Gretchen Lowell takes bad to a whole new level as the serial killer in Chelsea Cain's novels Heartsick and Sweetheart.

The ongoing story pivots around the twisted relationship between Lowell and detective Archie Sheridan, who is unable to escape the nightmarish influence she wields over him, even from her prison cell.

In this OutLoud interview Cain reveals her soft spot for her serial killer, the ongoing advantage of an unorthodox upbringing, and gives a reading from the new book, Sweetheart.

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Cain spent the first years of her life on a hippy commune in Iowa, but grew up in Washington. Formerly a creative director at a PR firm, Cain was already a published author when the idea for Heartsick came to her. She began writing while she was pregnant and spent two years bringing the novel to fruition. Sweetheart is the second novel in the series.

Cain has also published a number of non-fiction titles, parody Confession of a Teen Sleuth, and The Hippie Handbook. She also writes a regular column for The Oregonian. She lives in Portland with her husband and young daughter.

Sweetheart, £12.99, is published by Macmillan, ISBN: 978-0230015906

Please use the commenting facility to let us know what you think of this book, using the following ratings:

1) Dull as dishwater
2) Okay, but could have been better
3) Pretty good, decent holiday read
4) Really liked it, can't wait for the next one
5) FANTASTIC - couldn't put it down!