Tl;dr: Never Tell is an outstanding suspense/thriller that starts off fast and then goes even faster all the way to the end *and* while featuring not one, not two, but three fascinating female leads.

I've been reading Lisa Gardner for ages, so I jumped at the chance to read an ARC of Never Tell. Fans of D. D. Warren and Gardner's newest, and imo, fascinating share-the-lead character, Flora Dane, are in for a fast-paced, satisfying read.

One of the things I like best about Ms. Gardner's writing is that even if you are new to her books, they're still a good read. It's no small feat to hand out enough backstory to hook new readers while not boring longtime fans, but she always manages to do so, which is why I've been reading her books since The Perfect Husband (pre-D.D.!!)

Never Tell opens with an anxious, pregnant Evie Carter returning home to face her husband Conrad.

Minutes later, the police arrive. Conrad has been shot three times. His computer has been shot twelve times. And Evie is holding the gun.

Evie is arrested for Conrad's murder and D.D. is on the case--turns out, Evie shot her father about sixteen years ago, but claimed it was an accident. It was one of D. D.'s first cases and she's never been totally convinced that Evie's father died accidentally, making her very suspicious.

Then Flora appears near the crime scene. Turns out, she's pretty sure she's seen the dead husband, Connor, before--and under the worst possible circumstances. In Never Tell, Flora has to go back to memories of a time she doesn't want to revisit even as she can never forget. I won't say more because I think Flora is Ms. Gardner's best character yet, and her story is very much worth reading.

Of course, it's great to read about D.D. again--while motherhood has mellowed her out a little, she's still a no nonsense, incredibly perceptive cop who is willing to examine every angle she needs to-- even if she finds that each angle leads to another. Or three.

Rounding out the cast of main characters is Evie, who is actually--imo--almost as fascinating as Flora. She's so smart, but has spent her entire life living in the shadow of her genius father who died at her hands. (You can guess that twist, but it still works) And it turns out that marriage to Conrad was not easy--but exactly why...well, that's one of the reasons why Never Tell is one of those books you start, vowing to read only X number of chapters only to end up reading way, way more than that.

Longtime fans and new readers are in for a gripping and well done thriller with Never Tell. While it's not perfect--it is very, very obvious who drives the more muder-y (murdery??) aspects of the plot--it is very, very good. 4.25 rounded up to five because Flora! And also because I would have preordered this about three chapters in--except I've already done that because Ms. Gardner's books are just that good.

If you're a fan of Gardner's other books, then you will enjoy this one. Same formula, nothing really groundbreaking here but a nice little thriller that can easily be finished in a day or two.

Boston Sergeant Detective D.D. Warren and vigilante Flora Dane (a survivor of a serial killer, who now advocates for other women) are back in Lisa Gardner's "Never Tell".

It starts with the discovery of a man shot dead in his home office. It seems a slam dunk that his pregnant wife killed Conrad - Evie is found standing over the body after repeatedly shooting his computer.

Warren knows Evie from a previous case when, as a child, she shot her own father. It was ruled an accident at the time. On the other hand, Flora Dane, recognizes Conrad as a man who might have been trying to help her when she was a captive. Was he a predator or something else?

Of course, we know that nothing will be as it seems in a Gardner thriller and that's certainly true of this one - dive in and enjoy!

i will be reviewing this title editorially for Library Journal be sure and look for my review in early 2019 in the printed or online edition

So just when you thought you’d learned just about everything about Flora Danes, Lisa Gardner proves you wrong. All past books kind of scratch at the surface but D.D. Warren through the ingenious writing of Lisa Gardner would never stop there. In NEVER TELL we are once again instantly immersed in a crime drama with so many levels it seems impossible to corral all the information and get to the real story. You know dig through the haystack for the elusive needle.
At first you might find yourself questioning the immense saturation of facts pertaining to Flora Dane again wondering at the fact that there was a treasure trove of information that never made it to the pages of Find Her.
Once again we follow the story told through the eyes of the main characters, in this case that would be D.D. Warren, Evie and of course Flora. Three women now forever linked through drama and tragedy that spanned many years. To each these years equaled a life time in their own unique, personal way and yet there does seem to be a common thread. And that’s what NEVER TELL is all about – finding that common thread which means delving deep into the events new and old and ultimately dredging up better forgotten memories.
Full of surprises and insight – a cleverly thought out page turner – one not easily forgotten. NEVER TELL is destined to take up your days and night as Lisa Gardner digs up every possible event that leads towards solving what turns out to be a multitude of crimes. The scope of the investigation is amazing and the author’s research is noteworthy.
NEVER TELL is about a murder and then the ensuing cover-up. It looks pretty cut and dry but this is a work by Lisa Gardner so stay alert because we all know that it can’t be that easy. The cast of characters are so well written and conceived that they feel real. And armed with a huge amount of facts and details NEVER TELL comes to a conclusion that will truly surprise. Lisa Gardner writes smart books and this one is no exception.

