Lisa Gardner did it again by creating another attention keeping Frankie Elkin thriller. I absolutely love the complexity of Frankie's character. This was simply another book i could not put down. It was very obvious that Lisa put a lot of time and research into Afghan culture and the refugee crisis. This is something I have enjoyed about her writing. She doesnt just create a story, she brings facts and real life into her work. 5 stars for me. Thank you for the early release, Lisa!

This series continues to be one of my all-time favorites.

From the very first book, I was completely hooked. The storytelling is gripping—full of suspense, mystery, and emotional depth. Each chapter builds tension in a way that keeps you turning pages late into the night.

Told through a dual timeline of past and present, the narrative is masterfully woven. One of the highlights for me is the character of Frankie—she only grows stronger with each installment. Determined, courageous, and fiercely compassionate, she’s always willing to go the extra mile to help and uncover the truth behind the missing.

I can’t wait to see what’s next.
Definitely recommend.

Thank you so much to Lisa Gardner and Grand Central Publishing for my eARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

When recent Afghan refugee Sabera Ahmadi vanished after leaving work, no one seemed to notice—at least not anyone who should have. The local police have yet to open a case. Her husband - disturbingly unfazed—shows no urgency. But Sabera’s closest friend refuses to believe the silence. She insists that Sabera would never walk away from her three-year-old daughter. Not willingly, anyway.

Enter Frankie Elkin, the kind of woman who searches when no one else will. A missing persons expert with no fixed address and few belongings, Frankie drifts from place to place chasing ghosts—those lost souls the world has stopped looking for. She’s a recovering alcoholic with nothing to prove and no one to impress. But her persistence is unwavering.

The search leads her through the sweltering streets of Tucson. Then a video surfaces: Sabera, captured on screen, walking away from a brutal double murder. And just like that, everything changed.

Kiss Her Goodbye is the kind of story that keeps you up at night. I found myself gripped not just by the mystery, but by the emotional weight behind it. The sections dealing with Afghanistan? Absolutely gut-wrenching. I had to put the book down more than once.

Frankie, as always, is unforgettable. Lisa Gardner has created a unique heroine who is flawed, stubborn, haunted... and wholly human.

I can’t wait to see where Frankie goes next.

This was the first in this series I have read. It can be read as a stand alone. The story keeps me interested with the constant twists and turns. I read it in a couple of days. Very enjoyable read! 😊

Not a lot to write. I had read Lisa Gardner’s novels many years ago,more of regular mystery stories. I don’t read other reviews when I pick a new ebook to read and review it myself. It was hard to get into the story and the premise was not for me. Thank you NetGalley,publisher Grand Central and author Lisa Gardner for the opportunity to read, Kiss Her Goodbye.
On Sale,August 12,2025

A quick, light mystery that will hook you in from the beginning.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Frankie is definitely a ride or die. She wants the missing to be found. She wants the hea but more than anything she wants the truth above all else. What can I say? I want her as my person. If I was missing, I need a Frankie Elkin to pull up.
The story... The story had so many twist and turns. Frankie always felt like she was not just two steps behind but almost four. I felt that. There were a few parts that had me spinning and had me stepping back and saying what.
If you are looking for another adventure, this time in the dark and luxury parts of Tuscon, get ready to meet Marge and Petunia.

4.25 STARS

This 4th installment to Lisa Gardner’s Frankie Elkin series brings our protagonist to Tucson, Arizona, where she embarks on a search for a missing Afghan refugee while caring for a mansion of critters and misfits. Despite the dire circumstances surrounding the young woman’s disappearance, there are moments of lightheartedness woven in throughout the story, offering a bit of comic relief to an otherwise serious and tragic theme.

As a huge fan of the Frankin Elkin series, I couldn’t wait to dive into this story. And while it is definitely a story worthy of devouring, I did find parts of this story confusing, especially as it pertains to elements that can be perceived as either real or imaginary. That said, this is yet another compelling and twisty story from an author that keeps me coming back for more!

Raw, riveting, and relentlessly emotional.
In this gripping thriller, Frankie Elkin is once again pulled into the heart of danger—this time in search of a missing Afghan refugee. The mystery is layered and timely, but it’s Frankie’s fierce determination and fragile humanity that steal the show. Gardner blends social issues, sharp suspense, and gut-punch twists into a story that hits hard and lingers long after the final page.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A haunting, powerful read about survival, sacrifice, and the search for truth.

