This book was so funny and so refreshing. I have had a falling out with the thriller/mystery genre but this made me fall in love with it all over again. This was witty and so fun to read

"Killing Me" by Michelle Gagnon is a laugh-out-loud thriller that had me entertained from start to finish. The protagonist, Amber Jamison, is a relatable and likable character whose life is a total mess. She escaped a serial killer, but then things got even weirder.
While I appreciated the humor in this book, I have to say that some of the plot points were a bit unbelievable. I found myself rolling my eyes at some of the twists and turns, and the ending left me feeling a bit unsatisfied.
That being said, "Killing Me" is still a fun and entertaining read. Gagnon's writing is engaging and fast-paced, with plenty of action and suspense to keep you hooked. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and the humor adds a nice touch to an otherwise dark and gritty story.
Overall, I would give "Killing Me" a three-star rating. While it's not a perfect book, it's still a fun and entertaining read that's perfect for fans of thrillers and dark humor. If you're looking for a book that will keep you entertained and on the edge of your seat, then "Killing Me" is definitely worth checking out.

Killing Me by Michelle Gagnon. I loved this book – I know, it’s about a serial killer, but our girl Amber, who gets kidnapped by a serial killer, acted like I think I would! How the hell did this happen to me?? I know all about how they work, yet I parked next to a windowless van??

Amber is tough, funny, and while you are worried about what will happen next, you will also find yourself laughing out loud at her reactions! The whole premise is so crazy, but I am sure you will find all the things that happen to her amazing. (you’ll still be laughing!) I am hoping there is a sequel with Amber! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher and of course the author for this fun, weird read!

I hardly know what to say. This book took me on quite the ride! It was in turns terrifying, hilarious and mindboggling. I guess you have to throw in some heartwarming at times.

The main character, Amber, starts off the book by being captured by a serial killer and then being set free by a woman she really can't stand. There is so much that happens after that. There's the pursuit of Amber by someone else as she flees for Las Vegas. Here we become acquainted with many more very interesting characters, mostly women that band together and work together to get the person pursuing Amber. There's an LGBTQ element in the book, hookers and women trying hard just to make a living in the seedier part of Vegas.

The book had some really intense scenes, but it really was funny. It was a really good time!

Thanks to Peguin Group/Putnam and NetGalley for the gifted copy.

It's a 3.5 rounded up for me!

This book was fun! It shows a lot of promise in the first couple of chapters - the writing is very in your face and the humor certainly does humor. It’s very dry and sarcastic and I can appreciate that from time-to-time. Amber is a fun character and I grew to love the posse she finds in Vegas. Everyone is a nice addition to the story.

But. After a certain point in the story when you know exactly how things are gonna play out, the book gets redundant. It also slows down significantly. It’s never nice when, in a thriller of all books, you guess the plot twists and consider it slow. The humor and the character relationships were the only thing that kept me going during those lulls. And while it felt ‘slow’, I was still moving through the book pretty quickly considering the short chapters!

Would I recommend this? With some hesitation. It served as a great palette cleanser for me having read a lot of (YA) romances right before, but would I have picked this up otherwise? Probably not. I appreciated that it made my 4-hour flight a little less painful, but I wasn’t crazy for the book in the end. I’m honestly not even sure why I requested the ARC but hey, can’t really complain too much considering the rating.

Overall, Killing Me was a good time, but I was waiting for it to be a great time.

Killing Me by Michelle Gagnon is a great read. It was totally different than I expected it to be. It starts off really funny. It stays funny but there are so many parts that are filled with tension. At one point, I was even second guessing who the killer was. The secondary characters, Dot and Marcella were so strong and I loved reading about them. I’m really hoping there will be more books about Amber.

Killing Me is like a cool breeze on a sweltering summer day. Unexpected, completely welcome, and totally refreshing. Author Michelle Gagnon has crafted a nearly perfect crime novel, full of biting wit and crackling with tension.

