Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC.

I have read every single book that Lisa Gardner has published. I really miss the characters in her two previous series. They were very similar in that they were professional crime solvers (cops and FBI agents) and I was very drawn to that. Enter Frankie Elkin. We get introduced to her through our favorite Boston cop in book 1, and then Frankie takes on a trajectory all her own. I feel like the further we go down Frankie's story the further we go from that initial narrative that I found so appealing with Gardner's earlier work.

HOWEVER, I still find myself liking these books and looking forward to what will come next. Gardner's writing is still engaging. This story in particular takes a turn down a road never explored by Gardner before; into the world of politics, war, US-Afghan relations post Taliban rule, refugees in America, and espionage. That sounds like a lot, but it works. And it works well. The book is sad and frustrating and interesting and eye opening. I can't imaging where she's going to take Frankie Elkin next but I will be reading to find out.

I’ve been a Frankie fan since her debut. This is the fourth installment in the series. I thoroughly enjoyed the first three and this one was just ok for me. This is just my opinion.

I can’t wait to read the fifth installment to see what Frankie has been up to.

Kiss Her Goodbye is the 4th book in the Frankie Elkin series, and Frankie, who takes on long forgotten or ignored missing persons cases for no fee, is on the search for an Afghan refugee who disappeared in Arizona. This book is a bit of a departure from normal, as it focuses on the plight of displaced Afghanis and spends a great deal of time detailing the harsh conditions of refugee camps and the long struggle and hurdles to come to the United States. The main story is Frankie’s hunt for Sabera Ahmadi, who disappeared leaving her husband and infant daughter. But there’s more to Sabera than meets the eye, and Frankie has her toughest case yet with international repercussions. The plot gets a little complicated and more characters are introduced as the story progresses, only confusing things further. But the backbone of the book is true to its core, with Frankie trying to parse through all the threads to accomplish her mission. Not the best of this series, but still worth a read. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Frankie goes to Arizona to investigate the disappearance of Sabera, a brilliant Afghanistan refugee who has been working as a maid at a resort. As her investigation deepens, Frankie fears Sabera’s young daughter may be in danger.

The chapters in Sabera’s perspective did an excellent job of showing the horrors she experienced before coming to the United States. In empathizing with her, I became deeply invested in her story. I enjoyed how Sabera’s culture is captured, for example in the food Aliah, the woman who hired Frankie makes.

The mystery itself makes for a thrilling read, but my favorite part of the book is the rich characters. Frankie, a nomadic alcoholic, is intent on bringing closure to the loved ones, despite the physical and mental costs. Sabera, her husband, her daughter, and her neighbors are lovingly developed. The various people who facilitated the family’s integration such as the housing manager, social worker, and Aliah, are unique and fascinating. Frankie’s pet sitting gig is delightful and nicely integrated into the story. I absolutely adore Frankie’s employer’s driver ex-con Daryl, Genni the cool cook, and Petunia, one of the pets Frankie cares for.

The plot is twisty and the awesome ending pays off every story promise.

I’ve read all the previous installments in this spectacular series and KISS HER GOODBYE is one of my favorites.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Group, Inc., for providing an Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley.

If Frankie has no fans I am dead, Another banger of a book!
Thank you netgalley for the earc in exchange for a review

Frankie Elkin, easily one of my favourite of Lisa Gardner’s protagonists, is off on another adventure to solve another missing persons case. Frankie, a bit of a lost soul herself, finds people that people have stopped (or not even started) looking for.

When Aliah, an Afghan refugee from Tucson, AZ reaches out to Frankie about the woman she recently welcomed to the US being missing for the past 3 weeks, Frankie packs what few belongings she has and heads out to find her.

Frankie is just a woman like you and me; she’s not a detective, she has no special training, and yet… she cannot stop herself from getting involved. But her lack of authority is often to her advantage. People don’t feel comfortable talking to cops, but they’ll talk to her. Police have red tape to work around during an investigation, Frankie does not.

I love this series and was so thrilled to receive an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. I devoured this novel and was enthralled by the deep mystery that Sabera has left to be unravelled in an effort to find her in an attempt to reunite her with her 4-year-old daughter Zahra.

