Heartless

by Alison Gaylin

Occult cults and disturbing twists in another Alison Gaylin triumph - don't miss this frighteningly good romantic thriller

After ditching a high-powered Manhattan job to join her lover Warren in a tiny, quaint Mexican town, Zoe Greene's ready for a more tranquil way of life. But as soon as she arrives in San Esteban, it's clear there's something very strange lurking behind its idyllic appearance. Creepy local customs, a gruesome recent murder, and Warren's peculiar disappearances do little to ease her fears. When tourists are killed, Zoe decides it's finally time to get to the bottom of the sinister goings-on. But it could be asking questions is really only asking for trouble...

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Chick Lit, Suspense, Crime

320 pages, Paperback

First published September 2, 2008

About the author

USA Today and international bestselling author Alison Gaylin has won the Edgar and Shamus awards, and has been nominated for many more, including the L.A. Times Book Prize, the ITW Thriller, the Strand Book Award, the Anthony and the Macavity. She is currently at work on her 15th novel.

Series:
* Samantha Leiffer Mystery
* Simone Glass Mystery

Reviews

[Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

For some reason I just could not seem to really get into this book. It seemed to lack any real depth of character development, so I therefore did not really care about what happened to any of the characters. Difficult to immerse oneself into a book when this is the case. Strange story and never explained why the cult followers followed the leader, so to speak. What were they getting out of it? No real direction made it all very confusing.

[T.S.C. Lawrence · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think I sighed more than I am willing to admit reading this book.
Not because the whole murder mystery angle wasn't good, the actual premise of the entire story is dark and very well planned out and to that I will give the author massive credit.
A blood letting cult that believes in cutting the bad from themselves and feeding it to the earth in order to stop the end of the world...It's a creepy ass story, let's say that. And certain parts had my nose wincing at the graphic nature of the detail of the murders which again, credit where credit is due to the author for painting such vivid imagery.
What I can't get behind is the fact the MC might possibly be the DUMBEST character I have ever, EVER, in the history of all books, read.
Not only does she figure out that hm, something isn't quite right about this town, or about my boyfriend or in fact, just about anything. But I am going to go to a party in which I know they are blood letting, GET INTOXICATED (heavily, I might add), to drown it all out and pretend it isn't happening and they don't want to sacrifice me, then when I am nearly sacrificed and have my heart near ripped out go hm, you know what I'm gonna do?
Stay.
I'm gonna stay and figure out this entire mystery for myself...with zero help! Cus scooby- fucking- doo logic.
Cue face palming. Oh, and let us not gloss over the part where the author basically justifies paedophilia by saying the 15 year old girl her boyfriend is sleeping with looks, 'more like 25 so therefore, you can see why he did it.'
Also later calling it borderline paedophilia...SHE IS 15 YEARS OLD, IT IS PAEDOPHILIA, WHAT YOU MEEEEEAN!
I'm tired, I need to cuddle up in a ball and pretend I didn't just read dumb.
Onto the next.

[Bridget Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yet another book by this great author so I knew what I was getting into. Not my favorite book as you knew from the start kinda what you were getting into. She didn't beat around the bush at all. But you weren't sure who was going the killings until the end so there was a twist. I didn't love that the main character was acting like she chose not to see what was right in front of her face when Naomi was telling her look these things are weird and Zoe is trying to explain it away but really she knows this makes sense and we can end the book right now so that part annoyed me but I get it, its a book. It was a good read, not the best of her books. I think you could skip this book and wouldn't be missing out. You could also read this book and you wouldn't be let down either just don't get expect the best book ever. It is a quick fast paced read.

[Barbara Nutting · Rating 1 out of 5]

With rave blurbs by Harlan Coben, Lee Child and Lisa Gardner on the cover I thought I’d found a good book. You guys lied - it was trite and teenagey. Got to page 70 and then skipped to the epilogue - I don’t know how this even got published. Jordan is first mentioned as a sexy 19 year old on page one - by page 47 he is mentioned as an American Idol winner, spelling his name Jordin and being referred to as her????? Huh? That’s the end of that author for me. 😜

[Roberta Crownover · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I'm not comfortable with the unexplained woo-woo, Gaylin's novel is solid and enjoyable on many levels.
I found her leavening of tense situations compelling. Gaylin releases her characters presence.

