I first encountered Lisa Gardner’s entertaining ensemble of law enforcers just over a year ago in Look For Me. D.D. Warren, the Boston cop whose exploits began in 2005 with Hide was there, as was the rather more exotic and eccentric Flora Dane – a young woman who has been damaged physically and mentally by a long torment of captivity and abuse at the hands of Jacob Ness, a psychopath who was taken down in dramatic fashion when the FBI raided his hideout. When You See Me reunites Warren and Dane, along with one or two other key players, as a couple of hikers out for the day in the Appalachian mountains find human remains. When police give the site their full attention other bodies are found. Are they previously undiscovered victims of the unspeakable Ness, or has the area been host to another sadistic killer?
Flora Dane is at the centre of this novel, not only because of her connection with the history of the area, but because she has teamed up with Keithe Edgar, an amateur – but extremely clever – data analyst whose unofficial skills are harnessed by the federal agents as they try to unpick the knot of the case. Flora’s attitude to men has been, to put it mildly, compromised by her trauma at the hands of Ness, but in Keith she might – just might - has found a person to trust, a person with no negative motives, and someone who can ward of the fears and horrors embedded in her memory.
The storytelling technique which uses multiple narrators is much used and, it must be said, often abused, but Kisa Gardner nails it here, particularly through the eyes of Bonita, a Mexican girl maimed in childhood, unable to speak and used as a maid-of-all-work in an ostensibly respectable Victorian mansion, now an upmarket Bed & Breakfast facility in Niche, Georgia – the nearest settlement to where the human remians have been uncovered. Bonita is not her real name. Only her late mother knows what it is, but when D.D. Warren meets her during the investigation, she says:
“’Bonita’ D.D. said softly.’It’s the Spanish word for pretty. What do you think? I’ll call you Bonita.’”
Almost inevitably, the dreadful goings on in the mountains surrounding Niche must involve some of the locals, but Lisa Gardner (right) lays out several enticing red herrings before revealing precisely which of the eminent townsfolk are involved in a dreadful conspiracy, a toxic cocktail of abduction, sexual slavery and-ultimately-murder. Flora, D.D. and the other members of the team eventually corner the evil genius at the centre of Niche’s darkest secret, but not before we are treated to a spectacularly violent finale involving secret tunnels, torture and, intriguingly, death-by-dishwasher.
American crime fiction is a huge, diverse and somewhat unwieldy beast, but at its best it is slick, literate, flawlessly plotted, endlessly enthralling and with a narrative drive that seems to come as second nature to such writers as Lisa Gardner. When You See Me will be out in Kindle, published by Cornerstone Digital on 28th January and in hardback by Century on 20th February. The paperback will be available in July.

Desert Isle Keeper
When You See Me
Lisa Gardner


Buy This Book
There is nothing quite like the experience of becoming completely absorbed and involved in a good book, and When You See Me, with its riveting characters and thrilling, non-stop plot is a very good book. You will want to clear a few hours of time to read this, since putting it down will not be an option.

Once upon a time there was a mamita and a chiquita. The mamita loved to cook and she loved to hum while she cooked. The chiquita loved to color. She would draw pictures and paint them in while waiting for her mother to come home from work. “Muy bonita mamita”, she would tell her mother as they did their supper dishes. “Muy linda chiquita”, her mother would say back. And they would giggle. Until the night the bad man came and shot her mother and took the little chiquita away.

Years later, hikers who go off a trail in the Appalachian Mountains discover a set of human bones. After tons of forensic work has been done and national databases checked, it is determined the remains belong to Lilah Abenito, a woman believed to have been a victim of the serial killer Jacob Ness. Having been part of the task force that killed Ness and freed the woman he was holding captive at the time, SSA Kimberly Quincy is notified of the discovery and invited to take over the investigation of the crime scene. She reaches out to three other people involved in the ongoing search for Ness’s victims: Flora Dane, his last captive; Boston Detective D.D. Warren, who helped in the apprehension of one of Ness’s partners and Keith Edgar, a brilliant computer analyst who brought to light Jacob Ness’s presence on the dark web.

