Michelle Gagnon's Killing Me is a suspenseful thriller with a bit of humor added in to make sure the story doesn't get too bogged down with darkness. The story begins in Johnson City, Tennessee with Amber Jamison being kidnapped by a serial killer. Amber, which isn't her real name, has a rather colorful past that she is trying to hide from. She's a con-artist who made a bad mistake which led to her arriving in Tennessee hoping to change her future. So, for Amber to be taken in broad light by the so called Pikachu Killer is just the perfect ending to a rather messed up life of mistakes.

Then the curious happens. After being shaved of all her hair, and painted blue, a woman wearing a mask shows up out of nowhere and saves her from becoming just another victim. Apparently, the woman was tracking the killer and arrived just in the nick of time to save Amber. Because Amber isn't as innocent as she seems, she has long history running cons--first with her parents and then on her own, until it ends in tragedy, Amber decides to pack her things and run away when an FBI agent comes sniffing around her door.

A short time later, Amber ends up in Las Vegas, drawn there by ads left on her windshield, where there has been 3 victims so far, and Amber hopes she didn't make the biggest mistake of her life. Upon arrival, Amber befriends a woman named Dot who is part of a group known as Fatal Femmes. They are citizen sleuths trying to solve a series of murders. When Amber receives a warning, along with an envelope with her name on it, it seems as though yet another serial killer has taken an interest in her. An interest that might collect the women who she quickly becomes friends with, including Grace Grimes whose father was a serial killer

Killing Me is propelled by the push-pull relationship between its two compelling female protagonists whose father was a serial killer. This story can be compared to Hustlers meets Killing Eve. Morally ambiguous women are more popular than ever, and readers will love the wary friendship at the center of the read. Strong characters, including our protagonist, Amber and vigilante, Grace, drive a distinctive and quirky plot. The chemistry slowly builds between these two women, making the book even better.

*Note* The overall story is interesting, and twisted, but it is time to walk away from authors who push personal feelings and politics into their stories.

The premise of this book is what drew me in- a thriller with a comedic edge? I had to see if the author could pull that off. Honestly, I didn’t really think so.

All the quirky humor happened in the first bit of the book and then fell off, which made the book feel a little disjointed. That was pretty disappointing to me because the first part really drew me in and had me excited for where the story would go.

I felt that the characters were one dimensional. I read this over the course of two days and on day two when I was finishing it up I couldn’t remember who one of the characters was AT ALL.

I really did not like the romance. It seemed like an afterthought and was I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why they were together. The fact that Marcella drugged Amber at one point and that didn’t end things on the spot is just not okay. I’m not sure if we were really supposed to root for them.

Overall, this wasn’t for me.

I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

From the very first sentence of Killing Me by Michelle Gagnon, I was laughing. This mystery thriller is highly entertaining and hilarious. I loved the over the top shenanigans of Amber, Grace and these characters of Las Vegas. Thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Random House/ G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the ARC.

This was fun and zany, and I enjoyed it. I would be interested in reading more if it became a series.

After surviving being kidnapped by a serial killer, Amber leaves Tennessee. When she arrives in Las Vegas, weird things start to happen and the person who rescued her shows up. Amber then realizes that she is in the hairs of another serial killer and needs to find a way to stay alive.
Opinion
Within the first few chapters, I was talking to my friends suggesting they buy this book. I was so captured by the plot that I literally cold not keep the story from flowing out of my mouth to anyone who would listen. Like any great book, this one has a great twist at the end that I did not see coming. This has the potential to become a book that I read again and again looking for clues that I missed.
This book is definitely going on my favorites list of 2023.
Many thanks to Net Galley and to Penguin Group for providing me with an ARC of this book.

3.5 stars, rounded up

This is a fun, unique book that kept me invested and entertained throughout.

College student Amber Jamison has been abducted by a serial killer. She has almost resigned herself to the fact that there's no way out of this situation when out of nowhere, a woman wearing a ski mask appears and kills her abductor. Against all odds, Amber is freed by this mystery woman and warned to keep silent about what happened. After a strange visit from a man claiming to be an FBI agent, Amber knows that she needs to disappear fast. Because Amber isn't as innocent as she seems, she has long history running cons--first with her parents and then on her own, until it ends in tragedy. She heads to Las Vegas for new ID and to lay low, and discovers that the ski mask woman seems to be following her. Why?

This book definitely requires some suspension of disbelief, but overall it's such a wild ride that it's easy to do. Amber is a likable character and is surrounded by a cast of supporting characters that the reader can root for and hate if the situation calls for it. There's a large amount of sarcasm and humor, and the pacing is on point. The book never slows down so that the reader gets too bored. However there are times that the fast pacing is a detriment, because we never really get a good feel for the backstory leading to the whole ordeal.

That said, this is a fast, fun, snarky read that thoroughly entertains.

Completely wild book! Our MC is kidnapped and it looks like she will be assaulted and killed… but she’s not. A mysterious woman saves her, and is kinda rude about it. Our MC is on the run because she doesn’t want to be questioned by the FBI. This is just the very beginning!

