Member Reviews

I really enjoyed the first book in this series but somehow this one didn't work for me. It felt forced to me, trying to be humorous and ironic rather than it being more intrinsic to the characters and story. It was still a fun fast read. I would read others by her but was disappointed in this one. Humorous thrillers are a hit or miss for me in general, not my favorite,so this is my bias

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Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam Books for sending me an ARC of Slaying You in exchange for an honest review.

The gang from Killing Me is back in Las Vegas, six months after that book, this time for Dot’s wedding. Amber, a two-time serial killer survivor, has her new girlfriend Kat with her, so it’s fine—just fine—that Marcella also has a new girlfriend. Grace is there too, not just to celebrate but also to help Dot and the Fatal Femmes catch a man who is drugging and shaving the heads of women on the Strip. But when Amber’s grifter parents show up unexpectedly, Amber’s simple trip spins out of control and, eventually, puts her in the path of yet another serial killer.

As with Killing Me, Slaying You is going for both laughs and thrills. The serial killer mystery is pretty straightforward and predictable (though the climax is solid and funny), but the mysteries involving Amber’s parents are more subtle and unexpected. Amber and Grace continue to have their cynical, sarcastic relationship, but there’s more warmth as each helps the other with some parental drama. And Amber and Marcella continue their slow build towards each other. Perhaps things will work out for them in the next book. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Recommended.

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It has been nearly a year since I read Killing Me, the first Amber Jamison novel, so my memory may have forgotten a few details or characters. Regardless, I enjoyed it so thoroughly and tried to convince many of my friends to read it. I was so excited to receive a copy of Slaying You (which also happens to be releasing on my birthday) and I was not disappointed.

Slaying You picks back up with Amber in San Francisco, where she seems to have matured and is in a new relationship. Then the drama begins. She is returning to Vegas for a wedding where we get to meet up with several of the campy characters we grew to love in Killing Me. Murders take place, sex workers seem to be targeted and Grace and Amber are back at it with their usual crew.

These books and characters are such a breath of fresh air and I will forever recommend them to anyone who loves a fun kitschy read with a bit of murder/crime solving/conning. I'd compare it to Butcher and the Blackbird minus the spice and fewer trigger warnings and with a bit more humor. I can't wait for the next one. I'm a Michelle Gagnon convert.

Thank you to Net Galley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC.

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Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Slaying You.

I enjoyed the first book in the series so I was pleased my request was approved.

Grace and Amber are back...to celebrate a friend's wedding in Las Vegas.

But the festivities takes a back burner when the duo discover a new serial killer is on the prowl...and this time it's personal.

The second book in the series offers more insight into Amber and Grace's background, namely family drama is the focus.

I wasn't sold on the family drama and the trouble their appearances kicked off; we all have drama but I was hoping for a more straightforward serial killer hunt like in the first book.

I like Amber, but I still haven't warmed up to Grace. I don't dislike her, but I wouldn't want to hang out with her in real life.

I understand she had a tumultuous upbringing and it's clearly reflected in her personality. I respect that.

I figured out who Kat was early on and all the family drama involving Grace and Amber was too coincidental for me to suspend disbelief for. It dragged the pacing and suspense was lacking in the narrative.

I wasn't a fan of the silly love triangle and found this subplot distracting and unnecessary filler.

I love Dot; she's loyal, kind, warm, friendly, and supportive and always ready to get her hands dirty (pun intended).

I love the ending; don't you just love it when bad people get their just desserts, especially when they're 'family.'

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Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the free eARC!

First off, I totally overlooked that this was the second part of a series. Didn’t realize it until I had already started this. Haha. Luckily, Michelle Gagnon does some solid recapping throughout the story.

I really enjoyed this! The dialog was very snappy and witty, and it definitely carried the story along. Tons of eccentric and quirky characters abound in this story that takes place in one of the most eccentric and quirky places around…Las Vegas.

Definitely check this one! I’m going to go back and read the first book in the series soon, and I love forward to seeing these characters again in the future!

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Slaying You is the sequel to Killing Me, which was one of the most entertaining books I’ve read, so anticipation was high for the second book featuring Amber and her serial-killer killing friend Grace. Both woman find themselves back in Las Vegas for the wedding of their friend, and quickly become enmeshed in a hunt for an escaped killer with ties to Grace. The old crew reunites, along with some new characters, and they all pick up where they left off without missing a beat. The first half of the book moves a little slow, but there’s still that welcome banter between the girls until the plot picks up steam. That first book was a tough act to follow, and the plot here isn’t as interesting, but this is still a fun read with hilarious characters and dialogue. Although it can be read a standalone, I highly recommend you read the first book (you won’t be disappointed) so you’re up to speed. Hope to see more with this duo. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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I haven't met a Michelle Gagnon book I didn't love and read from cover to cover in one sitting. It's just that good! And Slaying You was no exception. I re-read Killy You right before diving into this one and that made a huge difference. There were little clues and things that I'd forgotten since reading the first book in the series. Just like the first book, Amber was amazing and can't wait to read about her in a 3rd book - if there is one in the series.

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I liked this book! It was interesting, entertaining, and not expected! i loved the concept of this story. It was unique and entertained me the whole read through. I liked the writing style and the characters.

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

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This was a good follow up to the first novel Killing Me! I was happy to see the original group back together for another suspenseful set of events. However, there was 3 particular characters that were so irritating that it put a damper on the whole story whenever they were in it. I get they were supposed to be annoying but I feel like the story would have been much more entertaining without them in it at all. Overall, I enjoyed this book, I just wish the action picked up a bit faster than it did!

