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    Let Me Go
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    Let Me Go
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    Let Me Go
    Ebook448 pages7 hours

    Let Me Go

    By Chelsea Cain

    3.5/5

    ()

    Unavailable in your country

    Unavailable in your country

    About this ebook

    THE PERFECT CHILLING READ FOR HALLOWEEN

    Detective Archie Sheridan just has to get through the next few days, then his birthday and Halloween will be over. But with escaped serial killer Gretchen Lowell on the loose, the investigation into the murder of a DEA agent demanding his attention, and journalist Susan Ward showing up at his apartment needing a favour, it's going to be a long weekend.

    Soon Archie finds himself crashing a masked ball on a private island owned by Jack Reynolds, a notorious local drug kingpin. By morning, Archie is back on pain killers, a guest is dead and Archie quickly realizes that little is what it seems. One thing is clear: Gretchen is back, and Archie's nemesis and sometimes lover has something special in mind for the birthday boy, something she's been planning for a long, long time.

    On Halloween Eve, with time running out and the life of someone close to Archie on the line, Archie knows his only chance is to give Gretchen exactly what she wants.

    But Gretchen will prove more horrifying, and unpredictable, than Archie could ever imagine…
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster UK
    Release dateNov 20, 2014
    ISBN9781471134296
    Unavailable
    Let Me Go
    Author

    Chelsea Cain

    Chelsea Cain is the author of the New York Times bestselling Archie Sheridan/Gretchen Lowell thrillers Heartsick, Sweetheart, Evil at Heart, The Night Season, Kill You Twice, and Let Me Go. Her Portland-based thrillers have been published in twenty-four languages, recommended on the Today show, appeared in episodes of HBO’s True Blood and ABC’s Castle, and included in NPR’s list of the top 100 thrillers ever written. According to Booklist, “Popular entertainment just doesn’t get much better than this.” Visit her online at ChelseaCain.com.

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    Reviews for Let Me Go

    3.5/5

    16 ratings21 reviews

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    • 3/5
      [Cross-posted to Knite Writes]This was a pretty interesting installment of the series. I thought the plot was well thought-out, and the expansion of the characters of Leo and Jack (Leo’s father) kept me interested. They’ve been periphery characters for quite a while, and it was nice to finally see their relationship and personalities fleshed out more completely.Archie was actually a bit of an ineffective hero in this one, and I thought that was a strange approach for Cain to take — but it worked. He’s deceived by Rachel, is forced to follow Gretchen’s orders, and gets himself shot so badly he can’t save Susan like he did in previous installments. He’s even been taken off the Beauty Killer Task Force he led for years. There’s definitely a lot of underlying commentary on the way that Archie’s mentality and personality have changed over time, and I think a lot of it is reflected in his many failures in this book. Perhaps this is a turning point for Archie? We’ll see.As for Susan, I’m slowly getting tired of her serving as nothing more than a detriment to Archie — every single book, she gets herself captured or attacked, and Archie is the one who has to fix whatever mistakes she made or rescue her or whatever. You can only use a character for that purpose so many times before it starts to get stale. Susan got stale to me several books ago.Also, Gretchen just isn’t that scary anymore. She was a terrifying force in the first book, but now she’s saving people and playing “devious tricks”; where’s the psychopathic killer who tortures people to death? She certainly wasn’t in this book. I get that Cain is trying to develop her alongside Archie, but the effect of her status as a “prolific serial killer” has long started to lose its luster. She’s not quite as interesting anymore.So, I had a bit of a mixed reaction to this book. I thought the plot and new/periphery character development played out well, but Cain still hit a few sore spots for me.
    • 3/5
      Ugh, I am so cheesed off. I realise that Chelsea Cain was hardly going to kill off her cash cow, but I didn't plough through five books for Gretchen to notch up another level on the smug-o-meter and then escape yet again. The damn character is more like a cartoon villain - now she's a master computer hacker, reprogramming cars to deliver her playthings to her. STOP NOW PLEASE. Even if Cain writes book seven, I'm done. I think.The story was also a let down, turning all pseudo-le Carre with Jack and Leo Reynolds instead of sticking to the usual gruesome killings. The 'other killer' was easy to spot, because they were yet another honking great cliche. And I didn't actually care about any of them. Archie and Susan's stupidity somehow increased, to the point where I felt Gretchen's frustration, and Archie's libido was off the charts - there's a revolting scene involving Gretchen and a security camera that grossed me out more than all of her murders.I was gripped by this series, I'll admit, but character development is more important than story arcs. Archie and Susan just never learn - Gretchen isn't smart, they're just thick and predictable. And exactly how many times can one dangerous serial killer escape from prison? I'm done.
    • 4/5
      This series is so, so good.