Amber Jamison is minding her own business and living a (mostly) normal life, when she's abducted off the street by a masked serial killer. Just when death seems all but certain, Amber is rescued by a surly blonde Glamazon vigilante. Perfect, right? Now, Amber can get back to living her life. Except, she can't. Her mysterious savior has disappeared, but the whole circus has attracted a lot of attention, including that of the police, which is the last thing she needs. Somehow Amber has managed to escape the clutches of one killer, only to blunder into the reach of another. This one much more dangerous, more prolific. Amber is caught up in the middle of his deadly, decades long game; and he isn't playing with a full deck. Amber will need all the tricks she's learned along the way and the friends she's made to even have a chance of coming out on top. Because this time, the stakes have never been higher and this killer is playing for keeps.

I literally cackled out loud at least twice, in public, while reading this book. I also put off all my chores, ignored my pets, and eschewed television in favor of devouring this novel because it is just that good. It has something for everyone: humor, heart, tension, thrills, chills, passion, romance, and redemption. I can't recommend it enough. Thank you to Netgalley and Putnam for the chance to review this advance copy. Killing Me publishes on May 16, 2023.

Psychology student Amber is sure she’s toast when a serial killer with an absurd ritual snatches her. Luckily, a mysterious woman saves her. However, Amber, fearing her shady past will be revealed, goes on the run, landing her in Vegas, where another serial killer has set up shop.

The characters, particularly the women of Las Vegas, and the wonderfully bonkers plot provided plenty of opportunities for dark humor, making the story a fun read. Vegas, with its themed settings, feels like a fully fleshed out character, particularly with noir-themed motel owner Dot and street walker Marcella showing Amber around. I liked Amber’s backstory and criminal skills, and how she used her psychology background to make sense of her experiences. The LGBT elements work well as do the elements of obsession and addiction. In a genre filled with serial killer stories, the above described facets make the story feel fresh.

Be sure to check out the acknowledgments section where the author discusses experiences with writer’s block and getting unstuck, as well as how one of the story twists came about.

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

Thanks to G. P. Putnam’s Sons Publishers, an imprint of Penguin Random House, for providing an Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley.

3.5 stars rounded up. Amber Jamison is only months away from getting her college degree when she is abducted by a serial killer driving a white van. How did she become such a cliché?!

Fortunately, she is rescued by a mysterious masked woman before the killer can finish her off. Unfortunately, the FBI comes calling and Amber has to make tracks, given her sketchy past as a con artist. What better place to hide than Las Vegas?

But Amber's problems followed her to Sin City, and soon she finds herself teaming up with some unlikely companions -- the noir-obsessed manager of the seedy hotel where she's staying and a sex worker with a heart of gold -- to stop a second serial killer who is closing in.

The first couple chapters of Killing Me had me literally laughing out loud, and I knew I was in for a treat. This is a big-hearted, campy serial killer thriller that doesn't take itself too seriously, with a quirky, hot-mess heroine you can't help but root for (think Finlay Donovan or Stephanie Plum). It tackles some serious subjects, but in a mostly light-hearted, humorous way. The humor, though, is somewhat uneven, and after a rollicking start I found myself wishing for more comedic moments during the outlandish situations that occur later in the book.

Overall, Killing Me is a lot of fun and has excellent LGBTQ+ representation and some decent twists and turns. I'm definitely hoping for a sequel -- I'd love to ride along with Amber on her future misadventures. Thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the advance reading opportunity.

Well, I immediately need to go run out and buy every other book by Michelle Gagnon. "Killing Me" was such a great mystery with the BEST cast of characters and all sorts of weirdness (the best kind). I don't like comparing novels, but I felt like novel managed to strike the perfect balance of mystery and fun, similar to Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. I really, really hope that this is just the first in a series and I get to see all of these characters again soon!

Have you, like me, bemoaned the demise of the Spellman series by Lisa Lutz? Darynda’s “Charley Davidson” or any of The Guru’s less spooky missives (hey, Uncle Stevie!)? Do you appreciate the off-kilter believability of those scary-Florida geniuses, Hiaasen & Barry (Dave, that is)? Cackled -probably inappropriately- at wonder shows like “Barry”, “Killing Eve”, “Poker Face” or “Arrested Development”? Eat up the snarkiness, eye-rolling parts of our days? If so, kiddies - step right up; it’s gonna be a bumpy ride…. but a good, Disney-delight kind!

