Gretchen: A Thriller

So this is my first book by this author, I started it the day I purchased it and couldn’t believe I had read over half the book in one sitting.It was a weird relationship between Lucy and her mom, constantly on the run since a kidnap attempt at the age of 2 so they’ve been on the road for 13 years. But there something I could never put my finger on about there relationship.While out for a picnic a man and his son recognise Lucy, right away they upsticks and move this time to a rental that right next to a house, where a girl and her father live, here you meet Gretchen and yes the bad gets Bad.Lucy keeps secrets from her mom, a lot of secrets but then her mom has bigger secrets. And then there’s Gretchen.There are puzzles in it but that’s Gretchen obsession, so don’t be put off about the puzzles if your not a puzzler.But if you like a dark story and many many shocks this is the book for you

This is the sort of book you dive into straight away and don't want to stop. Gretchen's character development is drip fed in small doses of creepy suspense , being interrupted by a second thrilling storyline. Who are the people Lucy and her mum have to keep running from ? Lucy, a fifteen year old who never stays in one place long enough to keep long term friendships, has her own method of recognising people she can trust, but why does she need to be on guard all the time ? Then along comes Gretchen, a loner determined to make a friend of Lucy. What are her motives?No one could predict the outcome when two storylines intertwine in a dramatic end.

Well, this was a weird story. I loved Kirk’s “Method 15/33” and I was really looking forward to this book. In “Method 15/33” we met a genius girl who used what she got at hand to free herself from her kidnappers. In “Gretchen” we meet at last 4 females who are capable of extraordinary things.At first this story seems to be the one of a girl who is always on the run with her mother. She has to keep her head low, has to wear contacts to hide her violet eyes. Her mother fears constantly that someone will recognize her and that would be dangerous. But there is something strange about the whole story. When they run again after Lucy, the girl, made eye contact with someone without wearing her contacts, the story turns into something completely different. Lucy and her mother find a rental in a small town but their landlords turn out to be very very creepy.I was not as gripped by this book as I hoped I would. I missed the tension and I was very early irritated by the strange behavior of Lucy’s mother. I knew something was not right about her story. But what really makes this book difficult to review are the last 25%. I will not say too much about it. It was weird, creepy and so unrealistic. The whole thing became a little muddled. I am really a bit lost here. I just don’t know what I’ve just read. It was an odd book but I think because of that I will remember it. I would read another book from Kirk because I like unique story ideas and she proofed that she has such ideas. And I am curious with what bizarre idea she will come up next.

Right from the off, Gretchen has a skin crawling, scalp-tingling, stomach-churning power over the reader. Shannon Kirk is terrific at off-kilter moments and she can wind up the tension till you almost suffocate. Half way through the novel, she executes a breathtaking switcheroo which is so audacious I thought I must have misread (or--heaven forbid--that she'd cheated!), so I flipped to the beginning, skimmed every chapter, and yup, it was ALL there. I simply didn't see it till it smacked me in the face. So clever!The second half of the novel sees a change of pace, and Kirk achieves this with equal aplomb. The crazy race to the denouement is entertaining and bonkers and breathlessly fast-paced. I simply could not drag myself away until I discovered the fate of Gretchen, Lucy, her mother, and all the other compelling characters in this wonderfully executed tale.

Loved this, my second by this author. Am reading my way through her other books now, wondering why I haven't come across such a good writer before. This book delivers on a lot of levels - great central character, brilliantly creepy, cleverly plotted and very well paced. It is also unexpectedly satisfying, in the sense that it gives a lot more than I expected, like a generous three course dinner when you thought you’d be having a snack.

This is original different and creepyTwo stories colliding .I liked the ambiguity of the woman n child on the runDo we wish her to escape from a darkness chafing her daughter or do we shift our perspectives with each page and chapterWho is Gretchen wat are her motivations how many puzzles does she have !!?? Loved the description of the rooms and place they created and then we delve even deeper into the groundsLitteralyAt times this did feel over the top and a tad out there ,well so wat if it is just go with it though is a fine line between dark storytelling and sillynessOverall a dark adventure rompTy netgalley and publishers thinsi san unbiased honest review

now this, is what i call a good thriller. mind twisting, creepy, unpredictable and even cute if talking about Gretchen Bianchi and Nathan Vinet's relationship. i absolutely adored Lucy as a character for being so brave, bright-smart and sarcastic. i can't see myself being in her shoes if it was happening in real life, i think i'd be devastated, but Lucy, on the other hand, handles all this situation so well. i couldn't enjoy this story more, this is just... ugh, perfect! and Gretchen though, she's so creepy for liking spooky puzzles, real human bones, and she's definitely psychotic. i can't imagine ever becoming acquaintances with a girl THAT obsessed with you in real life. 😂 new favorite book of this year

This book starts off with a mother-daughter relationship that is continually more and more strained. Lucy (the daughter) knows something is off with her mother. Their constant moving leaves Lucy feeling lonely. They are constantly on the move to avoid Lucy's dad from finding them - afraid he might take Lucy away again. Lucy must keep her violet eyes a secret to avoid recognition by the general public. During an outing, Lucy eyes aren't hidden, and someone makes eye contact, which results in Lucy and her mom needing to leave immediately and relocate.During their relocation to a new place, Lucy meets Gretchen. Gretchen is obsessed with puzzles, and she's an odd person. Lucy needs the friendship, so she tolerates Gretchen. Unfortunately, Gretchen isn't just odd. She has serious problems, which Lucy and her mom encounter during their time on the Sabin farm.This book is captivating. I spent several nights reading until I couldn't keep my eyes open. It has so many twists and turns. I enjoyed the ups and downs.I gave it four stars because I felt like the chapters labeled "Mother" didn't get the proper attention they deserved in the first half of the book as a reader because I was reading them from the viewpoint of Lucy's mom not the proper character which made me feel like I missed out on a lot of context. To keep from spoiling the read, I'm not going to elaborate further.That being said, it was thrilling to read, and I would recommend it for those needing a little adventure.

This is a fabulous thriller. One of the best stories and author I've read. Keeps me on the edge of my seat. I hated to have to put the book down. Great story and writing technique. Very scary.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. I'm a fussy reader and rarely leave reviews but this book deserves credit. The characters are intruiging especially Gretchen. The storyline is unique and well paced with just the right amount of creepiness. I would live to see this book made into a movie. Will definitely read more from this author!

Couldn't figure out why this was categorized as a thriller at first and nearly gave up because it wasn't thrilling at all. Until it was. And then it was again. And then some more.Great read, filled with surprises.Still a little confused about the violet eyes and about another character's skin being described as "pulsing."

First experience with this author. Well written thriller