      Archie FINALLY makes some emotional progress, and in a way that feels really natural and satisfying.

      Susan is still adorable, and she still fucks everything up every step of the way. Her hair is dyed black and white like a skunk's in this one.

      Gretchen is in this one, and in a really fun way, although she seems to be able to do pretty much anything. She's like Batman or MacGyver or something.
    • 4/5
      I look forward to EVERY Archie Sheridan/Gretchen Lowell book. They're delightfully twisted but, more importantly, full of likable, well-drawn characters. I can "see" them all in my head, in fact--Susan (she's got a skunk stripe in this one!), Henry, Archie's ex-wife, Debbie, etc.LET ME GO continues where the last book left off: Gretchen has left Archie a dog and is on the run (yet again). But she comes back to Portland to celebrate Archie's birthday (Halloween), just as Archie heads to the secluded island of drug dealer Jack Reynolds (dad of Leo, Susan's boyfriend who happens to be undercover DEA).We discover that Archie's girlfriend Rachel is more than meets the eye (no surprise), and, as always, there's a high body count and lots of blood in this book.My only criticism is that the whole "Gretchen-on-the-loose-and-able-to-kill-a-dozen-men-with-just-a-scalpel" is running thin. And, the fact that Susan got in a car ALONE, without police protection, is just unthinkable (it wasn't that long ago that she saw Pearl slaughtered in her bathroom. The gal MUST have PTSD!).If you enjoy the Archie/Gretchen series, you'll like this latest installment...as long as you suspend some belief.
    • 4/5
      I have never read this author before and the series was unfamiliar to me so I wasn't sure exactly what to expect. The book captured my attention from the beginning and never let go. I really enjoyed Cain's writing style which was fast paced, easy to read, and smoothly kept the action going. Cain does a good job at developing all three of her main characters (Archie, Susan, and even Gretchen) and I was able to catch on to what was going on even though I haven't read the previous books. I also enjoyed that Archie had his flaws and that his mistakes seemed to catch up with him quite a bit, but he was a rootable character because he kept going and tried to do the right thing even at personal cost to himself. The Archie/Susan relationship was my favorite relationship in the book, and I enjoyed how Cain set up an unusual triangle with Susan/Archie/Gretchen. The ending was action packed, and with the open ending I look forward to the next installment to see what happens next. Overall this was a great read although the book does contain some graphic scenes that may be hard for some readers. I really enjoyed it though and look forward to reading another Cain book.
    • 2/5
      I fear for this author's soul, as well as sanity. Although an excellent writer, the gore and pornography ruined the book beyond hope. A pity.
    • 1/5
      Ugh.

      That's all I have to say.

      Let me elaborate:
      I really have no idea why I subject myself to this series except I have some really annoying masochostic side to my personality. I believe Let Me Go is about Det. Archie Sheridan trying to protect Leo Reynolds cover when Leo's handler, Carl, is killed. Also, serial killer extraordinaire Gretchen Lowell is still on the run. It's also Archie's birthday. And Halloween.
      There's also a serial killer on the loose.

      This is just me simplifying the story. How many times is Cain going to repeat the same old oddly sexual/torturous relationship between Archie and Gretchen? I am sorry but I am not buying Gretchen as the anti hero Cain wants her to be. Chick is a violent amoral serial killer. But apparently now, she's a capable hacker. Perhaps her name should be changed to Mary Sue.

