My first Michelle Gagnon novel but won’t be my last! Such a thrill ride with the most unlikely yet lovable characters. I was hooked early on and honestly disappointed when I turned the last page. Fun, fresh take with an inventive approach.
Don’t miss this one.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating: 5/5 Stars
Publishing: May 16, 2023
Series: NA
Pages: 336

Michelle Gagnon…can’t say that I’ve read anything by this author, however, suffice to say this won’t be my last time doing so. “Killing Me” by this new author to this reader was just a wonderful thriller that I truly enjoyed. I was a little skeptical from the description trying to figure out how humor can be intwined into a mystery thriller, but it worked for the author. I could not put it down as I enjoyed the plot and the writing. Amber enters the story being kidnapped and locked away by a serial killer and mentally telling herself beating herself up on why she did not do all the things she’s been taught by self-defense classes. Amber has spunk and attitude that she had to learned since her parents abandoned her to take care of herself. Then there is an unidentified woman who has been tracking serial killers coming to her rescue and even keeping tabs on her. Amber goes from being a victim to joining in the hunt for other dangerous serial killers. This story makes you laugh out loud at times with all the shenanigans and craziness. This story keeps you engaged to the very end. Truly enjoyed every bit of it.

I loved this!
as someone who is not usually a character-driven reader, the characters were absolutely my favorite part. pls give me a sequel about the Fatal Femmes. also really enjoyed the setting of the kinda seedy, rundown Vegas motel. I thought this balanced the humor really well with the darker elements. and it's sapphic!!!

"The worst part was that I felt stupid.

Well, that’s not entirely true. The real worst part was that I was tied up in the back of a van with a hood over my head, and based on recent news reports, something truly horrific was about to happen.

But feeling stupid was definitely second worst."

I was really excited when I started this book, I love black humor. But the comedy in this was kind of lacking and the mystery never completely grabbed me. There were some good moments sprinkled in but then I would be bored for huge chunks of the story.

It just wasn't for me, unfortunately.

Thank you netgalley and penguin group Dutton for giving me an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Fun thriller about a young woman who is rescued from a serial killer's clutches and then things get weird.

This was so addictive. I couldn't put this page turner down. Well written and great pace.
I just reviewed Killing Me by Michelle Gagnon. #KillingMe #NetGalley
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OMG! What a book! I Couldn't put it down. This book gripped me from beginning to the absolute last word. It is well-written and easy to read. I loved it. Amber's courage and her vivid delivery was outstanding. The storyline will take you to the most darned places (can't guarantee they won't stay with you) and there is action, suspense, drama and more. Get your copy and read this great story 👏

What an absolutely fun book.

This is definitely neo-noir mixed with humor and such a fun cast of characters. Amber and Grace are thrown together after Grace accidentally rescues Amber from a serial killer.

Which is literally the first chapter. After that, madness and romping ensue. And I could not stop reading.

The book never took itself seriously. It was ridiculous and unbelievable from start to finish, but it made me question: do books really need to be believable to be fun?

It reminded me in so many ways of the Finlay Donovan series, but where this one shines is the main character Amber and the way the story is told.

There were a few hiccups like pacing and things making sense at places (such as Marcella and the whole plot around her. She was quite insufferable and I’d have liked to see better sex worker representation than her.

Also the Jessie storyline that I felt wasn’t perfect and didn’t make sense in an even insanely nonsensical noir book.)

Overall, this book was atmospheric and fun. And I hope among hope after reading the acknowledgements that we will be revisiting Grace and Amber with a sequel. I hope in that the author tightens up some of the little issues with this, but I’ll definitely be back for a second romp.

Thank you so much Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the advanced e-copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really liked the beginning of this book and thought the concept of the book was cool. The beginning of the book included some comedy and twists. However, I felt like it took a while to actually understand the characters. The storyline slowed down towards the middle of the book.