If you are a fan of the author, you will recognize all four of the names in the investigative team. If this review is your first experience of Ms. Gardner’s work, I would urge you to stop here and read Alone, book one of the D. D. Warren series. This is a fantastic, not to be missed set of detective stories. That said, almost every character in this story has appeared in the previous novels in the saga and understanding how they are connected and their history with Jacob Ness is important to appreciating this tale.

Back to our narrative. Told from four different viewpoints -Kimberly, D.D.,Flora and a young woman known only as The Girl – this novel covers every aspect of a dark and startling crime. We arrive in the small town of Niche, GA with our investigators and realize almost at once that the scenic main street, while filled with charming shops and beautiful Victorian bed and breakfasts, is the home of some ugly, dangerous people. And that’s when the compulsive page turning begins – right at the start, and it doesn’t end until we have the final piece of the confounding, mind-blowing puzzle.

I won’t tell you much about the plot because mysteries are all about going on the journey of discovery for yourself. What makes this a journey worth going on though, is not just the twists and turns of the plot, but the characters. The Girl is a deeply wounded young woman who cannot speak, read or write. She is the chiquita from the start of the novel and my heart just broke seeing her go from her impoverished but loving home to the brutal conditions in which we rejoin her. But she is a strong, brave young lady with a fighter’s heart. Her past trauma and the effort to keep her secret fire hidden have shaped her into a cunning, resolute young woman. She is an unlit match in a room full of dynamite throughout the entire tale and you can’t help but wonder just what will happen when she catches fire.

Equally mesmerizing is Flora. Fans will remember the damaged, determined vigilante-turned-victim activist from Find Her, Look for Me, and Never Tell. We’ve watched her fight to find a place for herself post the horrors she suffered at the hands of serial rapist/killer Jacob Ness. She has thrived while working with D.D. on the search for his other victims and by supporting other survivors in their quest to build lives for themselves after enduring violent crimes. In this novel we watch her take the next step in her evolution as she moves forward in her budding relationship with Keith Edgar. I had my concerns when this love story was first introduced in Never Tell but in this novel I felt the relationship deepened beyond their joint obsession with hunting criminals and showed a genuine emotional connection between the characters that was lovely to see.

Equally pleasing is the opportunity to spend time once more with Kimberly and D.D.. This is Ms. Gardner’s eleventh novel featuring the intrepid Detective Warren and I can only say it is always a pleasure to spend time with her. I feel the same about Kimberly Quincy. We’ve seen her throughout the six other books in the FBI Profiler series and she is a pleasing counterpart to D.D., using charm, methodical policing and patience to counterbalance D.D.’s more intuitive, impetuous approach. I’ve enjoyed how both ladies have learned to harmonize their work and home lives. In this book, we see them receiving strength and support from phone calls to their families. Both are married to men who work in law enforcement themselves and the guys are able to provide sympathetic ears and encouraging words as the ladies relay the atrocities they’re discovering in this small, murderous community.

Ms. Gardner’s prose is always excellent and this novel is no exception. Combine that with her addictive plotting, outstanding pacing and compelling characters and you have a book that grips you from the first few pages and never lets you go. If you have enjoyed the previous volumes featuring these characters you will love When You See Me. If you haven’t read her previous works, but enjoy a good mystery, begin with Alone and work your way through the list to this one. You won’t regret it.

Lisa Gardner always wraps the characters so vividly in your mind that you are connected to many of them, not just one. Add a bunch of great women (that we already love) to a gut-wrenching story about a young girl who sees her mother murdered when she is young and has yet to talk fifteen years later, toss in a great guy or two, a big bad monster and you have the all-night thriller you’ve been looking for.

A negative, not negative, is that you want to meet this girl and give her a few hugs; a place to belong and be loved. I fell in love with Girl and was so sad when the story ended and I wouldn’t get to spend any more time with this book.

