This book is hilarious. Pretty fast paced and entertaining. You do need to be able to handle a foul mouthed sense of humor though.

Gosh, this thriller is amazing! Being the serial killers next victim? Scary!! But, a masked lady comes to save the day. Unfortunately now the victim has to up and move and create a new life. What’s the worst that could happen? A plot to catch a new serial killer, that’s what!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for gifting me a digital copy of this wonderful book by Michelle Gagnon - 5 stars!

Amber can't believe she let herself be pushed into a white van and kidnapped, about to become the latest victim of a serial killer. Until she is saved by a mysterious woman. Amber has a past, and feels law enforcement too close for comfort now, so she abandons her life and heads west. Who could believe that she would find herself in even worse trouble?

How can a book about serial killers be so much fun? Michelle Gagnon has created a character that is feisty, smart, loyal, and has a wicked sense of humor. The fact that the storyline frequently goes over the top just adds to the fun. I love quirky characters and dark humor and this one checked both boxes. Plus, the author's note said there may be a sequel - yes, please!

I thought that the premise was engaging and fresh! I was hooked on the description and very excited to read. For me, personally, I did not feel very invested in the characters and would have liked a bit more character development. But, overall, I would recommend this book based on the premise.

Amber Jamison, narrator and protagonist, has been captured by a a serial killer. “…the Pikachu Killer (yup, that’s what they called him) dumped the body somewhere weird—like a mall parking lot, or a high school football field—then sent local news networks a GPS link. Get it? Like they were playing Pokémon GO.” (Location 108 of 4704) He had already captured, tortured, and killed five other petite brunettes; Amber is number six, and she is angry. She has been drugged, and wakes to find he has prepared her body using his usual methods. There is only the final step left, but just before it’s about to happen, she is saved by a masked heroine in a ski mask, who accidentally kills him with a faulty cattle prod to the neck. She reluctantly drops the confused Amber off and promptly leaves her. But who was she, and why in the world is she hunting serial killers? Amber’s troubles are only getting started. After a too-close-for-comfort call from the law enforcement she’s been outrunning her whole life, she drives cross-country and ends up in the seedy Las Vegas motel she can afford. The owner is obsessed with noir and old films, and the only other friend she has is clearly a sex worker, but a new serial killer is on her trail. She is caught up in a twisted game, forced to partner with a person she really does not know and definitely doesn’t trust. Well, it’s Las Vegas, so it’s time to take a gamble…

This incredibly funny (plenty of dark humor) thriller (yes, I see the dichotomy) is truly an original, chock-full of colorful characters (and dialog), misadventures, unfortunate circumstances, and excitement! It’s twisted in the best possible way, and the reader cannot help but to tear through the pages to discover what (or who) will happen next. The fact that Amber is street-smart and aware leaves her more angry than afraid when she is forced into the white van and drugged (the first time). The tension builds, leads to relief that she is saved by “Ski Mask” as Amber called her anonymous savior, only to allow readers enough time to blink before the real drama (well, comedy/drama… Dramady? Comedma?) begins. I can say that the motel owner is a supportive, resourceful, and well-connected friend to have in your corner, and the reader will feel many emotions throughout, including finally being able to release the breath they didn’t know they were holding. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I highly recommend this work to all fans of thrillers, noir, and comedy (if you can tolerate some murder scenes).

I’d like to thank NetGalley, Michelle Gagnon, and G.P. Putnam’s Sons Publishing for the ability to read and review this ARC.

First I would like to thank NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the ARC.

I love serial killers and enjoying reading about them. Killing Me started off that way. Amber got captured by a serial killer but was saved by Ski Mask Girl who happened to kill the serial killer by accident.

I was okay this is good, but then it changed direction and I just got lost. Some parts were interesting, and I did keep reading but then it just started to fall flat. I'm okay with long chapters, but some of these chapters where way longer than they needed to be. Some could have been split into two maybe three chapters,

I got to about 59% through and just had to put it down. The story line just dragged and left me uninterested.
I would give it a 2 star because it does have a good story, it just needed a little more structure.

I received a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review.

Rating would be a 3.5. This was a humorous thriller mystery with serial killers. Much different than my usual reads. I didn't like all the cussing and the slight gore. Humor was great though. Never read a thriller with humor. If you're ok with my dislikes, some drug use, and LGBT then I recommend this book for you.

Hot damn! Gagnon had me by the short hairs throughout this story. What I though would be a simple story of survival turned into a roller coaster story of vengeance. The queer MC was a greatly appreciated element to the overall impact of this story. I can't wait for the sequel if we're lucky enough to get one.