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley, Michelle Gagnon & Penguin Group Putnam for an arc of Killing Me in exchange for an honest review. This review is wholly my own & may not be reproduced.

“Amber Jamison cannot believe she’s about to become the latest victim of a serial killer—she’s savvy and street smart, so when she gets pushed into, of all things, a white windowless van, she's more angry than afraid. Things get even weirder when she’s miraculously saved by a mysterious woman…who promptly disappears. Who was she? And why is she hunting serial killers? You’d think escaping one psychopath would be enough, but Amber’s problems are just beginning. Her close call has law enforcement circling a past she’s tried to outrun. So she’s forced to flee across the country, ending up at a seedy motel in Las Vegas with a noir-obsessed manager and a sex worker as her unlikely companions...and danger right behind. She’s landed in the crosshairs of the world’s most prolific killer, caught up in a deadly game that’s been going on for years. To survive, she's forced to dust off her old playbook and partner with someone she can’t trust. The odds are against her, but sometimes you just have to roll the dice.”

So my immediate thought when I read this description was a cross between Finlay Donovan and Swamp Story. I loved both of those, so I thought Killing Me was a pretty good bet!

I was not disappointed. The cast of oddball characters and their respective antics made this story hilarious. A book about a serial killer is hilarious – yep, you read that right!

The book was a teeny bit slow to start, but once it picked up, it REALLY picked up and made it hard to put down. The writing by Gagnon was superb and so sharp and witty. This book was a breath of fresh air. It wasn’t what I was expecting go in. It was BETTER! Definitely add this one to the top of your TBR list!

5/5 Stars

What a great book! This has some humor spiced in, I would have liked more but it was a good amount. The characters developed well and some were likable and some less likable for sure. I liked the twists throughout the book and it definitely kept me wanting to read.

This book grabs you from the very first sentence. The narrator is Amber Jamison, and she's just been kidnapped by a serial killer. Her first thought is that she feels stupid for getting into that predicament. I'd probably be thinking the same thing! Her feelings quickly turn to terror as her escape attempts don't pan out.

Things turn her way, however, when a mysterious woman rescues her from her fate. Amber is intrigued by the mystery woman but for her own reasons must flee from her life. She makes her way to Las Vegas. Once there, she returns to some of her old ways but ends up making her first real friends in the process.These characters are well-written and flawed, but lovable.

The mystery woman reappears in Amber's life and she soon discovers that there is another serial killer in her midst. Is he targeting Amber or is it just a coincidence? Can her luck really be that bad?

This book starts a little slow but builds momentum as it goes on. The backstory about the mystery woman is a bit cut and dried as opposed to Amber's colorful past but it's not boring. This book is perfect to read on a weekend or a beach vacation. You wouldn't think a thriller about a serial killer could be humorous but this one manages to be, and it works.

Highly recommended read. I thoroughly enjoyed the humor and the well-written characters.

Oh, and I read the acknowledgements. The author hints at a sequel!

Many thanks to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the ARC they provided in exchange for my review.

what a fun read! the first four chapters really reeled me in, I could tell where this was going but I’m a good way.

amber has just survived a local serial killer, rescued by a woman named grace. the catch, grace stumbled only upon amber’s serial killer while hunting down her own serial killer who’s watching them both. graces act of saving amber unknowingly put a target on her back and only made the “game” that much more exciting for her serial killer. amber, becomes a pawn in this game of cat and mouse, and must pair up with grace to catch him and stay alive.

by the end, I was unsure if this would end in a predictable manner… with a familiar and expected twist. luckily, it doesn’t and I wasn’t disappointed.

thank you Putnam Books for this ARC, courtesy of Netgalley. Publication date for “Killing Me” is May 16, 2023.

I enjoyed this book a lot. The opening especially caught my attention. I loved the "interludes" we got where we were able to see into the pasts of some of the characters. I also really enjoyed the writing style, and I feel like it suits this genre very well. The language isn't too complex, which allows you to focus on the story. It's reminiscent of a lot of my favorite thrillers while managing to be entirely its own thing. Overall, if you like thrillers, I'd definitely give this one a shot.