      What was with all of the graphic sex scenes? They were not necessary.

      I hate it when characters are saying something totally right but their characters are totally horrible. Case in point: Susan. I really wish she will be killed off. The only positive aspect about Let Me Go is that is was ridiculously fast to read. I am cutting myself off from all future Archie/Gretchen novels until I get proof that it's the end and that everybody but Henry and Claire dies.
    • 4/5
      Detective Archie Sheridan is back again so we know it won't be long until we see Gretchen Lowell, the enticing serial killer. Archie and Gretchen are obsessed with one another. He fell in lust with her before he knew she was the Beauty Killer and before she kidnapped him and removed his spleen. After torturing him for days she mysteriously let him go and turned herself in. Struggling with an addiction to pain pills, Archie is clean but not completely healed. He is a high-strung insomniac whose marriage ended but he still tries to see his two children and be a good father.

      The plot of this story begins with a hunt for the murderer of undercover DEA cop. Archie, and his partner Henry, believe this death is related to the victim's job. Archie helped the victim place a young man undercover into the drug dealing organization and now they are concerned that he may be the next to be murdered. To make matters worse, the double agent is Leo, Susan Ward's boyfriend and son of the drug dealer.

      Chelsea Cain has the ability to create atmosphere and intrigue through which Archie tries to solve the murder. Archie is more physically and psychologically healthy than we have ever seen him. Susan isn't the naive young woman she used to be. Gretchen, as usual, is full of surprises.

      I really enjoyed the first three novels in this series (Heartsick/Sweetheart/Evil at Heart). I continue to read and enjoy each of the new ones, but I'm beginning to wonder where Cain plans to take this series. Each one seems to have a slightly revised version of the same plot. Like many other series, sometimes it's time to change it up a bit. I love the supporting cast of characters and hope Cain will feature them in her next story. It wouldn't be a Archie/Gretchen book without their sick relationship but it's time to stop focusing purely on that.

