I really like Alafair Burke, though I prefer her stand alone novels to this series. This is the 6th Ellie Hatcher novel. Well written but not my favorite.

This was a fast-paced story of "Hope" who has lived the past 15 years with amnesia after being found by her friend, Lindsay following a car accident. Did Hope disappear again? Was foul play involved? Lindsay is desperate to find her and find out. During her quest, she becomes involved with an NYPD officer who had ties to old murder cases in Wichita. Will Lindsay unravel it all? Will Hope be found, and will she have recovered any memories?

"Find Me" by Alafair Burke
Harper
January 11, 2022
10-0062853368
320 pages
Psychological Thriller


Fifteen years ago, Attorney Lindsay Kelly happened across an accident in her hometown of Hopewell, New Jersey, where she discovered a young woman thrown from her vehicle lying in the woods unconscious and in rough shape. Lindsay escorted her to the hospital, taking her under her wing when it was revealed the woman had lost her memory. The unidentified woman, now going by the name of Hope Miller, settles in town still without recollection of her identity. She and Lindsay become close, with Lindsay vowing to do anything to protect her. This is why she becomes upset after Hope decides to venture out on her own, to live someplace where she’s not in a fishbowl where everyone knows her story.

The two women go to the Hamptons for a vacation, and this is where Hope wants to relocate. Though this is hard for Lindsay to accept, she understands why Hope needs this change. They both are concerned about what may have happened in Hope’s past to cause her long-term amnesia. Was she abused? Was she running from someone? Or had she done something illegal?

Hope rents a small cottage in East Hampton and gains employment with a local realtor who agrees to pay her off the books. She proves to be a dependable worker, and one Sunday, she is assigned to clean and stage the Stansfield’s home to put be on the market. Though she is supposed to check in with Evan, her boss, she never shows up. What’s worse, it appears she has stolen $2,000 from Evan and has now vanished.

Lindsay panics when Hope does not return her many phone calls or texts, so she heads for Long Island to search for her. She meets with Evan, who accuses Hope of robbing him, yet he realizes something strange about the situation. He purchased a rug for Hope to use while staging the house, and it isn’t there. What’s up? No rug, $2,000 gone, and no Hope!

Searching for Hope seems hopeless (pardon the pun). Still, when blood is discovered in the foyer of the newly staged property, Lindsay contacts detective Carter Decker. He doesn’t seem too thrilled with her explanation of Hope’s past; he believes the woman is just another transient who ripped off a local businessman.

Lindsay states:

“She has spent six hours in her car that day, driving round trip to East Hampton and back, just to have Carter Decker blow her off, claiming that the blood from the Stansfield house was a ‘dead-end.’ Maybe some people would be willing to accept the officer’s concluding, but Lindsay wasn’t in the business of allowing other people to draw conclusions for her.

“Accordingly, she had sent a list of questions to Detective Decker, by voice mail and email: (1) Which databases or other resources had they relied upon to compare the genetic material? (2) What, if any, results had come from such comparisons? (3) What resources, other than DNA databases were they utilizing to determine the source of the genetic material?

“She checked her cellphone once again for email updates. Nothing.”

The body of a fishing guide is found at the marina, and his death is presumed to be an accidental drowning. However, the coroner discovers a gunshot wound in the back of his head—and his blood matches the blood found at the Stansfield’s. Is this man somehow connected to Hope?

Lindsay contacts Ellie Hatcher, a homicide detective with the New York Police Department, after the DNA blood sample of the deceased man is revealed to be the same as that of a serial killer her cop father had tried to apprehend in Wichita, Kansas, more than 20 years ago. Her father dedicated his life to catching this murderer until his own death shortly after, which was deemed a suicide, though Ellie has grave misgivings about her father’s demise and firmly believes he did not take his own life, but the Kansas police closed that book. What is the connection between what is happening now and that of years ago and miles away? Ellie, Lindsay, and Hope need to get to the bottom of this, for Lindsay is adamant Hope is innocent of any wrongdoing.

Can years’ old questions be answered? Have the murders from long ago and those of recent times been a cover-up of a more critical situation? The juxtaposition of many theories and clues brings together a bigger and more sinister plot while tying up many loose ends that have been hidden for decades. The backstory and subplots in this novel make it a challenging and breathtaking read. In addition, with more twists and turns than a country road, the unexpected ending is a definite whodunnit that is sure to whet the appetite of suspense lovers.