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a RIDE! I’m definitely starting to see more publicity for this one and it is WELL DESERVED! I thoroughly enjoyed this ARC of a uniquely told serial killer story. Can’t wait to see the continued praise online!!

We meet our protagonist tied up in the back of a van, soon to become the next victim of her town's active serial killer. She's tough and self-deprecating with a fierce internal monologue. Then things get weird. We know she escapes (read the blurb), but the how and where and who are different. Killing Me feels unique, original, in a genre filled with books like this. The twists get you, the characters are strong (you go girls!) and you're left guessing right up to the end.

The creative plot pulled me in, the spot on setting - the seedy underbelly of Las Vegas - kept me engaged. Sign me up for the sequel.

My thanks to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! What a wild ride! This quirky and snarky thriller kept me on the edge of my seat and wondering what I thought I knew about the serial killers. Full of interesting and colorful (often literally) characters, perfect cons, and people serially making bad choices, Killing Me was both a homage to final girls and Las Vegas. I almost expected an Elvis impersonator to show up at the end and take everyone out, LOL. This one makes you root for the bad girl and wish you had (more) friends in low places. Such a fun read and perfectly paced. Killing Me proves that just desserts are best served in the desert!

Thank you to #NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Killing Me by Michelle Gagnon

It’s a sure sign that I’m completely immersed and entertained by a novel that when I learn of a sequel on the horizon – as Michelle Gagnon slyly mentions in the very last sentence of her Afterword here – I gasp loudly and dramatically in ecstatic anticipation. This was the best punctuation mark to a book I simply could not stop reading!

Our narrator Amber Jamison is keeping her head down and working towards getting her psychology degree when a serial killer abruptly derails her life. On the plus side, at least he doesn’t end it entirely, though certainly not from lack of trying. She’s saved from torture and worse by the sudden appearance of an icy blonde who accidentally kills him in the course of saving Amber's life. Ski Mask, as Amber labels the other woman, requests only that Amber keep her out of any story Amber chooses to tell the police about escaping certain death.

What Ski Mask doesn’t know is that Amber has zero interest in talking to the cops. Amber has, as a matter of fact, spent her entire life avoiding law enforcement. The last thing she needs is for the authorities to take a hard look at her and, purposefully or otherwise, explode her carefully manufactured past. But when the FBI inevitably comes knocking, Amber realizes it’s time to put Johnson City, Tennessee in the rearview mirror. On the run again and with limited funds, she thinks ruefully of how close she had been to leaving the life of a con artist behind her forever:

QUOTE
At times, the temptation to backpedal was almost overwhelming–one good scam would’ve covered at least a year’s tuition. But I was determined to go straight. As time passed, the criminal part of my life started to feel like it happened to someone else.

And yet here I was, taking advantage of a teenager for quick cash. <i>It was an emergency</i>, I told myself, repressing a pang of guilt as I drove away. <i>That was the last time</i>.

Shit, I wasn’t even good at lying to myself anymore.
END QUOTE

Her headlong flight from the East leads her to Las Vegas, where she finds an unlikely group of friends and supporters. She also discovers that another serial killer is at work in the very neighborhoods where she’s landed. Worse still, he seems to have been lying in wait for her to arrive. When Ski Mask shows up once more in hot pursuit, Amber realizes that she’s caught in a strange cat and mouse game between what might as well be a modern day superhero and supervillain.

While all her instincts scream for her to scram as soon as possible, she instead reluctantly begins to work with Ski Mask in an attempt to apprehend the killer. Ski Mask does not thaw despite the charismatic Amber’s best efforts, but grudgingly begins to respect her when she makes a major breakthrough on the case. As Amber explains:

QUOTE
“Right, so…the pattern you found with the victims? That’s like, the city level. But if you pull out further, there’s a bigger pattern you missed.”

”And you found it.”

“Yup.” It was probably wrong to feel victorious about what I’d discovered; we were talking about literally hundreds of victims here. But still, when I’d realized what I was looking at last night, I’d actually whooped out loud.

Part of me kind of understood the appeal of this game they were playing. Which was disturbing in and of itself.
END QUOTE

Armed with their varied skills, as well as with a surprisingly wide-ranging network of irregulars, Amber and Ski Mask decide to turn the tables on their foe. Trouble is, their quarry hasn’t gotten away with murder because of sheer luck. When the chips are down, whose bluff will Amber call? And what risky bets will she be forced to make in order to save her own life and those of the people she’s come to care about?