I had this book pop up on several “If you like that, you’ll like this” lists and sites, so thank you for starters to Netgalley & the publisher for this ARC. This is the first time in a good while that I have immediately wanted to write the review after desolately realizing I’ve come to the end of the book.

I don’t like delving into the storyline, giving a lot of detail. You can read that on the dustjacket (or for modern times, on the “About” link), so I will simply say that these are some of the most amenable, intriguing and thought-provoking characters I’ve seen in ages. The protagonist, Amber, is the ideal “blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light” character you want to root for, feed a dinner to fatten up & give a huge HIGH FIVE for the obstacles she’s overcome. That mindset holds true for pretty much the entire cast; the author has managed a hat-trick that I thoroughly enjoyed being on the field for! The pretty unique storyline, fast-paced narrative (love the quick insights to some of the minor characters) & WIT are top reasons for all to pick this tale up NOW.

All righty, kiddies - I’m off to creep this awesome new-to-me author’s backlist & anxiously peer out the curtain for that hinted sequel to come be-bopping down the road. Y’all have fun!

Free eARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher for reviewing purposes!

This book was pretty entertaining- a fun cast of characters, good action and suspense. It reminded me a little of the Natasha Lyonne show Poker Face- a main character with a past who's kind of a mess but trying her best, the Vegas setting, etc. It took me a little bit to get into it- this book was sitting at 12% read for about a month, but then I finished the rest in one sitting because once it got rolling, I really wanted to find out what happened next. Overall, a pretty fun ride, but I don't know that I'd be that excited to pick up a sequel if this turned into a series.

3.5 stars rounded up

This book started out so good but it got bogged down by details.

The initial plot of the book was super engaging and i loved the snarky and sarcastic humor of the main characters. However, halfway through the plot changed; from a black humor mystery to more of a thriller. The humor that was present in the beginning was scarce, and unfortunately I got bored.

This book puts a new spin on catching serial killers:
-A moody and sarcastic fmc
-wacky characters
-a las vegas setting
-noir references
-and some light murder

This wasn't my cup of tea, but its perfect for fans of a quirky and chaotic read about catching serial killers.

This was one wild ride of a story.  I thought I knew what I was getting myself into when I started it, but boy oh boy was I wrong.  But in a very fabulous way.

Amber has a lot going on, even before she's kidnapped by a serial killer.  She's almost done with her psychology degree and nearly broken free of her complicated past.  I knew I was going to like Amber from the very first page.  Despite her desperate circumstances, she always manages to find a bit of humor or sarcasm to fit the moment, temporarily lightening the mood.  She never gives up, however, and is determined to stop this serial killer.  Or literally die trying.  

The side characters are really what make this story.  Jessie, Marcella, and Dot do their best to give Amber a home and a place she might want to stay for the long term.  Grace, on the other hand, is unpredictable and keeps everyone on their toes, including Amber.  She really shakes up everything anytime she's anywhere near a scene.  

This is the first book I've read by this author, but I'm definitely going to have to seek out more of her work.  The writing style is easy and engaging, making the book fly by.  Also, I loved the humorous and modern point of view coming from Amber.  She has a very interesting view on the world colored not only by her past, but her present insane situation. When you add in all the little misdirections, the small things that make you stop and say, "Wait... what is really going on here?", you end up with a fun and yet still intense story about friendship and murder.

3.5 stars. Although this seemed to start out slow for me and took me a bit to get into it, it was definitely an enjoyable read. Amber Jamison is kidnapped by a serial killer and then rescued by a mysterious woman — who then keeps popping up into Amber’s life and eventually becomes a main part of the storyline. True to its description, this novel deals with a horrible serial killer but contains huge doses of humor. And, although the reader will most likely will have to suspend his/her disbelief quite a few times along the way, the storyline will keep you flipping pages.

Killing Me, killed it! The story, which is fast paced and funny is about a serial killer and the two women who admirably dislike one another trying to solve the mystery as to who the murderer could be since no one at the FBI seems to be able. Both women have different types of seedy pasts and both women are certainly type A personalities. What could go wrong?