This is the first rate thriller about an amnesiac who disappears and her friend that’s searching for answers. I really enjoyed this book. It weaves together a clever story that encompasses the past and the future seamlessly. I loved the characters and setting. Highly recommend this one.

Hope turned up 15 years ago with no memories of her past. She became part of a small town but now she has decided to move and try to start a new life. Now she is missing and her best friend, a New York defense attorney is determined to find her. the only clue at the scene of the disappearance ties it to a Kansas murder. Lindsay reaches out to a NYPD detective that is the daughter of the Kansas cop that spent his life trying to solve the Kansas murder. will they be able to find Hope in time? What is the connection to the Kansas murder? A book that kept me reading to figure it out.

In the words of Madonna: Who’s That Girl?

Hope Miller wasn’t her name 15 years prior, when she was found alone in a terrible car accident. She had no recollection of who she was...her memory completely erased.

Hope’s best friend, a defense lawyer named Lindsay, is the one who found her in the overturned car 15 years ago. She’s managed to help Hope find a new life for herself. Now, Hope has recently moved to East Hampton in search of a change. Lindsay misses her being around, but knows Hope needs space to get acclimated to her new area.

Then, Hope disappears…

Lindsay is frantically worried, and even more so when it’s discovered that a drop of blood found at the place Hope was last seen links to the case of a serial killer in Wichita, Kansas.

Lindsay’s only hope of finding Hope (sorry… ) is by reaching out to NYPD homicide detective Ellie Hatcher...whose cop father originally hunted down the Kansas serial killer.

I didn’t realize this was book #6 in the Ellie Hatcher series. I pulled a Pat. Author Alafair Burke explains that she wrote it in a way that would also work as a standalone, and I think that’s probably true since Ellie’s part isn’t too huge. However, I might’ve understood her background a bit more if I read the other ones.

As for this novel, I found it interesting and well-written, and was eager to find out who Hope really was. The mystery and circumstances around her amnesia were a bit convoluted, and I found it hard to keep track of who’s who with so many characters spread throughout. The reveals were decent, but more on the average side.

I think this will work well for those who have read the whole series. As for me, I’ll stick with Burke’s standalones (which I’ll confirm ahead of time going forward), as I usually LOVE the stories she comes up with.

Thank you to Harper and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 1/11/22.

Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com

Hope was a victim of a terrible car crash and has suffered amnesia since the accident. Lindsay was the person to find her and from here a deep friendship grew between the two. Much to Lindsay's dismay Hope has decided to leave Hopedale behind to make a life for herself in The Hamptons.

Hope, now working for a real estate agent, stages a house for an upcoming open house. As she goes to leave a man attacks her and she disappears.

Lindsay is now trying to track her down but things get complicated when blood at the scene is linked to a serial killer case in Wichita, KS. How are these cases connected?

This is the type of book in which the entire plot hinges on whether or not the cops are called. If they're called, problem solved, and this book wouldn't exist. If they aren't called then chaos ensues which is what we have here. That annoys me a little because the entire time I was reading this I was like "WHY, WHY, WHY???" This reminded me of a Law and Order episode in book form. There were a lot of characters to keep track of and even by the end I still didn't have all the players straight. Who's that again kept popping into my head throughout the entire book. The ending did not wow me at all. Not great, not terrible. A perfectly serviceable thriller to kill some time but don't expect your heart to race or your jaw to drop. This is simply.... fine . 3 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper for my complimentary copy.

Alafair Burke is always a sure bet, but she outdoes herself in Find Me. She builds suspense from the first chapter and keeps the reader engaged to the final page. Fans of Harlan Coben and Gillian Flynn will love this mystery that is full of twists and turns, loyalties and betrayals.