I adored this smart, sassy serial killer thriller, with its superbly written dialog and characterizations. The plot twists were truly electrifying. While the material can be heavy, Ms Gagnon writes with a light touch that balances out the darkness of the book’s themes.

Amber, especially, is such a great heroine, with believable layers and internal conflicts. I loved how she tried to use the skills she’d learned for good, and was deeply touched by a pivotal scene of forgiveness towards the end of the novel. Killing Me is an absolutely superlative queer crime caper that centers female solidarity, and I can’t wait to read more!

If you are looking for a different type of thriller, then Killing Me is the book for you! I never thought that I would use the words “delightful” and “entertaining” to describe a murder mystery story!
Amber Jamison is kidnapped by a serial killer but saved by a mysterious stranger. She turns to outrun her past and ends up in Vegas. What follows is an amazing story with colorful characters!!
I was turning the pages so fast!! I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen. Many thanks to the author, Penguin Group Putnam, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I loved this! It was so unique and funny it was a joy to read. I didn’t know where the story was going and that element made it that much more enjoyable.

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review

I love, love, loved this book! This book was hilarious, fast paced and, surprisingly, heartwarming. Even though it is a book about serial killers, it has lovely characters that I fell in love with. The main character was so funny and the people she meets are charming and sweet. I also thought the LGBTQIA representation was spot on. Awesome book.

Wow. This was really fun, and kept me guessing all the way to the end.

If you like crime but also get a little scared or stressed by them, this is a good one to pick up. It’s definitely a crime novel, but the humor gives it less of a sting.

Amber is kidnapped by a man in a white van. The former con artist, who tried to start over, wakes up in the man's basement - she's nakedher head is shaved and she's been pained blue everywhere. She realizes she's been kidnapped by the Pikachu killer.

In comes a masked woman who sets her free, kills the killer, and, after much persuasian, gives her a ride back to town. But who is this woman?

The FBI comes sniffing around and Amber, who is a couple months from getting her college degree, knows she has to run or risk the chance of her past coming back to haunt her.

She ends up in Vegas, makes some friends and ends up in another weird plot twist.

This one had a few interesting twists and turns!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was one of the most fun and entertaining thrillers I’ve read in a long time.

We start the story with Amber in the back of a van being driven by someone coined, “the pikachu killer” and the wild twists just keep on coming! I really loved the messy group of ladies working together to evade danger and end this game they were forced to play. The characters were complicated and all a little bit broken, and that made them more lovable. I think I would categorize this as a “cozy murder game thriller?”

The setting being the seedy side of Vegas made it even more fun!

No plot twist really had me gasping in shock, but I had a great time reading it.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Killing Me by Michelle Gagnon

Published: May 16, 2023
G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Genre: Serial Killer Fiction
Pages: 335
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Michelle Gagnon is a former modern dancer, bartender, dog walker, model, personal trainer, and Russian supper club performer. Her bestselling thrillers have been published in North America, France, Spain, Argentina, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, and Australia. Michelle splits her time between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

“I wasn’t even good at lying to myself anymore.”

A masked stranger saves Amber, and now she is running for her life. She grabs what little she has and heads west. The only problem, Amber doesn’t know she is now a key player in the game of life… or death.

I enjoyed how this book was written. It was very comfortable, very conversational. The plot flowed smoothly. It started a bit slow in the beginning but quickly picked up and stayed at 100 through the end.

The characters were fantastic. I loved Dot; she was the kindest, most connected, somewhat maternal figure. Amber was intelligent, a little shady, and hellbent on continuing to be a survivor.

Each character was so well defined and had such a distinct shape. The plot twist was fantastic- I was completely shocked and did not see it coming.

I enjoyed the descriptions and seeing Vegas through a less shiny lens. It was also neat seeing Stockton mentioned (near my hometown!). Overall, this was an entertaining and engaging read.

🎰 Book Review 🎰 swipe for synopsis ➡️

Thank you so much @putnambooks and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my review!

This was such a refreshing, entertaining and wild read. It's rare that I enjoy comedy with my thriller/suspense but this book blended it all so well. You are immediately drawn into the chaos as the book opens with Amber, our MC, being kidnapped by a serial killer. She manages to survive and what happens after is a rollercoaster ride. Amber and the full cast of characters are really dynamic and I could picture them as real people. The atmosphere in the book was perfect and so well done. I felt fully immersed in their world. I highly enjoyed this one and it is one of my favorite reads of the year thus far!

This just released on the 16th, so go pick up a copy ASAP!

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