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I enjoyed this sequel very much. Vegas is a great setting, and Gagnon strikes just the right balance of humor, heart, and creepiness. While many serial killer books are very grim, this one has more of a lighthearted touch while not making light of the seriousness of the crimes being portrayed. I love Amber, and root for her, and hope to read more with this character in the future.

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Michelle Gagnon’s *Slaying You* is an exhilarating second installment that delivers all the suspense, wit, and dark charm you’d hope for after *Killing Me*. Grace and Amber’s reunion is anything but ordinary—just like their friendship—and this book takes their dynamic to new heights with a fresh, high-stakes mystery.

What makes this sequel so enjoyable is how Gagnon dives deeper into Grace and Amber’s complicated personalities. Neither of them has truly settled into “normal” life after surviving a serial killer, and their pull toward danger feels authentic and compelling. Their bond is one of the highlights of the series—equal parts sharp banter and unshakable loyalty—and it’s fun to watch them team up again, especially against the backdrop of a Vegas wedding gone horribly wrong.

The pacing is tight, the stakes are higher, and the new killer is even more menacing than the last. Gagnon expertly blends dark humor with edge-of-your-seat tension, making this a page-turner from start to finish. The setting adds a glitzy-yet-gritty vibe that perfectly matches the book’s tone, and the twists kept me guessing.

As a second installment, *Slaying You* builds on everything I loved about the first book while adding new layers to Grace and Amber’s story. Whether you’re here for the thrills, the humor, or the dynamic duo at the center of it all, this book delivers. It’s a fantastic follow-up that has me excited to see where their next adventure takes them!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to honestly review.

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These books are like popcorn You cannot stop with them. I hope there are more in this series though I hate to wait! There's a lot I want to see these characters (with new characters) do.
Yes, this second book in the series isn't as strong as the first but that's no reason to skip it. Plenty is going on to keep you amused and the Grand Finale is pretty impressive. I guessed a big plot reveal (which means it is VERY obvious), but that didn't distract from the overall arc. I think the second in a series can feel rushed, especially when more are coming (which I do not know). That may be the case with SLAYING YOU but I love the characters and humor too much to not look forward to more (if there is indeed more to come).
#NetGalley

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I really enjoyed “Killing You” and couldn’t wait to read this second book, but it didn’t live up to the expectation that I had. I found that the first half of the book went slow and not much action was seen by the characters. The last half of the book was full of action and kept you wanting to read till the end, but it wasn’t enough to change my rating of a three. Amber has come back to Vegas to be in Dot’s wedding, and she has brought her girlfriend, Kat, with her as a guest. Kat doesn’t know what happened to Amber the last time she was in Vegas. But bad luck seems to follow Amber once again when she returns to Vegas. She bumps into her parents who left her as a teenager, and she also finds another killer on her trail. Thank you, Netgalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for providing me with an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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"Killing You" was one of my top ten books in 2023, so I couldn't hit smash on the "request a copy" any faster when I saw there was going to be a sequel.

Amber is back in Vegas to be a bridesmaid for her friend Dot's wedding. She has her new girlfriend in tow, despite the fact that she hasn't told her anything about what went down last time she was in Sin City. And bad luck continues to follow Amber -- there seems to be a new killer in town and it will be up to Amber, Grace, Dot and the Femme Fatale gang to hunt them down.

Sadly, this one did not have the same sparkle for me as the first book did. Sometimes it's just impossible to recreate something that was done so well -- and the first 55% of this book totally dragged on. It took awhile to get to the real action and I loved the ending, but it wasn't enough to carry the entire book for me.

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I was so excited to see Slaying You by Michelle Gagnon on Netgalley! I loved Killing Me and I loved Slaying You. I was so happy to be in the company of Amber, Grace and Dot again! The sequel jumps right in where Killing Me left off so you really need to read the first one to fully experience Slaying You. I highly recommend this title, it's funny, suspenseful, and full of interesting characters including the city of Las Vegas!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this digital ARC.

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Slaying You by Michelle Gagnon is the second book in her Amber Jamison novel series. Slaying You picks up about a year after the first book Killing Me ends. Amber is now in a relationship, she's finished college and is starting grad school soon. Back in Vegas Dot is getting married and Amber is invited to the wedding. Amber is hopeful that her return to Vegas will be champagne, dancing, and spending time with her friends -- no murders please! Unfortunately, women start disappearing shortly after they arrive and Amber, Dot, Grace and the rest of the gang are back on the case to figure out who is hurting women in Las Vegas, once again.

Killing Me and Slaying You are fun, fast paced thriller novels with not too much gore and a lot of lightheartedness despite the story material. Gagnon does a fantastic job writing diverse characters and there is a ton of LGBTQIA+ representation in these books which I think adds so much to the story. It's refreshing to have queer main characters in the thriller genre! The writing is witty and the character's had very distinct dialogues/language which I feel can be hard to do. Gagnon's character's feel like old friends, and I hope there are more books to come in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the advanced read copy in exchange for my honest review.

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I loved Gagnon’s first book in this series and book 2 did not disappoint. I love Amber’s personality and it’s so fun to see what she’ll get up to with her friends. This was a very fun cat-and-mouse game and I was hanging along for the ride the whole time!

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This was a strong sequel in the Amber Jamison series, it had that overall feel that I was looking for and enjoyed getting back to this series. I enjoyed the use of a serial killer and the suspense of the story. Michelle Gagnon had me from the first page and was invested in what was going on. I really enjoyed what I read and am glad I got to read this, I'm hoping the series will continue as this has been a great read.

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This cover is outstanding, and it drew me in! I wanted more from the story but overall it didn't match my tastes. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

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This one was not for me. The storyline didn’t flow well and I could not connect with the characters.
****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****

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