Something I always appreciate about Lisa’s work is her copious research and attention to detail. I got a similar feeling while reading this book as I did when I read the Storyteller by Jodi Picoult. Having just a glimpse into the harrowing and haunting world experiences of refugee camps in Afghanistan has opened my eyes to a world I cannot even fathom. Thank you Lisa for shining a light on such a difficult topic, and thank you to everyone who shared their stories with her.

Finally, a thank you to Net Galley, Lisa Gardner, and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read this book in advance of its release.

What a great book! I have been a Frankie Elkin fan since book one. I also live in the Tucson area and am familiar with the Afghan refugee resettlement. Lisa Gardner was spot on with both of these elements in this story. You can tell that she has done her research.

The plot of this novel was propulsive with detailed characters and unexpected twists. I was totally engaged while reading. Don't forget to read the Acknowledgments at the end of the book.

Thank you, Grand Central Publishing and Net Galley for the ARC of this book. I hope there will be a book five in this series.

Frankie is back. But don’t worry if you haven’t read of her other adventures. Lisa Gardner provides the background to allow this to be a standalone novel. You will root for her as she digs through the mysteries and intrigue, learning about the Afghan culture. This book has lots of twists along the way. Another winner from Lisa Gardner!

🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
This series just keeps getting better!
Frankie Elkin has devoted her life to find the missing. In particular, those who don’t make the headlines. The forgotten.
Her latest case brings her to Tucson, Arizona. A young mother, missing for weeks and no one seems to be taking her disappearance seriously!

Sabera came to the United States with her husband and daughter, refugees from Afghanistan, desperate to escape when the Taliban took down the city of Kabul. They have high hopes of a new start in America, but as so often happens, the past may be about to catch up to them.

Lisa Gardner takes us into the tragic world of life in Afghanistan during the fall of Kabul, the refugee camps and the process of escaping the country. We’re also given a glimpse of the struggles in making it to the US under refugee status.
All these heartbreaking issues are intertwined into her storyline beautifully.

Even in the midst of all the sadness, Lisa Gardner was able to deliver smiles and laughter with Frankie’s “pet sitting” and the mouth-watering descriptions of Afghan culinary delights. Flawless!

Frankie’s character is becoming more defined with each book and my fondness for her is growing.🫶🏼
Frankie is getting ready to move to her next case and I’ll be right there along-side!

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing.

Another Frankie Elkin novel. Ayoung mother is haunter by war. As an Afghan refugee Sabera has escaped to Tucson AZ. She hasn't been sseen in over three weeks. Her domineering husband, Isaad, is unconcerned. He is a mathematician, she is a brillant linguist.

Isaad also disappears, to be found died later. Sabera is seen walking away from the sight where Isaad was found. Frankie must quickly figure out the code the her daughter Zahra has drawn on a piece of paper. This is not one of Lisa Gardner's better story. Thanks netgalley for opportunity to read this story.

Let’s go Frankie Elkin - another story and another missing person. Although this one isn’t long dead or a cold case - just a missing refugee with an idetic memory and a lot of baggage

I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book, as it’s not your typical Lisa Gardner., but the more I read, the more invested in the characters I became.
This is the story of Frankie Elkins, finder of people, solver of cold cases, recovering alcoholic who shies away from long-term relationships, who is thrust into the violent and deadly case of a missing Afghani refugee with a brilliant mind. Frankie gathers intel and improbable assistants along the way, and, hopefully, makes some lifelong friends to boot. There were a few scenes where it would be helpful to suspend any realistic belief, but overall a harrowing and engaging story.

Thank you, Grand Central Publishing, for providing the copy of Kiss Her Goodbye by Lisa Gardner. Wow, what a book! Frankie Elkin is back, looking for a missing refugee. I loved the dual timelines and learning more about Sabera and her family. I didn’t expect to learn so much about refugees, refugee camps, and the tribulations of starting life in a brand new location. I appreciate the research Gardner conducted and how it made the story both powerful and heartbreaking. If you’re looking for a book with lots of surprising reveals, this book is for you. If you love well-written characters and writing that will draw you in and keep you reading, this book is for you. 5 stars

I was surprised by the emotional depth of this book. The spacing if current time and flashback is well done. Both adding to the story but also building the edge. Frankie is a delightful character and Petuina was a sweet little side plot.