This book is truly a wild ride, where you never know what to expect. You certainly will not see what is coming next!

Michelle Gagnon strikes just the right balance between quirky humor and creepy serial killer thriller in her new book, Killing Me. For it to work, the characters must be likable despite their quirks - at least for me. Gagnon gets it right with Amber. Her back story is perfectly rendered and makes her current situation make sense. My only complaint is the number of times Amber pukes - all.the.time. Enough already. It's so hard to balance thriller-level suspense with humor. Many authors try, and few succeed. I don't know how to describe that magic, but I know it when I read it.

The broader cast of characters (quite a few) in this novel is engaging and fun (except the serial killer, of course - they are total creepo). I read an ebook version and had to search names a few times to remind me who was who - but I often do that with books.

Most of the story takes place in Las Vegas, and Gagnon captures the seedy and opulent elements well. I enjoy novels with a strong sense of place, and Killing Me gets bonus points for making me feel that Las Vegas vibe.

If you enjoy funny thrillers, try Killing Me. Keep going if you connect with the story in the first few chapters. The tone and pace are consistent throughout, so you'll know fast if this one is for you or not.

I'm looking forward to the sequel (which the author sort of promises at the end of the book).

Thanks to NetGally for an electrinc ARC in exchanfe for a review.

The author Michelle Gagnon is a new author to me.I read the description and thought,"why not" I love serial killer books. Well hang on to your hats folks because this book turned out to be so much more than I expected.

Amber Jamison is abducted by a serial killer on her way to back to her apartment. The thrill ride begins there when she wakes up in the back of a van, tied up and berating herself for being "so stupid" like all the other girls who get killed by a serial killer. Soon she realizes that the Pikachu killer has her, but she ends up by getting rescued by an unknown vigilante. The story takes on a cat and mouse kind of plot where she is being pursued by another serial killer with her rescuer. Resorting to old school tactics with secrets of her own the adventure takes twists and turns with a comedic element that surprised but delighted me. An original take on a thriller genre that was just perfect for the broken heroin that I always seek.

Michelle Gagnon did an awesome job with an excellent plot and colorful characters that made me want to read more. I hope this author considers a sequel because I would so read it in a heartbeat. Kudos on an awesome read!I would highly recommend this book to anyone who like a lighthearted killer story with heart.
#NetGalley
#KillingME
#PenguinGroupPutnumBooks

Laugh out loud moments AND serial killers?? Yes, please!!

The girls are hilarious and witty and find themselves in many situations.

This book is fast paced and full of action so definitely do not skip this one!

Thank you NetGalley for a chance to read and review.

Amber Jamison, a "retired" con artist is about to become the latest victim of a serial killer. That is until she is rescued by a mysterious woman who disappears as quickly as she appeared to save Amber. Amber then goes on the run (with 2 months left of college) to avoid answering any questions about her shady past. She heads to Vegas where she befriends Dot, a noir-obsessed hotel manager, and Marcella, a hooker with a bit of a drug problem. Unfortunately, it seems like she narrowly escaped one serial killer for a more prolific one and Amber is caught up in a deadly game of cat and mouse. She stretches her old con artist muscles and pairs up w/ mysterious woman who saved her in order to survive.
OMG, was this ever amazing and so funny! And it seems this may be the start of a series. At least I'm hoping it is because I could not get enough of this book. Hated to put it down!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for this e-arc.*

Thank you Netgalley and Putnam for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

This book hooked me from the beginning, a woman who escaped a serial killer seconds from being murdered runs away without a scratch on her besides being painted blue and her head shaved. Before people could start asking questions she runs away to start over. Planning to go to California for a fresh start, Amber ends up in Vegas and somehow teams up with a mysterious woman, a hooker, and a hotel owner along with half the strip of Vegas to hunt another serial killer!

I honestly haven’t read anything like it. A thriller that is also a comedy? I was sucked in from the first chapter and it had a fast pace to it however, in the middle it started becoming more of a slow burn. It started off strong with the faced pace and there were twists you don’t see coming, and it is definitely a one of a kind story!

I think the Vegas Strip was a perfect setting for this story, it was unpredictable and brought the most unlikely people together. I felt that there were some spots it kind of dragged on, and there were some parts that didn’t really fit in and got away from the plot. But overall it was a quick read and it was enjoyable!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book.

It isn't bad enough that Amber Jamison has been kidnapped by a serial killer and is about to become his sixth victim. No, she gets rescued by a strange woman who accidentally kills the serial killer and then instructs Amber to disappear and not mention her to the police, if they should question her. Then the woman vanishes.

A few days later, the FBI want to talk to Amber, but she has a complicated past and can't face them, so she, too, vanishes. Then she starts getting text messages from her rescuer. And then things get REALLY weird.

She finally ends up in Las Vegas, where women have been being killed by a supposed serial killer, too. Is she living in some kind of alternate universe? Does she just attract serial killers?

With the help of some new-found friends, Amber and her mystery woman finally end the latest killer's spree.