Picture me sitting with this book in my hand, jaw dropped, eyes wide, fingers tense on the pages. I want that image to be my review.

I don’t even know where to begin. I loved the first three Frankie books, but KISS HER GOODBYE was a whole new level of intense.

I started this book just days before my husband and I had to say goodbye to our oldest dog. My concentration level was nonexistent, but I badly needed to escape my own head for a little while. And this was the perfect book. I was completely caught up in Frankie’s world. Lisa Gardner allowed me to forget everything else for a little while, which was a precious gift.

I know I’m not saying much about the content. And I won’t. If you love realistic, thought-provoking suspense with depth, complexities, and unforgettable characters, you should jump into this story blindly and enjoy the ride.

KISS HER GOODBYE is the fourth Frankie Elkin novel. It reads fine as a stand alone, but seriously, if you haven’t read the first three, you should!

Although, the premise and heart for assisting refugee families is one of respect, I found this Kiss Her Goodbye mentally exhausting and unrealistic. Then there’s the crazy Boy Wonder who lets a random person pet sit for him for a month solely based upon his driver’s sixth sense.

First, the idea of an untrained person solving cold cases and law enforcement indulging such a person is hard to imagine and would never happen. Yes, I know this is fiction but the character is playing someone you need to find believable.

Secondly, there were so many minor characters being introduced all the way through the book, it was like doing mental gymnastics on who this is, how does it connect which with a few was a struggle (I.e. Lilla).

Unfortunate, this one did not hit home for me. That’s not to say someone else won’t love it.

Kiss Her Goodbye, the fourth book in the Frankie Elkin series by Lisa Gardner, is a non-stop thriller that sweeps the reader along and won't let go.
But the book is much more than just the mystery of where a genius refugee has disappeared and why; it's an intricate and heart-wrenching look at the lives of people swept up in political unrest, their desperate flights to safety, and the difficulties they face throughout the arduous process of finding refuge.
The story progresses at near breakneck speed, with layer after layer of secrets and revelations meted out as Frankie finds herself faced with a confusing and difficult missing persons case. Comic relief comes in reptilian form, delightful in and of itself. The characters are multi-faceted and relatable, and the writing superb. I highly recommend this thriller.
Thank you for the ARC of #KissHerGoodby to #NetGalley.

Kiss Her Goodbye by Lisa Gardner is the 4th in the series featuring Frankie Elkin.

Frankie is called to Tuscon to help in the search for a missing Afghan refugee Sabera who left work and then wasn't seen again, but wait, her husband goes missing too.

Will Frankie be able to find them? This book hit home with me because I have immigrant family members and the world we live in is terrifying right now and it's so easy to picture this happening to them.

Frankie goes to great length and with the help of a lot of people, is able to get answers, even if they aren't the ones that Sabera's family are happy or comfortable with.

I haven't read any of the other books in this series, and while this can be a stand alone, I think it would be better to read them all. I'm off to do that now and then re-read this!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was thrilled to receive this ARC. Frankie Elkin took a sabbatical with the guy from the last book until she felt the need to resume her search for missing persons. She agrees to take the case of Sabera Ahmadi, a missing Afhgani refugee who fled with her older husband and young daughter Zahra. when the US left Afghanistan in 2021 and Taliban took over, Kabul fell faster than expected.

Sabera is an interesting, dynamic character with many struggles and losses. Frankie finds herself an interesting group of people when she agrees to pet sit an iguana and *shudder* snakes. I liked these characters a lot. what she embarks on is quite dangerous as people are after Sabera for information only she can provide.

I read this on vacation, and my thoughts are a bit jumbled from the sun. liked the side characters, including the housing coordinator and social worker. Gardner did extensive research into the community in Tucson and the issues refugees face. The ending was stunning.

I would like to try some of the foods that were mentioned. my heart goes out to everyone who has faced such a loss.

4/5☆ available August 12, 2025.

I wanted to like this book so badly, but unfortunately, it just didn’t do it for me.

Kiss Her Goodbye was my first introduction to Lisa Gardner’s Frankie Elkin series. Thankfully, you don’t need to read the previous books to follow this one—it's easy enough to jump in. That said, I had a hard time connecting with the main premise right from the beginning. Frankie, a civilian with no official training, searches for missing people completely for free. I couldn’t quite buy into that. Even seasoned professionals like Tracker don’t do it for free!

