Gretchen: A Thriller

(Paperback)

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Description

The new tenants have a terrible secret. So do the landlord and his daughter...

Ever since Lucy was two, she's been on the run alongside her mother. She's never understood the reason for a lifetime of paranoia, aliases, and lies. All she understands are the rules: never lock eyes with strangers, never let down your guard, and always be ready to move on.

Finally, after thirteen years and eleven states, their next hideaway seems perfect. An isolated, fortresslike place in the New Hampshire woods is the new home they share with its owner, a gentlemanly pianist, and his lonely daughter, Gretchen. She's Lucy's age and soon becomes Lucy's first real friend.

But Gretchen and her father have secrets of their own-and an obsession with puzzles that draws Lucy into a terrifying new game of hide-and-seek. Lucy's dark past is about to come calling. And this time, for her and her mother in the house on the hill, it might be too late to run.

Reviews

[A] brilliantly constructed novelThe pieces of the characters broken lives finally slip into place in a truly thrilling climax. Kirk draws the reader into a fascinating world of shifting truths whose details are by turns grotesque, funny, creepy, thoughtful, and exhilarating. Publishers Weekly (starred review) A deftly crafted suspense thriller of a novel, Gretchen is a truly compelling page-turner of a read from beginning to end. Midwest Book Review Suspense galore and creepiness aboundKirk really is fantastic at keeping you guessing and surprising the reader with bizarre twists that click everything into place!Five stars to this creepy book! Night Worms Gretchen is a very dark suspense/thrillerWhat youll find in this book are two interwoven tales, a mother and daughter on the run, full of secrets, and a father/daughter duo just trying to enjoy their projectsWhile the whole book moves well, the last half blazes a trail of on the edge of your seat writing. Wow. Ladies of Horror Fiction Just like Gillian Flynn is the queen of disturbing, Shannon Kirk is the queen of insane and creepyThe author knows how to create a deranged character and make them blend flawlessly into an unsettling, cinematic storyline. Her writing style definitely stands out. Ludwig's Thrillers There is a likeable narrator struggling through a personal drama, an atmospheric location that sets the stage for dread, and a cast of characters that are hiding so many secrets its hard to keep up. Whatever you think youre getting into with this book, its that and so much more! What Jess Reads Shannon Kirk is well on her way to establishing her very own brandmaybe her own genre. After last years In the Vines, Kirk returns with another unique blend of Gothic, Horror, and Mystery. It is not easy to come up with something that is completely different, but Shannon Kirk certainly manages to do that. BOLO Books grippingKirks flair for description brings the creepy landlord and his daughters bizarre lives and dwelling vividly to life. Crime Fiction Lover Gretchen is a remarkable psychological thriller with horror and cult aspectsOh, and a creepy little girl obsessed with puzzles. She Reads Gretchen terrified me, made me laugh, made my jaw hit the floorI had to wonder what kind of sorceress Kirk is, to have wormed her way into my brain and then written exactly the kind of story that makes me jump out of my skin and burns its way into my memory. The best kind. Emily Carpenter, bestselling author of Until the Day I Die Spine-tingling and deliciously creepy, Shannon Kirks Gretchen has a way of getting into your head, making you frantically turn the pages to find out what shell do next, and who shell let live. Even if youre a master at expecting the unexpected, you might want to read with the lights on. Hannah McKinnon, author of Sailing Lessons Shannon Kirk is known for her complex, layered portrayals of strong women of all ages, and her latest does not disappoint. Creepy, haunting, and beautifully told in Kirks signature lyrical prose, Gretchen is a blend of the best of thriller and horror. This is Kirks most masterful storytelling yet. Jennifer Hillier, author of Jar Of Hearts Im so glad I read this during the daytime, when the sun was shining and I was in a plane full of peopleFive terrifying stars. Kimberly Belle, bestselling author of Three Days Missing and Dear Wife

Author Bio

Shannon Kirk is the international bestselling and award-winning author of In the Vines, The Extraordinary Journey of Vivienne Marshall, and Method 15/33. Growing up in New Hampshire, Shannon and her brothers were encouraged by their parents to pursue the arts, which instilled in her a love for writing at a young age. A graduate of Suffolk Law School in Massachusetts, Shannon is a practicing litigation attorney and former adjunct law professor, specializing in electronic-evidence law. When she isnt writing or practicing law, Shannon spends time with her husband, son, and two cats. To learn more about her, visit www.shannonkirkbooks.com.