You don't often find humor in thrillers but Michelle Gagnon gives us both! Amber should be the 6th victim of a serial killer but is saved by a mysterious woman instead. After fleeing to Las Vegas to hide from her past, she finds herself in harms way of yet another serial killer. Amber must fight to survive and Gagnon adds a twist at the end that I didn't see coming. Another book is on the way as well.

A fresh, quirky, fast-paced story with interesting, snarky, original characters; I was hooked from page one. Amber Jamison is abducted by a serial killer but saved "in the nick of time" by a mysterious young woman who then disappears, not wanting thanks or credit. When the FBI shows up looking for Amber, she is worried her dark past has caught up with her and she takes off across the country, ending up in Las Vegas, on the radar of another serial killer. Amber realizes she won't be safe until the killer is stopped and finds herself working with the mystery woman and a crew of unique Vegas women to bring him down. Great combination of humor and action, I couldn't put this book down.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Putnam for this advance reader copy - this one is due in stores in just a few days, this Tuesday 5/16!

Wait until you READ this opening - holy moly does this one start out strong and drag you in. If you’re a thriller lover like me, I look for a few elements - a few giant twists, a fast moving plot and a unique storyline. This one starts off really strong, but then does develop a bit more of a slow burn….despite that, I still found it enjoyable. This one doesn’t have any huge reveals, but when Amber, our main character, helps Grace figure out what’s going on with the killer, it’s a very unique reveal. I was going to land on three stars, but upgrading it because I can honestly say, this storyline was so different than anything I’ve ever read before. It was a lot of thrillers, but this one was super unique, and I did enjoy it! In the acknowledgements, the author mentions we’re getting a sequel! I’d definitely see that. This also does have some LGBTQA+ representation, which is always great to see in storylines.

Thank you again NetGalley and Putnam for this ARC - go pick a copy up this week!

24-year-old Amber Jamison just wants to put her past behind her. Live life on the straight and narrow, finish her final papers and earn that college degree, maybe even meet a nice girl and get that white picket fence.

Instead she wakes to find herself bound, completely shaved, and painted blue, the latest victim of the bizarre Pikachu Killer, a serial killer inspired by Pokémon Go. The child of grifters, someone who’s been working marks her entire life, she should have been smarter than this.

Lady Luck is on her side, however, when a mysterious masked woman arrives, killing the man and saving Amber, only to vanish into the night, leaving a bald and blue Amber behind with far more questions than answers.

In an attempt to avoid the FBI (giving a report of her run-in with Pikachu would only result in some unsavory details of her life coming to light), Amber makes a break for it — a postcard on her windshield (possibly left by the woman in the mask?) brings her to Las Vegas and she soon realizes she can’t outrun her past. At least not quite yet, and to make it out alive she’ll need every trick in her con playbook.

KILLING ME was an absolute blast!! It gave serious Finlay Donovan vibes and was truly a page-turner, the pace was out-of-this-world fast — before I knew it I was finished and what a shame that was! Thankfully there will be a sequel and when I tell you it’s not a want, it’s a NEED.

KILLING ME would make for a perfect poolside read, it’s wildly entertaining, legit funny, and features a fantastic cast of characters. Something about it hit all my buttons, checked every check, and I wholeheartedly loved it…as in, a it’s a serious contender for my Top Reads of the year list. It was *that* fun. This one comes out on Tuesday and trust me, you’ll want to run, not walk, to grab a copy!!

Killing Me by Michelle Gagnon is a quirky, fast-paced, comedy/thriller that includes cons, chaos, and a serial killer. This original novel has a cast of madcap characters that become an unexpected and odd assortment of alliances. Gagnon takes you through the Las Vegas Strip both the good and the ugly on a chase to catch a serial killer. Gagnon covers it all in an entertainingly conversational tone...serial killer, kidnapper, savior, victim, and unanticipated friendships.
#ThankyouNETGALLEYforthisgreatread! #ThrillerwithatwistofDramathatticcklesyourfunnybone!

When I started this book I immediately thought, "oh no, I've made a mistake". I hate books that slander small towns (and 60,000 isn't small. C'mon) and I loathe campy books that think they're funny but aren't. However, this one turned around pretty quickly and I devoured it in two days! I loved the way the layers were exposed and we learned more about Amber! I felt her unease at dipping into her old life, and yet, pride that she still had skills. After reading the acknowledgements, I'm really excited about the possibility of more storytime with Amber and Grace because I think they're such fascinating characters! The side characters are so unique and bring such entertainment to the story. Dot and Marcella helped to give us a glimpse into Vegas life and it's such a colorful setting to support this story. Fantastic!

I absolutely LOVED this book! It is the perfect blend of fun and intrigue and there are hilarious moments sprinkled throughout that caught me off guard. The characters are fascinating onions and each layer contains new qualities and back story. It's rare for a story to really trick me with its twist but I found myself questioning my ideas over and over again. If I had to compare it to another book, I would say a darker and twistier Finlay Donovan and that is a high compliment! I can't recommend this one enough!