Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons!
The many who are lost and never found is a sad reality in real-life criminal investigations. At times the police have exhausted their search, and after many years of looking, close the case. But there are millions of people in our world who do not take closed as an answer. They are the arm-chair detectives that study cases in the hopes of solving what has been deemed unsolvable. A new heroine emerges in fiction with Lisa Gardner's latest thriller, Frankie Elkin. And what is lost will be found, if it makes her the latest to disappear.
Before She Disappeared is Lisa Gardner's twenty-sixth thriller. It is published by Dutton Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House. In this first novel in her new series, Gardner introduces us to Frankie Elkin. Elkin is damaged goods (just ask Frankie). An alcoholic since her teens, she has ridden the addiction train into oblivion on several occasions. All culminating in the death of a loved one. She is dusted off and ready to make her part in the world better. Over ten missing persons cases later, she has found every one of them. Traveling with the bare minimum of personal possessions, she goes from town to town looking for those the police have given up on. Her latest case has her headed to Boston and the area of Mattapan. A local Haitian teen, Angelique Badeau, remains missing after a year. This does not sit well with Frankie.
She enters the predominately Haitian neighborhood only to be met with caution and criticism. But Frankie knows that the best way to get information is to be as familiar and unassuming as possible. To achieve this, Frankie tends bar as she searches for missing people. Who better to trust than the local bartender? Taking a room above Stoney's Bar, she uses her latest employment to gain the interest of the local police, namely Detective Dan Lotham, the lead on the Badeau case. Together they begin to clash as he disagrees with his case being overturned by a civilian. Frankie knows that the statistics are against her. She knows that the police do not like outsiders sniffing into their cases. She also knows that she can bring Angelique back to her family. Frankie searches Mattapan for clues about Angelique before she disappeared.
Before She Disappeared is one of the most solidly written books Lisa Gardner has published. Presented in the first person, Gardner delves deep into the mind of addiction. Her ability to show Frankie Elkin's scars and determination are realistic and often heartbreaking. It only took two chapters for me to be fully ensconced in the life of this amazing woman. Page after page I was entered into a world that I found rich with world-building and excellent character development. The case of Angelique Badeau is one that I wanted to solve as desperately as Frankie. The amazing side characters added depth to the narrative, with the Badeau family tugging at my heart on numerous occasions. The pain and hope that Angelique's family held were visceral and tangible. Presenting this from Frankie's point of view gave the reader the insight to understand her motivations and perseverance. Once the finale arrived, I did not want to continue because I knew the book would end. And what an amazing finale it was.
Before She Disappeared was fortunate to have Hillary Huber as its narrator for the audiobook. Huber's work has amazed me before and this reading was no different. She is one of the voice actresses that I look for when choosing an audio presentation. She never fails to deliver a performance that pulls you in and does not let go. I hope she reads more Frankie Elkin books.
Five Stars later I am looking forward to the second book due in 2022. Lisa Gardner has always been one of my favorite authors. I have reviewed many of her books and short works. Before She Disappeared is up there with Catch Me, Say Goodbye, and When You See Me as one of my favorite novels by her. Curl up with this hot thriller.
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