Cover Image: Expire

Expire

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Member Reviews

From the first page, Ms. Girard had me engaged & on the edge of my seat. I wasn’t able to put this story down until I was finished. Hal & Annabelle’s torment engaged my sympathies from the beginning. The characters were well defined & realistic. The plot was fast paced & believable.

This is the first in this series I’ve read & I didn’t feel lost or confused in the slightest. There is enough background given via flashbacks or memories to fill the reader in on past events. I’m intrigued enough to go back & read the first three in the series.

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I was fortunate to receive this book as an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley, in exchange for an objective review.

At the close of the last book of the series, San Francisco Medical Examiner, Dr. Annabelle Schwartzman was drugged and tossed into the back of a non-descript white van, while rendering aid to her neighbor.

Now, she’s awake and has found herself tethered by a plastic collar and chain in a home that appears to be in a remote location. Although she has long escaped an abusive marriage and gone forward with her life, she has always known that she would encounter her ex-husband again, and presumes he is the one who has taken her.

Hal Harris, San Francisco homicide cop and Anna’s lover meanwhile, is searching frantically. He too believes that Spencer is responsible for Anna’s kidnapping – but how can he be, when he’s hundreds of miles away, and meeting with his clients daily?

As Anna explores her prison, hoping to find some way out of her predicament, Spencer is plotting. His ultimate plan is so smuggle Anna out of the country, to a remote land where she’ll be forced to live as his wife…and prisoner.

The story progresses from each character’s viewpoints, as we watch Anna explore her situation, and we watch Hal as he attempts to hide his frustration at the roadblocks in his way. We watch Anna’s mother, as she slowly comes to realize that Spencer isn’t the ‘wonderful’ son-in-law she has always thought him to be, and we see her become an unlikely hero in the search for her daughter. And we see Anna, fierce in her desire to protect a secret, and to find her way back to Hal.

Even though we know, logically, that Anna should persevere, as she is at the center of this series, it's hard not to lose hope, as the clock ticks and the past moves ever closer...

I found this novel quite suspenseful and found myself on the edge of my seat numerous times as I cheered with and feared for Anna & Hal. While certainly enjoyable as a standalone (and maybe the outcome is less certain to those who don’t know the characters) I highly recommend reading in the series order! Outstanding!!

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Wow, what an emotional rollercoaster this book was! I honestly could not put it down, it was that riveting. After the huge cliffhanger the last book left off on, I had to find out what happened next, so I jumped on the chance to get an ARC copy via Netgalley. From the very beginning, you can feel the raw emotion and sense of helplessness Hal feels in trying to find the woman he loves, as well as Anna's terror and sense of desperation as she tries to figure out how to escape her bonds. Danielle Girard does a masterful job in allowing the reader a glimpse into the head of Spencer MacDonald, a decompensating psychopath who will stop at nothing to possess and lord over his ex-wife. With the inclusion of dates and time, the reader gets an almost palpable sense of frustration and urgency to solve the mystery of where Annabelle Schwartzman is being kept before the clock runs out. From start to finish, you won't be disappointed.

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“Expire” is the fourth installment of Danielle Girard’s Dr. Annabelle Schwartzman series and I found it to be a thrilling psychological novel. Annabelle has disappeared without a trace and her love interest, Detective Hal Harris, has a hard time convincing people that she has been kidnapped by her ex-husband. Hal works tirelessly to get evidence that Spencer Macdonald, has Annabelle and with the help of a FBI agent they feel that they are getting closer in finding her. Meanwhile, Annabelle suspects Spencer has had her kidnapped, but she is not sure. She must spend all her energy trying to get free from whomever wants to harm her. This was a great read and highly recommend it. I was given an advanced copy of this book, and all of the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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I love the Annabelle Schwartzman series by Danielle Girard so I jumped at the chance to read an early copy of the next book...Expired. With taut, unrelenting suspense from the first page to the satisfying end the reader barely has time to breathe! If you've read the previous book you know it ended with a real cliff hanger! Using alternating points of view the Danielle Girard keeps the pressure on and amps up the suspense.
Annabelle was abducted and we know right away who the abductors are but this only adds to the story. This book focuses on Hal's desperate search for her and on Annabelles fight for survival rather than who did it. Hal and Annabelle are finally admitting to each other that they are more than friends. While Hal, the SFPD and FBI search, Annabelle struggles to find a way out of her situation. Hal's desperation and fear brought tears to my eyes at times but Anna's determination, intelligence and strength inspired me. The author also gives us well developed bad guys. Spencer MacDonald has been featured in the other books so I was well acquainted with his manipulations and twisted evilness. If you enjoy intelligent unrelenting suspense this book is for you.
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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This is the fourth in the Annabelle Schwartzman series. I have enjoyed this series very much. This book does tie up all the loose ends in the series with a great ending

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review

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Revenge is a dish best served cold. This is what San Francisco M.E. Annabelle Schwartzman speculates that her ex-husband is thinking when she is suddenly kidnapped and held hostage in a cabin. She doesn’t know where she is or who is actually responsible for her abduction. With no way to contact the outside world, it will take all of her wits and experience to survive.