A bit of a slower burn. I read this as a standalone and even being book 4, I was able to keep up. Although, I am sure there are subtle references I wouldn't have picked up on.

Publication day August 12th!

Recent Afghan refugee Sabera Ahmadi was last seen exiting her place of work three weeks ago. The local police have yet to open a case and her older, domineering husband seems unconcerned. Sabera's closest friend, however, is convinced Sabera would never willingly leave her four‑year old daughter. At her insistence, missing persons expert Frankie Elkin agrees to take up the search through the broiling streets of Tucson. Just in time for a video of the young mother to surface—showing her walking away from the scene of a brutal double murder. Frankie quickly notes there's much more to the Ahmadi family than she thought. The father Isaad is a brilliant mathematician, Sabera a gifted linguist, and their little girl Zahra has an uncanny ability to remember anything she sees. When Isaad also disappears and an attempt is made on Zahra's life, Frankie realizes she must quickly crack the code of this family's horrific past.

I requested this book when it was offered not realizing that it was the fourth in a series about Frankie. Thankfully, this did not hinder the understanding of the book, although, now, I would like to go back and read the first three in the series. This is an interesting book about the plight of Afghan refugees and how they adapt to this country. The author has done her research and was able to give the reader an understanding of what they face when they leave country and family for a totally foreign country and what is involved to try and settle them in a new environment. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for introducing me to Lisa Gardner and her writing. I have seen her name for years but have not read any of her books until now. This will not be the last one I read as she is a vey gifted writer.

Fantastic! I loved the original plot and the fact that Frankie ends up in Tucson pet sitting as she works on this harrowing missing persons case. The plot kept me engaged and guessing all the way until TBR end. I hope Frankie continues with more mysteries. Highly recommend.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Frankie Elkin heads to Tucson to find a missing Afghan refugee. This book is full of suspense and a page turner. Frankie finds herself without a place to stay. She answers an ad and soon is pet sitting lizards and snakes. As she attempts to find the missing woman, bodies turns up that have been tortured. The missing woman fled Afghanistan during the time that the U.S. withdrew. Author does a good job describing the total chaos of that exodus along with the cruelty of that era. There's are plenty of characters in this story that interact to move the story. Frankie fights her own demons but finds that others have the same fights. Thanks to NetGalley for the arc.

Kiss Her Goodbye is a compelling summer thriller and another strong entry in Lisa Gardner’s Frankie Elkins series. Frankie remains one of my favorite female leads—deeply guided by her moral compass, yet human enough to let her emotions lead the way. This balance makes her endlessly relatable and engaging.

I particularly enjoyed the addition of the pet sitter subplot and the introduction of new, lovable characters that added warmth and levity to the intense narrative. Even though this is the fourth book in the series, Gardner provides enough context from Frankie’s past to make this a satisfying standalone read.

The Ahmadi family's story is both poignant and harrowing, shedding light on the refugee experience and the lasting scars of war. Sabera’s journey grabs you from the very beginning and never lets go. Gardner’s talent for meticulous character development and intricate plotting shines here, with emotionally charged twists that keep the tension high throughout.

This was a quick, immersive read that made for a perfect start to my summer break. I can’t wait to join Frankie on her next journey.

Another adventure with Frankie was well spent. There was more at stake in this story and that kept the momentum going. The back and forth in the storylines was A new and interesting touch which brought a more personal tone to the story.

In typical Lisa Gardner fashion the twists and tums kept you guessing until the very end,

Although this one did not quite meet my expectations, I continue to be a fan of this series. I love Frankie’s character too much to let my lack of interest in the plot keep me from reading any more of this series.

In this fourth installment Sabera, a young mother, has gone missing and no one has begun to look for her, so Frankie sets out to do her thing; find the missing when no one else will.

In previous books one minute I have tears in my eyes, another minute I’m laughing, the next minute I’m completely filled with adrenaline; I didn’t feel that in this book.

What was missing: Frankie’s unique character that I’ve grown to love. The intensity of the story that carries you to the final page. The raw emotion that I feel for not only Frankie’s character but every other character involved.

Lisa Gardner has a way with words that makes you feel every emotion, and I am infatuated with Frankie Elkin, so I eagerly await for what’s next for her.

Frankie, I’d follow you anywhere…