‘My name is Frankie Elkin and finding missing people-particularly minorities- is what I do. When the police have given up, when the public no longer remembers, when the media has never bothered to care, I start looking.’

‘Before She Disappeared’ is the new stand-alone thriller from Lisa Gardner. I love her Detective D.D. Warren series and was looking forward to this one. Lisa Gardner does not disappoint!

Frankie Elkin, a recovering alcoholic, arrives in Boston and is heading to rough and poor neighbourhood Mattapan her next temporary ‘home’. It is in Mattapan that Frankie looks into the disappearing of 15-year-old Angelique ‘Lili’ Badeau, who left no trace of where she went and with who.

The leads have dried up, but the local police force is not keen on Frankie’s help in the matter. But when Frankie asks the right questions to the right people and looks at the case from a different point of view, she manages to link not one but two missing girl cases. Together with Detective Dan Lotham, Frankie gets to the core of the case. But asking the right questions to the right, or should I say wrong people, not only endangers her own life, but also of those she speaks to and eventually help her.

The story has a nice, steady pace and both Frankie and the different characters are well written and believable. I was definitely rooting for Frankie and Detective Lotham. I actually hope this is the start of a series as I believe there is so much more to tell about Frankie’s story and her own personal traumas.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for my eARC. My opinion is my own.

Frankie Elkin finds missing persons that others have forgotten about.
When Frankie takes on a new case in Boston looking for missing teenager Angelique Badeau who disappeared one day from school without a trace.
With no leads to go on and the local police not helping it's up to Frankie to find out the truth.

Another brilliant novel by Lisa featuring Frankie an ex alcoholic who devotes her life to finding people who have disappeared when everyone else has almost given up. I think all the other reviewers have said it all, another brilliant book by this author.

Charged, absorbing, and suspenseful!

Before She Disappeared is a well-paced, menacing thrill ride that takes us into the life of Frankie Elkin, a scarred, middle-aged woman who even while struggling with a past littered with grief, addiction, and heartbreak, travels from place to place identifying and pursuing new evidence in cold cases, but this latest investigation may have the highest odds yet with a missing teenage victim who may still be alive and the people who took her more than willing to kill to keep her.

The writing is sharp and meticulous. The characters are determined, ruthless, and resourceful. And the plot is a mysterious, compelling web of deduction, lies, exploitation, corruption, greed, violence, manipulation, and murder.

Before She Disappeared is another sophisticated, gritty, unnerving read by Gardner that may be the first standalone novel she’s written in a while but still has all the twists, turns, suspense, in-depth character development, and forensic analysis we’ve come to expect and love from all her previous novels.

Frankie Elkin finds the forgotten and lost. She won’t give up even when everyone else has. Her latest case takes her to Mattapen, a small neighbourhood in Boston. She is looking for Angelique Badeau who went missing from her high school a month ago.
With resistance from the police and people in the local area Frankie must use her strength and resolve to find the truth, even drawing on her own demons and dreams. She will not be stopped until she brings Angelique home, dead or alive.
With her brilliant ability to draw the reader in from the start, Lisa Gardner has written a highly intense and complex novel with a gritty, kickass main character that is just magnificent. This is a hell of a story that will keep the reader guessing until its dramatic end.
I personally think this book is outstanding and think it will be one of the books of the year.

At the moment, international travel is near-impossible but thanks to Lisa Gardner’s tremendous writing skills, this novel transports us to the fictional Boston neighbourhood of Mattapan, where we immediately become enmeshed in the life of a conflicted character who seems to leap from the pages, as she is described in such convincing prose. This character is Frankie Elgin, a recovering alcoholic who has made it her mission to search for missing people who have become ‘cold cases’ in the police statistics and sometimes, sadly, also in the hearts of their dependents. Frankie has so far found more than fourteen missing persons, but sadly all deceased. This time, she is seeking for 15 year-old Haitian girl Angélique Badeau, an excellent student who mysteriously disappeared after school almost a year ago. Mattapan is not a place most people would like to set foot into but becomes the gripping backdrop that is almost a character in its own right. Slowly and steadfastedly, Frankie threads herself into a rough, neglected neighbourhood that initially rejects this unusual, fiercely independent and old-fashioned lady who is keen to redeem herself for a tragic event that occurred a decade ago. How Frankie gets her new neighbours and the investigating police detective Lotham, to trust her, and how she patiently but ruthlessly assembles all the facts that point to the fact of not one, but two teenage disappearances, is a lesson for mankind. This novel had me in its grips from the beginning to its tautly plotted end and I cannot now wait to discover more of Lisa Gardner’s novels. I would like to thank the publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for this honest and unbiased review.