This is a FIVE-STAR thrill ride though so be aware of that before you start reading. Many of Lisa Gardner’s books grab ahold of you and make you want to eat up every word, pause so it isn’t over yet, then start reading again because you just can’t stop, BUT WHEN YOU SEE ME adds a lot more hair-raising angst that will grab you by the throat.

Many if the book club early reader participants who submitted their recommendation to our site made it a point to add this book as a MUST READ ASAP… and I agree!

Creepy, creepy and it gave me nightmares. It was definitely a book that captured my attention. This is the first book in the series that I have read so it can be read as a stand alone. The author does a great job of bringing you up-to-date but I suspect it's even more more satisfying if you had read several books before this one. Several? Well, it does combine several different series and does it amazingly well.

The central character is a poor little mute girl called Girl who suffers the effects of a horrific gun incident in which her mother is killed. Girl lives a life no one wants including being tormented by a terrible man she calls the Monster. Things begin to unravel in Niche, Georgia when hikers stumble on a skeleton. In no time flat a FBI task force descends on the town with FBI agents, a Boston detective, a serial killer survivor and a serial killer fan. There are ties to a former serial killer who is now dead.

The investigation uncovers multiple graves, underground tunnels and a business that leads to townspeople and the nastiest criminals around. All of it swirls around poor Girl now renamed Bonita by the task force who can't communicate what she knows because she's mute but then they discover she can draw and more information is uncovered. It's all truly unnerving.

I sat up last night with my my hand in my mouth just scared as all get out. It really captured my attention. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

When a woman’s remains are found in the Appalachian mountains, the FBI is called in, along with Detective DD Warren. This isn’t her normal jurisdiction, but the FBI have reason to believe this woman’s death is linked to a serial killer of DD’s past, Jacob Ness. She brings along with her a civilian informant named Flora Dane, who also happened to be one of Jacob’s victims, and Keith, a tech genius.

When the FBI uncover more graves containing bones of several other women, DD starts to question if Jacob Ness could’ve killed all these women alone, or if he was working with others. Or was another serial killer on the loose in the same area that Jacob was? They never could’ve imagined what they would uncover and the web of lies running through this small Georgian town.

When You See Me by Lisa Gardner is book 11 in the Detective DD Warren series. This was a well-written crime thriller that jumps between four different perspectives. It’s chalk full of information and clues so you have to pay close attention in order to not miss anything. I really enjoyed this story and so far it’s one of the best in the series yet. 4/5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dutton and Lisa Gardner for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am a fan of Lisa Gardner. However, this book was a disappointment. Too many unnecessary characters, too far fetched an ending and too many loose ends tied up for a happy outcome. If she wants to continue the series of DD Warren, allow the novel to focus on her. This one added two other competing heroines and diluted the plot line. I felt she was trying too hard by creating romantic interludes and hints of mysterious apparitions. A good thriller focuses on the main detective or investigator so the reader is invested in the outcome. I lost interest in the ending too early in the book. Sorry to harshly critique an author I admire.

If you want an awesome mystery/thriller that gets crazier and crazier the further you get into the story, then this is the book for you!

I loved this book! It was thrilling, mysterious, and kept me on my toes. It is hands-down the most intense book I have ever read by Lisa Gardner. I was on the edge of my seat throughout most of it!

I was nervous for just about everyone. There is essentially a bogeyman on the loose and no one is safe. There are very few leads and the case is getting more and more mysterious with each passing day. Anyone could be his next target!!

I loved that the dynamic trio, Detective D.D. Warren, Kimberly Quincy, and Floral Dane are once again back together. They work fantastic together, respect each other, and all bring a different skill set to the case.

I always suggest starting with book one of a series, but I understand it can seem quite daunting now that this series is in double digits. At the very least I highly suggest you start with book eight Find Her where we are first introduced to Flora Dane.

If you have never read a Lisa Gardner book before, you are seriously missing out!