This installment follows Frankie as she tries to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of Sabera in Tuscon, an Afghan refugee who vanishes, leaving behind her young daughter. Oddly, Sabera’s husband doesn’t seem concerned, and no one has even reported her missing. The story unfolds in dual timelines: Frankie’s present-day investigation, and glimpses into Sabera’s past life in Afghanistan.

While the premise had potential, parts of the story felt implausible to me. Frankie befriends several people while house-sitting, and somehow they all jump in to help her with the investigation. I kept wondering—don’t people have their own lives and responsibilities? Why would they drop everything to help a stranger?

The plot became confusing at times, and though I stuck with it hoping for a strong finish, it never quite delivered the payoff I was looking for. If you’re already a fan of the Frankie Elkin series, this might land better for you. But as a newcomer, it just wasn’t the right fit for me.

A well-intentioned mystery that didn’t quite hit the mark.

*** Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Book Group for the ARC. All thougths and opinions are my own.

In Lisa Gardner’s Kiss Her Goodbye, Frankie Elkin embarks on a journey to find another overlooked missing person. The book explores the life of an Afghan refugee, shedding light on the hardships of leaving home and immigration. It’s a very timely and heart-wrenching story. Although this is part of a series it can be read as a stand alone as well. A very intriguing book that I found hard to put down.

Kiss Her Goodbye is the next installment in the Frankie Elkin series, and it does not disappoint! In this book, Frankie finds herself in Tucson, AZ to investigate the disappearance of an Afghan refugee, Sabera, who has been missing for three weeks. The police do not seem to think this is a priority as sometimes refugees do leave their families and there was no apparent fowl play, but the case worker who handled her placement is not convinced that Sabera would leave her daughter behind.

Frankie finds herself in an interesting living situation as she looks for a place to stay in her temporary home. She typically finds a job with lodging, like a bar, but in this case, she stumbles across an interesting and humorous pet sitting gig that she will never forget. Her investigation aligns her with some new ad interesting allies that help with her search.

Frankie and the characters are so relatable and likeable, as they are smart yet vulnerable, and willing to make hard choices to help others. I love how the story unfolded as Frankie (and the reader) learn about refugee camps and placements, and the horrors these people endure when they lose all they own and then have to start over in a strange land and a strange culture. The stories of Afghan food and hospitality have me wanting to go out and find some of their delis and restaurants. The book also gave flashbacks into Sabera's own story and her escape from the Taliban and her journey to America as it set up what really happened to Sabera when she went missing.

I loved the buildup, the suspense, a little misdirection, the characters, the education and the emotional response I had from this reading journey. Another 5-star book and I can't wait for the next installment. Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the advance copy

Lisa Gardner is one of my favorite authors so I was thrilled to get an early copy of her latest, “Kiss Her Goodbye.” Set in Tucson, Arizona it is the fourth book in the Frankie Elkin series.

Frankie’s new missing persons case involves a young Afghan refugee named Sabera. She has been missing for three weeks and only her friend seems to be worried about her. Her friend knows Sabera may be willing to walk away from her husband, but would never willingly leave her young daughter behind.

As soon as Frankie agrees to take the case, she needs to find a job and housing. She finds both when she answers an ad that comes with a unique employer, unusual job duties, and incredible housemates. Her housemates are also helpful, resourceful, and loyal.

Frankie has barely started asking questions and looking for Sabera when a video is released from a crime scene. Sabera was recorded walking away from a double murder, wearing a distinctive head covering her friend recognizes.

As the case progresses, the reader learns more about the plight of the Afghan refugees, as well as the challenges they face in the United States when it comes to housing, employment, and acclimating to American culture.

This one got off to a slower start for me than I’m used to with Lisa Gardner’s books. Once the case progressed, the pace picked up for me. I enjoyed the interactions Frankie had with those in Sabera’s world, as well as her housemates.

Overall, I recommend this book. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

This is another great addition to the Frankie Elkin series. I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the one before it, but I still enjoyed it and will continue to pick this series up. In this one Frankie is looking for a missing Afghan refugee named Sabera and travels to Arizona to investigate. The timeline moves between present-day and Sabera's younger life. I think, for me, that's what brought my enjoyment down slightly. Still a great plot-driven novel that will keep you turning pages. If you're read and enjoyed this series in the past, don't miss this newest addition!

This book is part of a series, but I’ve never read any of the others , so it can be read as a standalone. It was fascinating and I didn’t want to put it down. It features a dual timeline and is somewhat relevant considering the current immigrant issues. It takes a deep dive into transitioning immigrants. There are some horrific things and some funny things here. I was given a complimentary copy of this book and the opinions are my own.