How alive Lisa made the back streets of Boston in this story. The characters were full of emotion and the adorable cat Piper really added to the story. I adored Frankie and all the way through wondered what had happened between her and Paul.
A fast paced intriguing story that I just had to keep reading. Highly recommend to anyone who loves this genre as you will not be disappointed.

It has been some time since I read a book by Lisa Gardner, but reading this reminded me of how much I enjoy her writing style, and has encouraged me to go back and pick up some of her previous books. Gardner's skill lies in drawing you in to her books and in writing this stand-alone novel, she has created a fascinating lead character in Frankie Elkin, who I hope we will see again in future books.

Frankie is a recovering alcoholic who spends her life moving from place to place looking for missing persons who the police have given up on. To date she has found 14 people, but as yet none of them have been alive. She arrives in Boston to search for a teenage Haitian girl, Angelique, who disappeared eleven months previously - can she find her and will she still be alive? As Frankie gets to know the local community, she begins to uncover things the police seem to have missed, and the case becomes increasingly complex the more she investigates.

Gardner has created a flawed but still likeable character in Frankie and with plenty of twists and turns along the way, you find yourself rooting for Frankie as the book heads for its conclusion and she tries to uncover the truth. Gardner's writing skill and descriptive ability meant I was hooked from the beginning and spent much of the time holding my breath as the tension built to its conclusion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wow what a totally amazing book. Not my usual genre but I will certainly look out for others by Lisa Gardner. The book is fast paced, plenty of action and such believable characters. A great read.

Sometimes you pick a book and you meet the most fascinating characters. This is what happened for me with Before She Disappeared.

This novel was not my first by Lisa Gardner so I was already aware of her outstanding characterization skills and her intense plots. By the way, if you haven’t checked the D.D. Warren series yet, I urge you to give it a try.
Back to Before She Disappeared…

What happens when people disappear? There might be some noise when an investigation starts, if you are lucky, but without strong leads, files only pile up and bury the police force as well as families’ hopes of a happy ending. The number of missing person cases is horrendous. You’d think it wouldn’t be so easy to vanish from the surface of the earth in our day and age, with phones, cameras, credit cards… and yet.

And yet teenager Angelique Badeau disappeared into thin air eleven months ago in Mattapan, an overcrowded part of Boston. No why, no how, nothing. The police haven’t been lazy, they simply haven’t been lucky either.

Enters Frankie Elkin. No big music and big boots. No special powers. She describes herself as a middle-aged woman, white, having replaced an addiction by another, great bartender. Frankie is also very good at finding missing people. It is not her job, it is more like a calling. The one thing she does right. The chase that keeps her sane.

Frankie is an exceptional character. I picked a couple of quotes that will give you a taste of why I am devoting most of my review to her.

“Which would you like first: caffeine or sarcasm?”

Because no one can be honest all of the time. Not even me.

Witty, resourceful Frankie carries the weight of her world on her shoulders, but firmly believes she can help lessen the burden solidly weighing on the family of missing people. Reckless, she is however no fool and understands the risks. She carries on from one city to another, hoping to make a difference.