I have only read two books by Alafair Burke before, but I really enjoyed them. Just when you think you have things figured out, there is always some twist. And don’t get too comfortable thinking things got wrapped up neatly at the end of the book either.
Hope Miller was thrown from a vehicle with Indiana plates in an accident 15 years ago in New Jersey. Since then, she has had no memory of anything that happened prior to the accident. She has relied on the woman who found her and has become her best friend, but now she wants to go out and forge an independent path. Even though she has no memory, Hope is always looking over her shoulder. Then she disappears, only leaving a bloodstained rug as a clue. The path that bloodstain leads us on is intense!
I really liked all of the suspense and build-up as the story moved along. I really enjoy watching crime documentaries and appreciated all of the detail in this story, police procedures, and investigative process. If you’re a fan of these documentaries, or shows like Dateline, 48 Hours, or Law & Order, then you will want to add this book to your list.
As I said before, I’ve only read two other books by this author, I felt comfortable reading it as a standalone and not having much back-story on one of the characters.

Find Me by Alafaire Burke. Thanks to @harperbooks for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️

When Hope Miller disappears it’s up to her best friend and a homicide detective to find her. Her past is mysterious to them as well as Hope. She was found suffering from amnesia fifteen years ago. Does her disappearance have to do with her unknown past?

This will be a good one for fans of police procedurals and investigations. The details got in-depth and complicated, which I’m sure is attune to a real-life investigation, but that’s not really my thing. I think it is many other reader’s thing though, so this will likely be a hit!

“She had no way of knowing that what had happened nearly seventeen hundred miles away on Long Island at the exact moment she had dreamed about her father would force the past to collide with the present once again.”

Find Me is out 1/11.

Mystery set in the Hamptons featuring a woman with serious amnesia. How are the Hamptons connected to murders in Wichita, Kansas that happened years ago? The mystery itself is somewhat interesting, the writing is Burke's usual. Although the twist at the end was supremely unsatisfying and easy to guess. Certainly not the best of her books.

While I enjoyed the book "Find Me", I think I'm going to take a break from Alafair Burke. Seems to be formatic here lately.

Who is Hope Miller? For 15 years that is the question many people are asking. “Hope” lost her memory in a car accident with a stolen car. Searching for her history unveils more than anyone could guess but solves a lot of mysteries for town where secrets finally come to light.

Alafair Burke is one of those authors whom are very much one click authors! This book is definitely another one click! I didn’t know this was part of the Ellie Series, but enjoyed it without having read the prior books. I normally won’t read books out of order, but because Alafair is so great at thrill rides, I did in this case! It’s definitely one that is written in the realistic, genuine, unique, and captivating style Burke has perfected! Characters developed perfectly, which really draws you even further into the story! An intriguing, twisty web, which Alafair Burke unweaves perfectly! Highly, highly recommend!

Will make sure to buzz around and use top Amazon reviewer number on release!

Alafair Burke is one of my favorite authors and I was super excited to see she'd written a new book. I love books in the "Ellie" series and for me this was a fast read. Loved the twists and turns. Will definitely be recommending this book, Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

Another excellent offering from Alafair Burke. A recommended first purchase for collections where crime and thrillers are popular.

Wow…what a page turner…and I did not see any of it coming! Hope has amnesia from a car accident, and best friend Lindsay has been there since it started. When Hope decides to try and start living her own life, she becomes suspicious someone is following her. Does it have to do with her old life, that she can’t remember?

Her name is Hope Miller, at least that’s what she calls herself because she has no memory of her real name, of who she really is. The only survivor of a road accident 15 years earlier, it appears her amnesia is not temporary, as doctors first thought. Now, Hope has decided to make a new life for herself in New York, even though her best friend, attorney \ Lindsay Kelly thinks it’s a terrible idea, and she’s right because Hope vanished from her new home in East Hampton, leaving behind only a drop of blood. Blood that is linked to a murderer. But does the blood belong to Hope, or the person who may have taken her? Nothing is as it seems in this twisted tale

love Alafair Burke's novels. Find Me was twisty. Liked this story a lot, was not sure how it would all turn out.

I am hooked on Alafair Burke’s books, I simply love them. They are the kind of mysteries that keep me totally engaged. I was captivated by the story of a young woman dealing with amnesia and being rudderless, not knowing her name. She has been cared for by her friend, Lindsey, since she lost her memory. But, nothing is what it seems and Burke takes the reader through all the twists and turns, while exploring issues of intimacy and relationships.

I totally enjoyed this and look forward to more of her books. Of course, I enjoyed tge collaboration with Mary Higgins Clark and I’m wondering if Burke will continue the series.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.