      For now, I'm still a fan and will read the next one. I would definitely recommend reading these all in order though.
    • 3/5
      This is the sixth installment in Chelsea Cain's series about a serial killer and the cop who has been involved with her in many ways. I've enjoyed this series quite a bit, but it's becoming clear that it has run its course. The characters are less vivid than they've been and Gretchen Lowell, the serial killer, has slowly changed into someone who can do anything, manipulate anyone and go anywhere undetected despite being extraordinarily beautiful. It's boring. Even Susan, the disorganized journalist with amazing googling skills and a quirky personality, was flat. The actual plot was interesting enough, even if it took Gretchen acting as a sort of Deus ex Machina to resolve things. Really, this one is only for the die hard fans who have trouble letting go.
    • 4/5
      I don’t know if this is the last book in the series, not after reading the book. I feel like there is so much more left in the story. But I don’t know if more books would keep the thrill up or not. After a while, a chase between a man and serial killer can get old if it’s the same thing over and over. There are differences in each novel but I do feel like it’s the same thing over and over. Perhaps because I haven’t seen much character development between Archie and Gretchen, which would give it the change and the thrill to each novel. Still, like I’ve mentioned before, the books are still thrilling in themselves, since they are meant to be thrillers with mystery. I’ll be keeping my eyes out for a new book by Cain, in case this isn’t the last book in the series. If you enjoy serial killer mystery/thrillers, I would recommend this book.
    • 4/5
      Chelsea Cain’s Let Me Go is the sixth book in her Archie Sheridan / Gretchen Lowell series. If you haven’t read the series, start with Heartsick and work your way down. For a standalone, read The Night Season. Let Me Go is not a standalone and Cain mentions a few cases and people from the other books, hence the reason I recommend starting with Heartsick.Let Me Go picks up shortly after Kill You Twice leaves off. Gretchen is still at large and for once Archie takes things in stride. When Archie receives some unsettling news, he sets out to meet with Leo Reynolds, son of drug lord Jack Reynolds and a secret DEA agent. Soon Archie finds out Jack is the one pulling the strings and Leo is being kept on a tight leash. Archie attends a party at Jack’s estate hoping to put Susan at ease regarding Leo, but what he finds has him asking questions and wondering who to trust. When Susan gets involved, Archie knows he won’t rest easy, but when a woman’s body is found, everyone is on alert and thoughts of Gretchen are in full force. Will Archie discover Jack’s secret before it is too late or will Gretchen strike again?In my Kill You Twice review, I asked how much more can Archie take and judging from the events in Let Me Go, he’s a lot stronger than I gave him credit for. It was nice to see Archie more relaxed and go with the flow versus always hard at work. I liked that he gave up the reins a bit, but at the same time I wished he wouldn’t be that hero. The one that needs to save the day and wow, does he ever! As always, my heart breaks for him and what Gretchen did to him. Just when we think he’s away from her grasp, Gretchen makes an appearance and it all goes to hell. It’s scary to think how much planning Gretchen must have done to orchestrate everything she does. Then again, I’m reminded of her use of apprentices and really do begin to question how many she has out there.I like what Cain did in Let Me Go and moving away from centralized Gretchen crimes; however, Let Me Go was bit unsteady especially when you compare it to The Night Season. Granted the differences between both books are clearly evident especially since Gretchen was in prison and here she’s still missing. Cain attempts to throw suspicion on Gretchen as the perpetrator of a few murders, but there’s a flaw. Gretchen is not sighted near these crimes and of course there are Gretchen sightings in other parts of the world except Portland. It all comes together and when Gretchen shows her card, I still had questions. Heck, I’m still not sure what to make of the final chapters involving the real culprit and Gretchen’s ultimate role. Perhaps, in the end, that’s the beauty of Cain’s writing: she leaves you asking questions.I always enjoy Cain’s books and Let Me Go was bittersweet. I like Leo and worry about him even more. I won’t go into detail because I really don’t want to ruin things for readers, but I do have to wonder how many past characters Cain will kill. It just seems a little too neat. As for Gretchen herself, I do wonder how much further we can go especially with her ability to kill so many people in x amount of time. Those of us longing for a Susan and Archie romance will probably have to reconsider after seeing what Gretchen does in Let Me Go. In Evil At Heart, we learn of Archie’s grand confession and we see bits and pieces of his relationship with Gretchen in Sweetheart, but in Let Me Go we get to the heart of it and it’s just as twisted as we expected it to be.As with the previous installments, Cain has wanting more and sadly we’ll have to wait a little longer for a seventh book.If you’re a fan of mystery thrillers, I highly recommend Chelsea Cain’s Let Me Go. Just a bit of warning: be prepared for dark humor and you might want to rethink eating before reading any of Cain’s books.
    • 4/5