Expire by Danielle Girard is the fourth entry in the Annabelle Schwartzman series. While not quite a “cozy” mystery, this book still leans in that direction. This should not discourage anyone from reading this book, however. It is well written with a complex plot and fleshed-out characters. Anyone who enjoys a good thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat without a lot of graphic violence will find this book enjoyable. I definitely plan to go back and read the preceding novels and sincerely hope the series will continue. I give this book 4/5 stars.

* A copy of the ebook is the only compensation exchanged for this review. *

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I use to read all of Girard's books, but they became somewhat repetitious after awhile.

Unfortunately, this book was not particularly compelling. It was okay, but I found the "thriller" part of it was lacking. It did not make me want to get to the next page in a hurry.

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I usually enjoy a good mystery/thriller. However, this one started right out quite gory (far too much for my taste), and with extended suffering. I couldn't even get thru the first chapter. I tried, thinking it would move on once getting past the first killing. However, the first victim had to be murdered (almost completely, but not quite) a number of times. This was just too much for me. I'm thinking I need to read descriptions a bit more with future books before reading.

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Expire is Book # 4 of the Dr. Schwartzman series and what a conclusion it is! I recommend reading the others first to get the full experience. A gripping thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat. I loved it.

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Danielle Girard is one of my favorite authors. I have been enjoying her books for many years now. This fourth book completed the series, and I am so bummed the good doctors story has come to a close. The story takes off in a rush and has you so anxious and distraught until the very last page. The characters were amazing and believable. I highly recommend this book and the whole series if you enjoy reading crime/thrillers.
Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy of the book.
#netgalley
#expire

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"Expire" picks up right where the last novel in the series ended; Schwartzman has been kidnapped, and Hal is desperately trying to find her. Convinced that Anna's psycho ex-husband is behind her disappearance, he brings a personal vendetta again him, hoping to follow him to Anna. The book switches between Anna's and Hal's perspectives. On one side of the plot, Anna is using all of her knowledge of the human body and investigative skills in a dire attempt to escape her kidnapper. On the other side of the plot, Hal is struggling with doubt and fear in his quest to find Anna, with very little help or sympathy from the FBI. It is an exciting story that tempted me to jump to the end of the book and relieve the suspense. I, once again, eagerly await Girard's next installment.

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Really enjoying this series of books.





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Oh my god!!! What a book 4!!!!!

I got this early in return for my honest opinion.

I decided to reread the first 3 books prior to reading this 4th book, so the storyline would be completely fresh in my mind... I’m so glad I did, as my bond with all the characters in the books was able to grow and be stronger than ever for this one.

The author gives us complete closure and ties all the loose ends up in a nice big bow! We as readers have a lot of moments that we are on the edge of our seats asking if things could really be going this way.. knowing it was inevitable, but still praying for the best possible outcome. And let me just say, you won’t be disappointed!!!

I absolutely loved this book and this series!

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I enjoyed reading this book. It had a good story to it. I liked the variety of characters in it. It is my first book read by this author. I hope to read more books by this author.

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This book is good. It can be read as a stand alone and I do not think readers will be cheated. However I do think starting with book one in the series would make the story that much better. Love this author and look forward to the next one.

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I have been a huge fan of this series since the release of Exhume in 2016. I have been counting down to the release of this book - previous ended on an amazing cliffhanger.
It did not disappoint. I got a little lost in some of the anatomy lingo as Anna distracted herself from her circumstances. But overall excellent read. Fast paced, twists. I was on the edge of my seat.

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Expire is the fourth in the series and does not disappoint. It has a great storyline and well developed characters. A great author.

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This is the fourth book in the Dr. Schwartzman series. While it can be read as a stand alone it benefits the reader for it to be inclusive to the books in the series as character and plot arcs stretch across all four books. Girard does an excellent job at wrapping up a few of the long-standing storylines, giving the reader some well-deserved closure. Most of this narrative worked well, tying both old and new characters together through an interesting and suspenseful story line. There were some aspects of the subplot that seemed unnecessary and distracted from the main focus of the story but all in all, it was a good read and one of the best of the series.

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What a great ending to this series! I've been a fan since the first book and it's been such a great journey. You will not be disappointed. This story is told through multiple viewpoints - Anna's, Hal's, Spencer's and Georgia's (Anna's mother). I was surprised that some of the most interesting parts to me involved Georgia. We get to see her evolve in ways I didn't think possible.

The parts with Hal involve most of the action, searching for Anna and trying to convince the police and the FBI to allocate as many resources as possible. He's taken to various locations across the country, following Spencer as closely as possible. He works with a young FBI agent in Dallas and Harper (who we've met previously) in South Carolina. Anna spends her time in captivity trying to determine how to safely survive being chained up in a cabin with little food, no safe water and no weapons.

The only thing that I would have changed would have been trimming a bit from Anna & Hal's narratives, as it began to feel repetitive. We know Anna is resourceful and that Hal is desperate to rescue her but there could have been less pages devoted to these aspects. I liked when Anna reflected on past autopsies and their curious findings. The medical angle tended to drop off the more the series progressed.

I hope this author creates a new series, as she's great at developing characters that feel incredibly real and that you are invested in every step of the way. .

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