I love knowing that when I pick up a Lisa Gardner book, I’m going to be caught up. This book was no different. I loved the whole cast of characters being brought back and the mystery was gripping. The pacing was excellent and I wanted more when I finished. I couldn’t bring myself to read Flora’s origin book, but I do love watching her grow and survive. These are characters I love telling a difficult story and I love that the author never shies from it.

Lisa Gardner has written another page turner. Unlike other authors Lisa Gardner's books are different, unique and fresh. Each book leaves you wanting more and surprises you at every turn. This book was so exception. I loved the characters and the plot was dark and mysterious in all the best ways. This is a book you're going to want to read over a weekend, or on vacation....leave time because you're not going to want to put it down!

As someone who prefers to start series with book one, I remember going into Book 8 of this series without realizing it and was instantly hooked. This is my 4th D.D. Warren book and each one has been pulse increasing while simultaneously touching my heart. While I always recommend starting a series from the beginning, these can definitely be read as stand alones... however, watching these characters grow even just from book 8 makes me want to go back to the beginning so I can get a full, more rounded understanding.

I'm absolutely thrilled to have been back with D.D., Kimberly and Flora. They're taken to a small town with ties to Jacob, who although dead, still haunts each of them. We get further insight to Flora and her dealing when she was his victim. We get introduced to a new character who, by the time I finished the book, had unknowingly gripped my heart. Revelations come about, things are (as usual) not quite what they seem and we are once again rooting for the good guys to win.

I can't recommend this series more. Gardner writes with such finesse and truly brings the reader into this world. I came, I read, I felt.

When I discovered Lisa Gardner a couple of years ago, I didn't know what I was getting into, as with any author I've never read before. However, from that first book I read from her, I was hooked and she became one of the authors that I add any book of theirs to my TBR without question. This was a thrilling book that kept me hooked from beginning to end, it will not disappoint.

In this 11th installment of the DD Warren series Lisa Gardner brings together again Flora Dane , Kimberly Quincy and DD Warren to head a task force in a small town in Georgia where a skeletal body has been found by hikers.Jacob Ness had to have perfected his skills somewhere and they think it might have been here.This book grabs you from the first page and didn’t let go until the end.This small town has a super creepy vibe to it. You can feel there is something evil lurking around every corner. Lisa Gardner doesn’t know how to write a bad book. She definitely isn’t afraid of taboo subjects. There are always lots of twists and you’ll never guess who the villain is. Another 5 star edition from the queen of suspense.

The discovery of a set of human remains in the deep woods of Georgia leads in some dark and unexpected directions. The bones belong to a woman reported missing over 15 years ago and an assumed victim of Jacob Ness, a nasty serial predator with a trail of broken bodies behind him. The only know survivor is Flora Dane, a strong woman who now dedicates her time and energy into uncovering Jacob's dark past and helping any other potential survivors. FBI agent Kimberly Quincy is called in after the discovery of the bones. Lucky for her, Flora Dane, Detective D.D. Warren, and Keith, a gifted computer analyst with a true crime obsession will also be joining the team. The small town of Niche Georgia, where the remains were discovered looks placid and pleasant at first glance however there are secrets buried here alongside the bodies. As more bodies are uncovered, questions arise over whether Jacob Ness was working alone or as part of a sinister network or twisted individuals. It soon becomes apparent that not everyone in Niche is willing to cooperate. Niche's Mayor and his wife who own the local bed and breakfast seem to have access to information they are unwilling to share. The team is aided by a young woman however her ability to communicate what she knows is severely limited. Will the team be able to get to the bottom of these senseless killings before more bodies surface?
Told in alternating viewpoints, the newest addition to the D.D. Warren series was full of clever surprises. The inclusion of Flora Dane and Keith were a pleasant surprise and greatly added to the interesting personal dynamics and tension throughout. While new readers were introduced to the back story that has taken course over the last couple of stories, I do think they would benefit greatly from reading the previous books in the series that pertain to Jacob Ness and Flora Dane. This book was dark and the subject matter covered within, human trafficking, makes for an even tenser plot at times however the author is a pro at taking readers right up to the edge and safely bringing them back down. It is evident that a good deal of research, including interview techniques for a non verbal subject, took place leading up to the writing of this story. The complex details about the FBI world interwoven seamlessly into the plot help keep the story grounded in reality. I highly recommend this book as well as the previous books in this series for those looking for a thriller that will keep you reading well into the night.