      Detective Archie Sheridan wants his birthday and Halloween to pass quietly and uneventfully, an unlikely prospect when Gretchen Lowell, a serial killer with a particular obsession with him, is still free. While celebrating his birthday with his ex-wife and his kids, he is called to a crime scene where a DEA agent is murdered, leading him to believe their undercover agents are now compromised. This includes Susan's boyfriend, Leo Reynolds whose father is notorious druglord. So, Archie finds himself of Jack Reynolds' Halloween party on a secluded island to make sure Leo is alive. After a strange night that he only remembers part of, it's clear that Gretchen is back and eager to give him her sick interpretation of a birthday present complete with an abduction and certain death for that person if she doesn't get her way. The latest book in the Gretchen Lowell/Archie Sheridan series is thrilling, disturbing, bloody, and darkly funny.This is the sixth book in this series and it shows no signs of slowing down or becoming stale. These characters are changing and growing through each book. Archie is more physically and psychologically healthy than we have ever seen him. He has a girlfriend (with a resemblance to Gretchen and a heart tattoo, but still a step in the right direction) and successfully kicked his drug habit. Susan isn't the naive, soft young woman she used to be. Interactions with various serial killers has hardened her and made her tougher. She has the same gung-ho attitude and flamboyant fashion sense, but she's not as trusting and careless to danger. Leo, usually the suave and annoyingly handsome playboy, is a shell of himself. Disheveled, emotionally broken, depressed, and borderline alcoholic, the role of double agent is significantly wearing on him. In the course of six books, these characters are not static, nor are they perfect.At first, it seemed like Gretchen Lowell would be largely absent from Let Me Go like in The Night Season because she was on the run and there was no focus on her for the first half of the novel. Like many of the other books, her influence throughout the majority of the events becomes clear as the plot goes on. She is back to her old self after being medicated and transformed in prison. Her level of brutality and sadism is elevated and went places I never thought would be explored. We also see a different side to her and just how dangerous she can really be up close. Her early relationship with Archie is explored before she tortured him and before he knew she was a murderer. It shows more of her manipulation and the way she really screwed with Archie's head. Gretchen is one of the few female serial killers portrayed in fiction, but she's magnetic and repellent at the same time. You're curious to see what she will do, but you also dread it. Through 6 books, she (and her twisted relationship with Archie) is still interesting and dynamicLet Me Go has a lot going on and it could have easily become a convoluted mess. Chelsea Cain rises to the challenges and keeps each thread of the story clear and detailed. I will read as many books as she will write with this series. I have had my doubts before, but she has earned my complete faith and I would read anything she wrote.
    • 4/5
      Pretty darn good for the 6th in the series! Maybe one of the best! There is a murder on a drug kingpin's island, Gretchen Lowell is still on the loose, and Archie Sheridan seems to be giving back in to his addiction to pain killers. Wow - serial killers and pain killers all in one place!?! Tunnels, a masquerade party , and big ol' snakes add to the mystery and drama! I liked it a lot and felt a sense of comfort opening up the cover and reading about all the characters again! SPOILER ALERT: My only "complaint" is: since when did Gretchen become sort of a "super human" killer? I mean, she takes out a whole island of body guards who had serious weapons at their disposal? Umm, how? It seemed like a big of a stretch to m
    • 4/5
      Listened for fun (Audible)Overall Rating: 4.00Story Rating: 3.50Character Rating: 4.50Audio Rating: 4.50 (not part of the overall rating)First Thought when Finished: Let Me Go was strong in character development/growth but the story wasn't my favorite in the series.Note: If I was rating this book against the others in the series it would have been 3. Let Me go when compared against others in the genre ranks a 4. Choosing how to rank on goodreads, I tend to stick with my higher inclination but wanted to note that it wasn't the strongest in the series.Story Thoughts: Parts of Let Me Go were fantastic. Oddly enough, it was the parts that involved the case that Archie was working on. However, the parts with Gretchen just did not feel like their normal magic to me. Parts were repetitious and other parts I just wanted more from. That being said, this was a very good read! I love Chelsea's writing and I highly recommend her!Character Thoughts: Archie is a fascinating character to me. His experiences with Gretchen have made him more complicated, damaged, and very good at his job. I am though, hopeful for him! I want him to let in happiness. This one didn't get him there but I think I see a spark. I really liked the character development of Susan in Let Me Go. She is really getting to shine and come into her own. I believe she is almost as fascinating as Gretchen. Gretchen is still Gretchen! What I love about her is that she knows herself so well and acts accordingly!Audio Thoughts: Narrated By Christina Delaine / Length: 13 hrs and 3 mins Christina has done a freaking fantastic job since taking over the series. I really think she gets the characters spot on. She changes her emotions to match who she is narrating and you can tell just from that! Overall a fantastic performance.Final Thoughts: Again on the countdown to the next installment.
    • 2/5
      We revisit with Archie, Gretchen and the gang once more in this sixth installment of the series. Gretchen is still on the run after escaping from the psychiatric facility and manages to insert herself into Archie’s latest case. For Archie, investigating a drug kingpin is certainly not part of his recovery and he, somewhat predictably, lapses in his own narcotic rehab.