There is something mesmerizing in Frankie, for her weaknesses are the fuel spurring her to get answers for others. I kept wondering. Was she looking for missing persons to avoid finding herself? She definitely is trying to fill a void, left by a terrible tragedy and her addiction to alcohol, but there is more to her than just another tormented soul.
I must admit that often, I find myself struggling to warm up to characters dealing with alcohol issues. I never get the right details, the right personality to get the need to understand. Lisa Gardner’s protagonist is different, and the way the author has integrated her past and demons to the narration is real, awful, and perfectly written so you can actually emphasize and feel close to Frankie.
What Frankie lacks in material possessions and diplomas; she makes up in people skills. Being a civilian has its advantages. People talk more easily. Most of the time. But Mattapan is a peculiar place where Frankie stands out. She is the minority in a neighbourhood of color. She receives quite a freezing welcome, but she needs more to give up. Again, I could have been made uncomfortable by the talks of race or community, but Lisa Gardner did her homework and knows how to express the complex notions of differences and racism. There are good and bad people of all colors, and Mattapan is no exception. Actually, it hides some amazing food places, and good people trying to play their part to make the place a little safer.

Against all odds, Frankie finds allies, including a no-nonsense boss/landlord, a group of adorable ladies, a wonderful cook, and the reassuring safe net of AA meetings and people who understand her battles. The cast of characters is worthy of a great thriller movie. They carry the plot with such force that I couldn’t help getting tangled up in Angelique’s disappearance. I say tangled up because I felt I was part of the story, the teeny tiny mouse (not eaten by Piper, read the book to get this reference!) who sees the action unfold and holds her breath throughout.

The plot itself is intricate, beautifully sad, and totally outraging. Friendships, trust, family, money, you get the usual suspects, the things we are so familiar with it hurts to see how much power they hold over us. Frankie dances a dangerous dance walking the streets of Mattapan, asking questions, dredging up answers from muddy waters. There is desperation in Frankie’s mission as much as in the search of missing loved ones. If the setting seems ominous and unwelcoming at first, you get transported and end up almost feeling like you belong. Almost. Because Frankie can’t belong, and as the reader following her, neither can we. Still, it felt so good to immerse myself in such a compelling and engaging novel, letting the darkness envelop me to better understand the puzzle I was working on.

One answer after the other, I felt we were getting one step closer, then two steps further any kind of conclusions. The game was dangerous and exhilarating and the combined force of Frankie and her allies kept me hoping for the best, and begging for more.

I don’t feel I can do Before She Disappeared justice, but I hope my review will convince you to meet Frankie and start looking for Angelique. Lisa Gardner outdid herself with this superb piece of fiction that feels real enough to leave a lasting impact on you.

The synopsis gives a great intro as to who Frankie Elkin is, and I have to say she is a character who I really like. She has her vulnerabilities and it is through the course of the story that you gradually learn more about her.

Frankie is someone who doesn't really fit in, she is not able to stay in one place for long. A drifter who is seeking the truth behind people who have gone missing. She has swapped the addiction of alcohol for finding people. For someone that doesn't quite fit, she does seem to be able to make unlikely acquaintances and has discovered that not being a figure in authority makes her more trustworthy as such. Maybe trustworthy isn't the right word, but people open up to her more. I think her character is one that uses truth and honesty about her alcoholism and uses it in everyday situations.

Her latest case choice is that of a missing schoolgirl, a bright girl who didn't get into trouble and always attends class and has a good future ahead of her. Why then would she disappear. The case has gone cold and Frankie decides that she want s to help.

I hadn't realised that there were people who actually do this in real life. Not for monetary gain or fame but just to help families find closure or to reunite them.

The story of Frankie and her involvement is one that takes time, it is a good paced story and one that I found myself eagerly turning pages for. The characters cover a mixed bunch, some have more involvement than others, but there aren't any hangers-on so it makes the flow so good. The main premise is finding a missing girl, but the story is a lot more than that as Frankie soon discovers. It is a story that gradually unearths more than she originally bargained for.

I do like how the author has woven Frankie's story around that of the missing girl's case and this is where some of the other characters come in and are worked well. Being a recovering alcoholic gives her an in if you like, AA is a support group so it does stand to reason that there will be a character that will go the extra step.