I've read every Lisa Gardner book except Find Me. Some I have absolutely loved and others, not so much. This new release which features one of my favorite detectives ever, DD Warren, falls somewhere in the middle. I found it to be a very readable mystery, it was light on suspense however and the ending felt underwhelming. This could be because just a case of the issue is with me as I read a lot of mysteries, but I loved her last book and found it riveting. This story brings together DD, Kimberly Quincy (FBI) and Flora (kidnapping survivor) who are all trying to piece together a long-standing murder which may or may not involve Jacob Ness, Flora's kidnapper who she killed. I found this "coincidence" too unbelievable and while I loved the parts with DD and an unknown girl who's mute from the trauma that we read about in the prologue, I think the alternating sections with Flora and Kimberly were less relevant and strong. Maybe it's just because I love DD and would prefer a whole book with just her. I think this works ok as a standalone but there"s quite a lot of backstory between these 3 characters that you miss if you're completely new to the series. Which is another reason I would've preferred less perspectives? On the plus side, the chapters are short and the pacing FAST making this a very binge-able weekend read.

This is the first book by Lisa Gardner that I have read and I was a little nervous jumping into the middle of a series but I was pleasantly surprised that I had no problem enjoying the story and it's characters. Enough backstory is given to provide some depth and history to the characters and help make sense with the plot.

As for the story itself, I was surprised again. What starts off as a basic detective mystery quickly spirals into something much more personal and emotional. Gardner gives glimpses into the mind of a victim in the story, helping the reader to strongly connect to the book and keep turning pages to find out how the horrific perpetrator gets caught. What started off a little on the slow side for me, When You See Me quickly became a book I could not put down and I read about 70% in one day because I just had to get to the ending. I had to know what would happen!

I would recommend this to anyone who likes mysteries and thrillers, especially detective crime novels. A very enjoyable read and I will definitely be reading more Lisa Gardner books in the future!

Scheduled to post 1/21.

Good lord, do I swallow these books whole. WHEN YOU SEE ME is no exception. Gardner writes some compelling, fast-paced stories that are truly difficult to put down.

The thread of Jacob Ness continues to unravel as Quincy and DD, with Flora and Keith in tow, travel to nowhere Georgia to investigate a crime scene. That turns into multiple crime scenes as bodies, new and old, pile up and the layers on this onion keep getting peeled. I also liked the shred of supernatural that's laced into the story. It's next to nothing, but it's there and it adds another layer to all of it.

It's good to see DD's shell cracking more and more as her job niggles under her nails. And I feel like Quincy is the softer side of DD, not as bottled up but still just as capable. And it's nice to see Flora start to move on a little. Not a whole lot. Not much at all. But those baby steps she's been taking for how many books now are finally getting her somewhere. Especially when she thought she'd be stagnant for the rest of her life, it's like a sigh of relief. And Keith. Oh dear Keith. I would say he's lucky he's pretty, but he more than adds value to this team of law enforcement misfits with his computer geekery. Not to mention he functions as a calming, leveling agent for Flora, something that she desperately needs. I really hope he doesn't turn out to be a serial killer.

Gardner doesn't disappoint in WHEN YOU SEE ME, the eleventh addition to the DD Warren series. Bonita fists into your heart and holds on to the very end and I just love watching these characters grow from page to page. Not to mention the storytelling is fantastic. I could not put the book down, as has been the case with every Gardner book I've read. I can't wait until the next one.

5

Another great book by Lisa Gardner! This is book 11 in the Flora Dane series. You could read this as a stand alone as well. She does give you enough of the back story so you don’t feel lost.