      Despite that fact it has Hallowe’en and Archie’s birthday as main events, I didn’t find anything to celebrate about this book. With this installment I feel that Ms. Cain has run out of steam. When the series first started I found Gretchen Lowell shocking as a female serial killer who could put Hannibal Lector to shame. Susan was a quirky and fun, a bit of color in the drab world of police blue. Archie as the troubled abused and ineffective cop was a nice change from the go-get-‘em super cops in many other books. Now I am finding the characters tired and frequently annoying. Personally, I feel it’s time to end Gretchen’s reign of terror, give Susan and Archie a happily ever after ending and call it quits on the Beauty Killer series.
    • 4/5
      It has to be amazingly difficult to write a book where the main character has a lust, hate relationship with a serial killer and yet this character is flawed but likable. Archie has, to say the least terrible and strange tastes in women. Although I love the character of Susan, she has her weirdness and quirks as well. Rachel, his new lust/love interest is very weird too. It is these relationships and characters as well as the steady Henry and Leo, of the mob boss persuasion, that keeps these novels so interesting. The plots are almost background, material for the characters to do whatever the author wants these characters to do.So yes, there is plenty of violence, some of it graphic. There is a police investigation and the murder of an undercover DEA agent, but as usual there is Archie and Gretchen always in the background, though not a prevalent in this one and of course Susan, trying to figure everything out. Another good and fascinating character study from Cain.
    • 5/5
      Archie Sheridan would just like to get his birthday and Halloween over with but the murder of a DEA agent send him to a masquerade party on an island owned by Jack Reynolds, international drug lord. Archie is supposed to find Leo, Jack's son, to assess if his cover has been blown or if he can continue working with the DEA to bring down his father's business. Archie finds Leo - and a whole lot of trouble. When a camera captures serial killer Gretchen Lowell easily crossing the Canadian border back into the states, Archie knows his troubles have just begun. The last few books in this series have been good but failed to reach the level of eerie tension achieved in Heartsick and Sweetheart. Chelsea Cain nails it in Let Me Go, using graphic sexuality and violence to ferment the visceral unease exemplified by Gretchen and to remind the reader that our hero also has some serious character flaws. With this book, Cain adds a new dimension to Gretchen's skills, creating a different and compelling layer to her relationships with Archie and the other series characters. Well-plotted and unsettling, with complicated, evolving characters - an extremely satisfying thriller!
    • 5/5
      Ooh, how I love me some Chelsea Cain and some Archie and some Gretchen and some Susan. Let Me Go is the newest installment in the Archie & Gretchen saga and boy, was this one a doozie! Gretchen is on the run and as usual she enjoys spending her spare time terrorizing Archie Sheridan and those around him.