[Anke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Een goede, originele thriller.

[Robyn Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Audible

[Jongii Pips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gaylin really loves to incorporate lore and I really love it. Suspenseful and the characters are on point.

[Donnelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

AFter I first picked up one of Ms. Gaylin's books a few years ago, I found myself quickly devouring all of her books that I could get my hands on, all because of one simple reason: her characters are truly interesting. All too often, authors fill their books with stock characters who merely take up space, instead of adding anything to the story. Alison Gaylin, however, is truly adept at character development, so that everyone in her books seems (for lack of a better word) real, in that all are flawed, but they are also truly interesting, and compel readers to want to learn more about them.

The characters in Heartless are no exception. While delving into topics ranging from the cult of personality to daytime television to the world of journalism to human sacrifice, the reader is introduced to people who run the gamut from being emotionally-scarred and trying to heal, to those whose pleasant facades mask obsession and murder.

Additionally, Gaylin really brings the setting of San Estaban to life with an abundance of rich, sensory details that paint a picture of a place that is simultaneously beautiful and foreboding.

This isn't just a run-of-the-mill thriller. It's a book that is truly creepy and disturbing on a multitude of levels, while also incorporating twists and turns to keep readers on their toes. In short, it's a genuinely good book from a very talented author.

[Evelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Magazine editor Zoe Greene joins her soap opera star lover Warren Clark on a vacation to his home in Mexico where she learns a teenaged boy was murdered and his heart cut out. As Zoe begins to investigate the murder, she learns about a strange Aztec-like cult that believes fresh human blood is the secret to staying young.

Occult horror meets chick-lit suspense. I've loved the sassy style of Gaylin's writing, but this is not my favorite because the story is a little too far out there. Still the book is fast-paced and keeps you guessing until the end.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so glad that SYKM (stopyourekillingme.com) recommended Alison Gaylin to me. Each one is so different, but so good. This one invovled a cult-type group in Mexico that was cutting out the hearts of the people they killed. Wasn't what the whole story was about, so don't be put off by that. The main character is a journalist and she finds herself interwoven into this strange tale and, almost, a victim. If you like light mystery with a little suspense and a little romance, you will like Alison Gaylin.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alison Gaylin's last novel (TRASHED) was like a cross between Nancy Drew and the E! Channel. In other words, I liked it very much. Her newest book is good too. The subtitle of this one should read: Nancy Drew Goes to Mexico and Tangles with an Aztec Cult.

A little bit of advice for any of my friends who are thinking about taking a vacation south of the border: Don't sign up with a tour group calling itself Sangre Para La Vida. You may not get back alive.

[Ellen Stenzler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd give this book 3 and 1/2 stars. I read Gaylin's most recent 2 publications, and I read Heartless thinking it would be along the same lines. I enjoyed Heartless...it was certainly a page turner with a little bit of a twist ending. I thought the characters were pretty well developed, but the plot line was just a little too "out there" for me.

[Dobby [on hiatus] · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the author's earlier novels. This story didn't grab me like Trashed, published the year before Heartless. I'm kinda squeamish, so the whole cutting-out-the-beating-heart thing makes this a one-time read for me. For an early novel, this is not bad. I always like reading an established author's earlier works to see how they've evolved their style.

[Melissainau · Rating 2 out of 5]

And what was this not-very-good thriller doing with a chicklit publisher? Weird fit for the series and weird story altogether. Not happy.

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved her book, "And She Was". This one wasn't anywhere near as good to me.

[Rafa]

I don't know, this is my first Alison Gaylin book but it's not my cup of tea, the story is kinda boring and it has a lot of twist and turns that will make you leave the book in a corner :|
Rafa xx

[Kim Johnson]

serial killer