Flora Dane, Detective DD Warren and FBI agent Kimberly Quincy are called to the hills in Georgia with the hopes of finding clues to some missing girls. They fear the same man who took Flora had taken and killed them. However while there they uncover so much more!

I have read the last two books in this series and will have to go start from the beginning they are just that good! Gardner knows how to write a thriller that makes you keep turning the pages!!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Dutton Publishing, and Lisa Gardner for the opportunity to read. review and get back into this wonderful series - another 5 star thriller! Even if you haven't read the previous books, there is enough backstory to allow you to read this as a stand alone and still get in on the action. But it's a great series, so what are you waiting for?

Returning characters from different series - Flora Dane, Detective DD Warren, and FBI Special Agent Kimberly Quincy - combine to form part of a task force investigating bones found by a hiker in the hills of Georgia. Things are possibly tied back to Flora's kidnapper, Jacob Ness, so her and friend, Keith, are included. When they get to the mountains of Georgia, they find that there is much wrong in the small town of Niche and things just keep getting worse. Who can be trusted? And will they be able to stop all the evil?

Another heart pounding thriller from Gardner - just a must read!

When You See Me (sent 1/12/20)

By: Lisa Gardner

Another hit for Lisa Gardner. I love her DD Warren series and this is extra special because it incorporates Flora Dane and Kimberly Quincy. What’s not to love about a female team working together to solve a horrible atrocity.

The prologue about a 5 year old child that observes the abuse and murder of her mother was a great hook but a little confusing about how it applied to the story. Never fear, it eventually works it’s way into the plot and becomes a heart wrenching essential ingredient. I Don’t want to spoil it for any readers but this book shines light on the human trafficking problem in a “hand wringing” page turner.

I was compelled to keep reading because there was so much to capture your attention. There is a reason Lisa is one of the top rated “thriller” writers. She just never disappoints!

Getting 4.5 “holding my breath” sheep

Jeanie G

When You See Me by Lisa Gardner is a very highly recommended thriller featuring Detective D. D. Warren, Flora Dane, and FBI Special Agent Kimberly Quincy. It is a great day when Lisa Gardiner has a new character-driven thriller released so set aside time to read this ASAP!

When hikers discover skeletal remains in the mountains of Niche, Georgia, they are identified as those of 17-year-old Lilah Abenito. She was kidnapped 15 years earlier and it has been suspected that she was one of the earliest victims of now-deceased serial predator Jacob Ness. Because of the ties to Ness, FBI Special Agent Kimberly Quincy and Sergeant Detective D. D. Warren, who have a task force following any clues left behind by him, are on the scenes. They bring along Flora Dane, a survivor of Ness, and Keith Edgar, a computer analyst and true-crime follower.

As volunteers search the mountains for the rest of the remains of Lilah, another mass grave of more skeletal remains is discovered. This escalates the search to include the possibility that the team is looking at a serial killer dump site. Is this where Ness buried some of his other victims? An initial visit to the mayor of Niche, Howard Counsel, and his wife, Martha, at their Mountain Laurel B&B, leaves the team with some questions, including the story behind their nameless maid, but even more after Martha suddenly, suspiciously hangs herself. The investigation begins to widen at the same time as threats to the team begin to increase.

As is expected from Gardner, the writing is exceptional. The plot is a page-turning, nail-biting, twisty, tension-filled, and emotionally powerful story that will grip you from start to finish. The crimes from the past seem to be stirring up trouble in the present, but the question is who is involved and how is all of this connected. This is a novel that will be very hard to put down once you start it. I admittedly stayed up late just to finish it and it was worth it.

All these characters are well developed and, quite frankly, loved by many of us, so a new novel with D.D., Kimberly, Flora, and Keith marks an exciting new addition to their stories. The sensitive treatment of Flora's recovery from her trauma at the hands of Ness is handled with compassion and understanding. It is exciting to see some major forward movement in Flora's character development and healing. Along with others, I appreciate the strong female characters.

I really loved this one from start to finish. Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Penguin Random House.

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