A lot of stirring the pot of past secrets and current crimes await the reader of the New York Times best selling author, Lisa Gardner’s newest mystery NEVER TELL. How many secrets can a family have. Sergeant D.D. Warren and confidential informant, Flora Danes race to find the murderer before it all goes up in flames. Evie, an unassuming math teacher, has been charged with murdering her husband. This open and shut case is anything but.... lies, secrets and murders intrigue the reader in this unpredictable thriller. Mysteries of the dark web, arson and family dysfunction are all woven in to this story. You will not be able to put this book down until you are finished and the mystery is solved.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this novel thanks to Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

Another crime thriller with DD Warren as the main character. This storyline doesn’t disappoint with its twists and turns. It was a bit of a dark plot for me to get through, but it also added to the mystery and the guessing of who dunnit. Even with it being the 10th book in the series, you can easily pick this up as your first and read as a stand alone.

As the 10th book in the series, it’s obvious that fans love Lisa Gardner and her thrill ride writing. This one will charm fans and have them asking for more.

I really enjoyed reading Never Tell. It was hard to put down. This story was interesting from beginning to end. As a fan of Lisa Gardener and her characters, I enjoyed reading about Detective DD and Flora again. I didn't want to book to end and look forward to what Lisa writes next.

Thisis another book in the D D Warren series and it is great. It grabs you from the first chapter and I hated to see it end. It has lots of twists and leaves you wondering what is going to happen but she does a great job of tying up all of the different plots. I was glad to see Flora return to the series

You are probably very familiar with Lisa Gardner’s books including The Neighbors, Right Behind You, and many, many others. She is a tremendously gifted author who can tell a great story that will suck you in and won’t let you go! It’s the kind of suspenseful story that will make you forget about everything else you have to do, you will want to sit and read!

SYNOPSIS:

A man is dead, shot three times in his home office. But his computer has been shot twelve times, and when the cops arrive, his pregnant wife is holding the gun.

D. D. Warren arrives on the scene and recognizes the woman–Evie Carter–from a case many years back. Evie’s father was killed in a shooting that was ruled an accident. But for D.D., two coincidental murders is too many.

Flora Dane sees the murder of Conrad Carter on the TV news and immediately knows his face. She remembers a night when she was still a victim–a hostage–and her captor knew this man. Overcome with guilt that she never tracked him down, Flora is now determined to learn the truth of Conrad’s murder.

But D.D. and Flora are about to discover that in this case the truth is a devilishly elusive thing. As layer by layer they peel away the half-truths and outright lies, they wonder: How many secrets can one family have?



If you are seeking a book that is thrilling and suspenseful, this is for you!

February 2019

I love the entire DD Warren series, but I especially love the ones where she is paired with Flora Dane. This was a great addition, filled with tons of plot twists and a mystery that I couldn’t quite figure out (though it made perfect sense at the end)..

Just finished late last night and I've now got the same feeling as I always do after reading Lisa Gardner, I wished I hadn't read it so quickly because now I can't read it. The story has so many strings, I couldn't imagine how she could make them fit. A wonderful puzzle for your mind.

Sargent Detective DD Warren and survivor/victim advocate Flora Dane join forces in this fast-moving thriller..

When Evie Carter is found standing over the body of her murdered husband, DD recognizes her as the woman who “accidentally” shot her father when she was a teenager.

When Flora Dane saw a picture of. The murdered Conrad Carter on the news, she recognizes him as the man who met with the monster holding her captive all those years ago.

The twists and turns will keep the reader guessing until the last page is turned. Who is innocent? Who is guilty? Who loves? Who betrays? Who is best at keeping secrets?

Oh my! Another amazing book by Lisa Gardner. The Flora/DD series is one of my favorites and I was so excited to see another new book. I read this in a day....could not put it down. I feel this was the best one yet. I have posted on my social media and have encouraged all my reader-friends to purchase. Thank you for the galley copy.

Never Tell by author Lisa Gardner is another intense novel by Gardner that will hold you from the first chapter. A well thought out thrill of a ride, the book is not one to miss!
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an arc copy of Never Tell in exchange for an honest review.

The combination of DD, Flora, Evie with Kimberly Quincy arriving on the scene is too good to be true! Thankfully, it is true and simply excellent. None of the main characters are neglected and the plot is deep and exciting. A glimpse into academia and the dark web with hidden agendas and targets. You will watch the results of distrust in marriage and relationships have catastrophic results.

Evie, five months pregnant, comes home to find her husband shot dead in front of his computer. She picks up the gun and fires it into his computer as the police arrive. She is arrested for his murder and says nothing to defend herself. Detective D.D. Warren is called to the scene; she remembers Evie from a case years before, when the girl shot her father at point blank range with a shotgun. It was ruled a terrible accident, but now D.D. wonders. At the same time, Flora Dane, D.D.’s informant and former kidnap victim, recognizes Evie’s husband as a man her former captor tried to sell her to. As always, Gardner throws a ton of red herrings at readers, keeping them on their toes until the last page is turned