      For this installment, we leave the strip clubs of downtown Portland and head about 20 minutes south to the affluent suburb of Lake Oswego. This is a fast paced, busy book with activity (aka danger and threats) on all fronts. At times I felt like I was getting tossed around and dragged from room to room....and loving every minute of it!

      Let Me Go is edgier but it also shows us a different side of Gretchen (not sure that I can say a softer side, though). She's still a killer and she's still wicked and twisted but Cain leaves us with some definite questions about what Gretchen will be doing next. lI've recommended this series to so many people and with Let Me Go, I will continue to recommend it to anyone that can handle a fair amount of gore.
    • 3/5
      I still love Archie and Susan, and this book delivered lots of them. It was pure fun, while not being *too* gruesome. I already want the next one.
    • 4/5
      The backstory: Let Me Go is the sixth novel in Chelsea Cain's Gretchen Lowell and Archie Sheridan series. The basics: It's Halloween in Portland. It's also Archie's birthday. And Gretchen is still on the loose. Archie dreads the holiday and fears how many will dress as Gretchen for Halloween, giving her the perfect opportunity to blend in and make an appearance.My thoughts: This series is one of my favorites. It is dark and disturbing, but Cain infuses these characters with so much humanity and has built this world so well that the violence and psychological terror are never cheap ploys; they're compelling insight into the mind of a brilliant, flawed villain and the hold she has over Archie. There are so many complex webs of relationships present in Let Me Go. As I listened, I marveled at how many details from past books came into play. I'm curious how many of the stories told in Let Me Go were mapped out many books ago. Cain deftly builds upon the past details of this series and puts events in past books into new light. There were certainly a few scenes so brutal they were hard to listen to, but they always serve a greater purpose in Cain's books, and I admire her ability to tell such bold, dark stories in a beautifully humane way.Audio thoughts: After reading the first five in print, it was a transition to listen to this one. In some ways, this transition is similar to seeing the film version of a novel, but I soon adjusted to Delaine's excellent narration. What I particularly liked was her patience. Chelsea Cain's novels are so addictive I sometimes find myself reading faster and faster, yet Delaine took the time to pause and build even more suspense.The verdict: Let Me Go is a wonderful installment in a series that is one of my favorites. The complicated relationships Archie Sheridan has continue to add nuance. It's a testament to Cain that I struggle to clearly delineate between these novels--the characters continue to develop and grow, and it's impossible to really assess these novels individually. Let Me Go in particular draws on past details and nuance beautifully, and I can't wait to see where Cain takes these characters next.
    • 4/5
      Gretchen Lowell is easily the best written serial killer you probably have never heard of. In Gretchen, Chelsea Cain has created a character that is a cross between Kate Upton and Hannibal Lecter. A killer who's pleasure in killing is only matched by her desire for the detective who captures her. In this sixth installment of the series Gretchen has escaped from the mental institution and is on the loose. While everyone is sure she has run to Canada, she is in fact, quite close to the one cop who is obsessed with Gretchen Lowell, Detective Archie Sheridan....The pain is still there, but it is diluted by his mounting arousal. He shudders, almost dizzy, pleasure coursing through him. "Can I stab you again?" she asks, out of breath. He kisses her hard, pressing her against the wall, and she pushes her tongue deep into his mouth, just as hungrily. He tastes blood. He doesn't know whose. The he remembers his wife. "Don't leave any marks," he says... Sheridan has fallen into a deep spiral of drug abuse and loss since Gretchen Lowell strapped him down and tortured him for ten days. Now with his task force he throws himself into his work but Gretchen is never far away. From his wreck of a marriage to his current relationship with a girl who demands no commitment from him and looks just like Gretchen. What remains of Archie Sheridan is the bits and pieces that Gretchen left him with. An FBI agent is murdered and his informant is at risk. The informant is a friend of Archie's and now the detective must secure the safety of the friend. This takes Sheridan to an island owned by a drug lord and the mysterious death of a young girl. And a video, a video from the island security cameras showing Gretchen Lowell...."What do you want Gretchen?" Archie asked. Her eyebrows lifted slightly. "Aren't you happy to see me?" she asked. She sighed, leaned her cheek against his shoulder, and lifted a hand to his chest. Archie swallowed hard. Up close, her skin always amazed him. It was smooth, without lines or pores, like a doll's. He moved his hand down to the small of her back. "Is she still alive?" he asked softly. Gretchen took a few breaths, nuzzling against his shirt. "I know how much you care about her," she said, fingers drumming against the cloth of his shirt. "I know you want to keep her safe. But I also know that you are little bit tempted to put a bullet through my brain. So I want you to know this." She was drawing on his chest with her finger. The same shape, over and over. A heart. "She is someplace where no one will find her, so if you kill me, she will die."The relationship between Archie Sheridan and Gretchen Lowell is what makes the dynamic of the novels work. Archie is obsessed and in love with Gretchen. An emotion that even with her killing cannot change. As for Gretchen, you can never tell if she loves Archie back or just has a sense that he belongs to her. A possessive nature that overrides everything and keeps bringing her back into his life. You almost wonder if she allows herself to be caught just to be near him....Gretchen's gaze moved from the screen to Archie, and she regarded him with that cold, impenetrable expression he knew so well. Then something behind the mask fluctuated, and her lip quavered. "Do you really think I ruined your life?", she asked. The scalpel wound barely hurt now. The handkerchief was soaked with blood. Archie peeled it from his flesh and tossed it on the table. "No," he said. "I did that all by myself."Let Me Go is a strong addition to the series that features the best serial killer and detective duo to come along in a long time.