College student Amber Jamison wakes up and discovers she is the next victim of a serial killer who has been killing girls in the area. How could she have been so stupid as to get herself into a mess like this? But just as he goes to end her life, a mysterious woman swoops in, kills the killer and tells Amber to forget she ever saw her and leaves. Just leaves.

But a visit from an FBI agent about the serial killer and her fingerprints being at the scene, something mystery girl was supposed to have taken care of (thanks!) leads Amber to have to flee. You see Amber’s past is not very legal so to say. So, she decides she can’t stick around and goes on the run.

She ends up in Las Vegas at a “motel” where she encounters a kind-hearted manager and a beautiful call girl. With no money she tries to survive under the radar, which goes out the window when someone leaves a mysterious envelope for her (under her given name) and it is filled with pictures of murdered women from Las Vegas motels. She has no idea why she would get this other than perhaps her ex-mysterious friend thinks she would be good at solving murders…not!

But then she gets a shocking visit from her nemesis and finds out she has been tracking her because she knows Amber is the next victim of the serial killer. Now the gruesome twosome must attempt to work together before he kills Amber or someone else. It seems her now partner has been playing cat and mouse with the killer for years. And with good reason.

Now, they have to somehow agree to a plan, make sure no one is injured, find him and kill him. Easy!

Kill Me was an absolutely enjoyable read which I did not want to end. The story was suspenseful, there were lovable characters, hilarious dialogue and great twists! I did read to the last sentence in the Acknowledgement and let me just say…I cannot wait!

Thank you #NetGalley #G.P.Putnam’sSons #KillingMe #MichelleGagnon for the advanced copy.

From the moment we meet Amber, right after she's been kidnapped by a serial killer, I was hooked. I loved Amber and the way she thinks and the way she talks to herself. I wasn't expecting to have this much fun or laugh this much while reading a book about chasing down a serial killer. (different from the one we meet at the beginning of the book)

After some quality time with her abductor, Amber is rescued by a mysterious woman and to say she has a few questions would be an understatement, but our mystery woman isn't keen to reveal all her secrets. Amber decides after all this she needs to start over and head to Vegas. Although if she had any luck at all she definitely used the last of it up to get rescued, because she finds herself again in the path of a killer.

This had the perfect amount of tension and suspense. It had me laughing out loud, and sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to see what was going to happen next. I loved the secondary characters, and I was rooting for them all to survive the coming confrontation with the killer. I thoroughly enjoyed this, and will definitely be reading more by this author.

4.5 stars

Killing Me by Michelle Gagnon reads like a darker Finlay Donovan and I am HERE FOR IT!

I've been in somewhat of a reading slump lately and this black comedy spin on the thriller genre went a long way in bringing me out of it. This book really has everything: a look into the seedy underbelly of Las Vegas, con artists, vigilantes, twisted backstories, and true crime enthusiasts helping to take down a serial killer. Gagnon approaches this story with a dry wit and plenty of banter while still managing to include commentary on the ethics of policing and how murder victims in marginalized communities are often swept under the rug. I do think this could have been fleshed out even more along with our main character's trauma after surviving a serial killer, but there is still tons to enjoy about this fast-paced, funny novel. I really hope that we get to see more of these characters in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

Killing Me was so unique and fun! You wouldn’t think a book about hunting a serial killer to be funny, but it was! I loved Amber, the main character. She was hilarious and smart but also had a lot of growth during the story. This book had a great balance of humor, tense moments, and a surprising amount of heart!

This book hooked me from the first line and didn’t let go! It opens with Amber being abducted by a serial killer and her internal monologue had me laughing out loud. She is rescued by a mysterious woman who appears to be a serial killer hunter. Amber has to abandon the life that she’s built for herself after a bad past is threatened to be exposed so she runs away and heads across the country. She ends up in Las Vegas, but because her luck seems to be terrible, she ends up in the sights of another serial killer. Together with an odd group of friends, she’s determined to stop him.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC for an honest review

My thanks to NetGalley and Putnam Books for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I can think of several people who would have such a great time reading Killing Me. I look forward to being able to offer those recommendations in a couple of weeks. I do think this title would get picked up a lot off the shelves and would likely have excruciating long hold times because of how many people will be queued to read this.

Great addition to the library!