best friend; and the sexy prostitute who has had the worst string of bad luck. Killing Me gave me some strong Nancy Drew, Dexter, and Finlay Donovan vibes. I highly recommend it!

Thanks to Penguin Group/Putnam for the gifted book in exchange for my honest review.

The best words I can use to describe this book are zany and unhinged. None of it makes any sense, but you’re along for the ride. If you like your heroines with a heavy dose of hot mess and a sprinkle of eye rolls, you’ve found the right book.

About to become the next victim of a serial killer who dresses up his victims like Pokémon, our main character is suddenly saved by a mysterious woman who kills her would-be killer. Is it too much to ask her savior’s name? Or why she saved Amber when she couldn’t care less whether Amber lives or dies?

Full of dark humor that sometimes veers toward too dark, it’s unique. Too long and plodding, but interesting enough.

With Killing Me, Michelle Gagnon has crafted a wholly-original take on the vigilante narrative. In her own unique style—which incorporates a blend of both light slapstick and dark humor—Gagnon captures the readers attention from page one and refuses to let go of that chokehold until the final pages are turned. Somehow Michelle Gagnon has managed to write a serial killer novel that will appeal to readers for whom that genre is often too horrific to face.

The action set piece that opens Killing Me is one for the ages. Before the cover is cracked, Amber Jamison has been abducted by The Pikachu Killer—and I’ll leave it to readers to discover the origins of that moniker in the text—and in addition to fearing for her life, she spends plenty of time ruminating on just how the hell she got into this stupid situation. After some time confined in a basement (was it an hour, days?), Amber is rescued when a mysterious—and super sexy—woman bursts into the basement to confront this menace to society. The fact that her safety was an unexpected byproduct of some accidental occurrences doesn’t exactly sit well with Amber, but she won’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

What is immediately clear from these first pages of Killing Me is that Amber’s voice is going to be one of those rare points-of-view in crime fiction that is both compelling, enlightened, and entertaining in equal measure. Readers will just feel the unwavering desire to spend time with Amber—this quirky lesbian who seems both confident and confounded simultaneously.

Now, readers wouldn’t be remiss in wondering how the novel will continue since the culprit is captured in the early pages. But rest assured, Michelle Gagnon has only just begun to weave her web. You see, Amber has a past that she’s trying desperately to overcome, forget, and/or escape, and the fact that the FBI are now hot on her trail to question her about The Pikachu Killer is putting a cramp in her style. So much so, that she flees West and finds herself in a seedy motel outside Las Vegas, looking for a new identity. This is when Killing Me really takes off.

Forming her own Scooby Gang with a Vegas prostitute, a hardened hotel manager, and her mysterious (and super sexy) benefactor, Amber must confront yet another serial killer—this one more deadly than even she understands. To say any more would be a spoiler, but Michelle Gagnon has packed the narrative with unforeseeable twists, unexpected humor, and an abundance of heart.

Readers will reach the end of Killing Me shocked by late developments and eagerly hoping this is only the beginning of a new, beloved crime fiction series. Even after the last page is turned, the voice of Amber lingers. Whether you are a fan who discovered Michelle Gagnon back with her excellent debut, The Tunnels, or maybe the YA Don’t Let Go trilogy, or you are a newcomer to her work now, you will finish Killing Me feeling like you’ve made a new friend—in both Amber and Michelle.

Thank you to NetGalley, Michelle Gagnon, and G.P. Putnam's Sons for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I never laughed so much while reading a thriller/serial killer book. Amber is hysterical. She is one of my favorite FMC ever.

"When I came to, I was bound up like a sushi roll."

"Imagine a surveillance video )not that there were any in this podunk town) of me getting catapulted into a van by a guy's ass."

I loved how fast-paced this was. I kept going back and forth on who to trust. I would say that's who it is, and then I would get suspicious about another person.

This is definitely a book I will reread.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the concept of this book and how it’s set up. The story follows a college aged girl named Amber who get taken by a serial killer only to discover there’s so much going on that she has no idea about! I really enjoyed the built up suspense and the twists were perfectly timed and really got me thinking. All the characters and locations were well developed, the humor was spot on, and I couldn’t wait to get to the end to see what would happen! If you’re into psychological thrillers and suspenseful mysteries, check this book out!

“Killing Me” by Michelle Gagnon follows Amber, a woman who has reinvented herself to escape her past. Her new identity seemed to be going pretty well, until she gets abducted by a serial killer. Amber thinks she’s going to die, but a woman swoops in and saves her- but this is where things get weird. Her savior is hunting a different serial killer- and now that serial killer is after Amber… A quirky and somehow fun thriller, you won’t want to put this one down!

One of the best things about this book is the pacing. Gagnon hit that perfectly. We never have to sit and wonder for too long what’s coming next, because this book never stops packing punches. Between clues and thrills, we meet a cast of extremely differing and interesting characters that keep the plot engaging.

While this book was entertaining, it wasn’t a huge puzzle to solve. There were moving pieces, but the mystery itself was pretty cut and dry, especially once all the main players were established. BUT that didn’t stop me from enjoying this read. Gagnon’s writing is entertaining throughout, making this a fast read.

In the end, I gave this book a solid 3 stars. I enjoyed it and feel like now I need to check out Gagnon’s backlist of books.

Thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the ARC in exchange for my honest review! This book is out now!

This book immediately grabbed my attention and took me for a wild ride. So many twists and turns. I truly did not know what would happen next

4.5 ⭐️
This was not what I expected, but in the best way! It was gripping, funny, witty, and had peak friendship vibes. The only reason it isn’t a full 5 stars is the ridiculousness that is the Pikachu killer at the beginning.

Funny, smart book. Very satirical. I thought it would be a nice slow read, but I read it in a couple of sittings. The writing style just flowed and the characters were amusing. It was a refreshing different read from most books currently available.

#NETGALLEY. #KILLINGME. #MICHELLEGAGNON

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.

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.