I was pretty confident I would enjoy this one. After reading the synopsis for Killing Me I thought it was right up my alley. And..I was right! Killing Me is the most fun you will have reading about a woman who escapes a serial killer just to end up in another one's crosshairs. That's as much as I will spoil it, you need to go in blind and open-minded.

Amber Jamison is mad at herself for getting nabbed by a serial killer. She has street smarts and hates that she wasn't more aware of her surroundings in the moment. You are dropped immediately into what's happening right after her abduction. She really is sure she's going to die. Luckily a woman comes in just in time, a woman that apparently has done this before. She's reluctant to accept Amber's gratitude or to help her in any way.

They both have their reasons for avoiding law enforcement but of course Amber is tracked down so she makes her escape. She's mad again that she now has to start over and she figures the best place to lay low and work on that is Las Vegas. What follows from there is a non-stop thrill ride with interesting characters and a cool noir vibe.

Amber is a sarcastic, snarky and kind of moody protagonist. But in a very funny and loveable way. I could relate to her a lot in that respect to be honest. All of the women Amber meets are also unique and interesting. Many of these characters are flawed and messy, as they should be. The LGBTQ+ representation is also nice.

I highly recommend Killing Me for anyone looking for a fun and unique thriller. I'm so glad I took a chance on it. This is the first book I've read from Michelle Gagnon but it won't be the last. Especially since there is to be a sequel (I read acknowledgements haha). This is definitely going to be one of my favorite books for this year.

Thank you PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G. P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the e-ARC.

This comedic thriller was an absolute hoot and a half. Filled with strong women, complicated women, and strong complicated women, the pace and the laughs never slow down. It’s like a funnier, grittier Evanovich. The sequel alluded to in the author’s endnotes can’t come soon enough.

The idea of a story where a girl escapes one serial killer only to be hunted by another sounds dark. And yet somehow Michelle Gagnon made it funny.

I immediately like Amber despite all her reasons not to. She felt like a real person with a realistic outlook on life. The chemistry, or lack there of, with Grace and Amber was really funny. Complete opposite personalities being forced together always works for me.

Towards the ending I kept jumping forward so I could see what would happen and then tell myself that I didn’t want it spoiled. The tension was high and there were some perfect twists.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read Killing Me. I have written this review voluntarily.

This book by a new-to-me author was quite a surprise. A last-minute reprieve from a serial killer by a woman she refers to as Ski Mask, on the run from her past when she thinks law enforcement is after her, looking for a new identity, Amber Jamison thinks she’s somewhat safe. Not so. Seems there’s another serial killer who has chosen Amber as his next victim. And how do people seem to always know where she is?

Twists, turns, murder, family dynamics, humor, some quirky but awesome characters, and more!

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

Killing me by Michelle Gagnon publish may 2023. When she is saved from a serial killer her troubles only began She’s on the run from her past. This reminded me of a dime store novel

There is so much about this book to love. It's sharp, it's funny, it has a lovable cast and a slue of unlikely friendships that will hook you immediately.

Narrator Amber Jamison is charming and relatable...you know, minus the whole "I escaped one serial killer and now I'm being hunted by another" thing. She's smart yet untrusting due to a rough past that she's spent a decade trying to escape. Most people would be grateful to be narrowly rescued from the grips of serial killer by a mysterious woman in a ski mask, but Amber is afraid that facing the police will allow her past to catch up with her -- so she runs. We follow her from Tennessee to Las Vegas and everywhere in between, learning more about her past (and meeting an unforgettable cast of characters) along the way. Never a dull moment, Killing Me keeps you invested (and guessing) the entire time. Anyone searching for a comedic, unputdownable, surprisingly heartwarming thriller should look no further - Killing Me will do the trick!