This is a cracking story and one that I found really addictive. It is a crime mystery but not of the blood and guts kind. There is a mix of gangs, police, friendly faces as well as discovering Frankies mysterious past. It is a book that I would definitely recommend and I am looking forward to reading more of this author's previous books.

Frankie Elkin searches for missing people that everyone else had forgotten.

Frankie is a great character who searches for a missing child in a Boston neighbourhood and finds herself embroiled in more than she bargained for.
Another great read by Lisa Gardner, and hopefully not the last that we have heard of Frankie.

This book was a slow burner for me, although the pace really did pick up the towards the end.
I liked Frankie as a character, she really grew on me more and more as I got to know her. I would definitely read more books about her if this was to become a series.
I enjoyed the storyline, and was keen to keep reading to work it all out.
This was my first book by this author and I would like to read more.

Another brilliant book by Lisa Gardner.
This one is a stand-alone book and is a great read.
Frankie heads to Mattapan, a Boston neighborhood with a rough reputation where she is searching for Angelique Badeau, a Haitian teenager who vanished from her high school months earlier.
The Boston PD and the victim's family are not keen to help and Frankie feels like she's on her own.
She finds a job in a bar that comes with a room and a feral cat and gets to work.
Frankie keeps pushing the Police and when Lotham realises she has questioning skills far beyond his, they work on the case together.
There’s lots of discoveries and revelations throughout the story and it all comes to a nail biting conclusion with more than one person left dead.
I loved the way it felt like we were working the case with Frankie and I was desparate for her to find Angelique.
This is a gripping mystery crime thriller that well and truly had me hooked.
Thanks to Random House UK, Cornerstone and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I have read other Lisa Gardner books so I was looking forward to reading this one. I did feel that this one was very different to a lot of other books. It was good to read of a place and community that was unknown to me. I found the characters were well drawn and believable. I did begin to worry how long she would hold down her job for, when she was forever arriving late or not at all. However she was a great character, if a little eccentric but I liked her and the relationship with the detective gave the story a little bit of much needed light heartedness.
It was all rather grim at times and the plot was quite a convoluted one that must have taken some time to plan. A good read however. I enjoyed it.

Fantastic read. I have been completely unable to put this one down. I cannot wait to read more by this author.
Full review to follow on publication.

I'm a big Lisa Gardner fan especially the DD Warren series so I was keen to try this standalone. I was not disappointed. Frankies character is a bit odd but really interesting and the struggles of the Haitian characters was really well depicted. I keep hoping this is not a standalone as there's great scope here for a new series?

An interesting idea for a book with well drawn characters and vivid descriptions of the locations. I could really pictures Stoney's bar, and Frankie's room above. I would have given the book 5 stars, but I did find that the pace really slowed around 70 - 80% through the book, and seemed to drag a bit. Otherwise it was a fresh, interesting thriller.

I took a while to get into this book, but that could be because it is set in Boston so everything seemed very alien to me. However, am glad that I persevered; this is a well0written and gripping story, with strong, and believable characters. Frankie is a novel character, and I was pleased to see that she didn't have any hidden abilities which only came to light in an emergency. All in all I would recommend this book, and I hope that Lisa Gardner will write more about Frankie.

Before She Disappeared by Lisa Gardner, Pub Date 21 Jan 21
Frankie Elkin is a recovering alcoholic, and she has spent her life looking for the missing people that others have stopped looking for. Her expertise in solving these cold case crimes tend to mean people trust her. A new case takes her to Mattapan, a rough Boston neighbourhood. Angelique Badeau, a 15-year-old Haitian teenager, has vanished from her high school. Frankie takes the job which comes with a room above a bar in Mattapan. The locals are sceptical of this white outsider, and it takes a while for her to be trusted.
A well-written action-packed, engaging complex read. The characters are well rounded and credible.
This is not a fast-moving story it develops slowly and steadily until everything is concluded.
I want to thank NetGalley, Random House UK, Cornerstone and author Lisa Gardner for a pre-publication to review.