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, while her older, domineering husband seems unconcerned. Sabera's closest friend, however, is convinced Sabera would never willingly leave her three‑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 meets the eye. 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. Which given everything that has happened during the girl's short life, may be a terrible curse. When Isaad also disappears under mysterious circumstances and an attempt is made on Zahra's life, Frankie realizes she must quickly crack the code of this family's horrific past.

Lisa Gardner is at the top of her game -- and that's saying something. She's one of the best thriller writers working today. Highly recommended. #KissHerGoodbye #NetGalley #SaltMarshAuthorSeries

Frankie Elkin is back, this time on the trail of a missing young mother, a refugee from Afghanistan. It’s immediately clear there is nothing simple about Sabera Ahmadi or her disappearance and there’s a reason why her husband isn’t terribly worried about her disappearance, which only spurs Frankie to dig deeper to find answers.

The story alternates between the present and Frankie’s investigation and the past, where we learn about the missing woman, her family, the violent Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, and Sabera’s early days as a refugee. Gardner did her research; those harrowing events and those awful refugee camps are presented in full color and for that reason alone I’ll give this book a higher rating than I might have.

And that’s the thing—I WANT people to read this book because I believe there are important messages imbedded in this entertaining novel. I believe people new to Frankie’s world will have no trouble falling into it, and that’s a bonus. But I feel like the middle of the book was a bit dragged out and the ending a bit rushed. Plus, that old theater saw about a gun on stage in Act 1 better have been shot by Act 3? there are a few un-shot guns. But more than anything I feel like Frankie was less Frankie-ish, less fleshed out.

This was a solid, entertaining read and I look forward to Frankie’s next case. Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Lisa Gardner’s Kiss Her Goodbye is another standout in what has become one of my absolute favorite series to read. The Frankie Elkin books never disappoint, and this fourth installment might be the most emotionally resonant and psychologically intense yet.

Frankie, a woman who devotes her life to finding the missing when no one else will, is once again at the heart of a deeply layered mystery. This time, her search takes her to the sweltering streets of Tucson, Arizona, where the unforgiving heat mirrors the mounting tension of a case that feels increasingly impossible to crack. The setting adds a palpable sense of urgency, making every page feel heavy with consequence.

Gardner’s character work continues to shine. The Ahmadi family—an intellectually gifted trio with a tragic past—bring a level of depth and emotional weight that elevates this story beyond a standard procedural. Their daughter, Zahra, whose brilliant mind holds crucial answers, adds an especially unique and compelling thread to the narrative.

But it’s Frankie who remains the emotional anchor of the series. Flawed, fierce, and driven by a need to make things right, she’s the kind of character who lingers long after the final page. Her empathy and determination never feel forced—they’re hard-earned, shaped by her past and sharpened by every case she takes on.

Kiss Her Goodbye blends a gripping, twist-filled plot with heartfelt character moments and thoughtful exploration of trauma and healing. It’s everything I’ve come to love about this series: smart, suspenseful, and deeply human. If you haven't met Frankie Elkin yet, now’s the time. And if you’re already a fan like me, this is one installment you won’t want to miss.

This was my first Frankie Elkin book and I really liked the character so much that I will read the ones I have missed. Very scary and tragic story of what Afghan refugees have endured. The book got a little complicated by the end, but all in all it was a very good read.

I enjoyed this book for the most part. It started off pretty slow but by the half way point I was hooked. I didn't know when I picked it up it was the 4th in a series, but I am not invested enough in the main character to go back and read the first three. I just didn't find her very likable.

Kiss Her Goodbye by Lisa Gardner was a thrilling and engaging read, even as someone new to the Frankie Elkin series. I was able to jump right in without feeling lost, which speaks volumes about Gardner’s storytelling. I especially appreciated the brilliance and intellect she brought to her characters—sharp, believable, and compelling. The twists and turns kept me hooked all the way to the end. A solid, suspenseful read that makes me want to go back and explore the rest of the series.

Thank you, NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC.

Arc review ⭐️
This is my first book with Frankie Elkin I am used to detective D.D Warren. I will say I like the detective stories a little better but Lisa Gardner never misses!! This was a great story and great plot twist I didn’t see coming, Amazon writing as always!

Thank you so much to Grand Central Publishing for an ARC of this title. Going on a hunt for a missing person with Frankie Elkin is one of my favorite adventures. I greatly appreciate how Lisa Gardner can approach real, raw topics but simultaneously adds a tasteful amount of humor at just the right time.

Frankie is a recovering alcoholic who has made it her mission to find missing people when everyone else stops looking for them. Travelling from city to city, Frankie always has a unique living arrangement and we can always count on some version of an animal side-kick. Frankie is a multi-dimensional character that while fictional, feels utterly human. While her mission is not one most people would take on, her tactics still land her in quite the pickle from time to time.

Every new Frankie Elkin book is an instant buy for me. Lisa Gardner never fails to deliver.

Recent Afghan refugee, Sabera Ahmadi has moved to Tucson, Arizona to make a new start with her husband and child. Frankie Elikin is called by her friend, was Sabera has not been seen for three weeks when she last left for work. Neither the police nor her husband seem concerned, but her friend knows she would never leave her three year old daughter. The Ahmadi family are intriguing, with the father being a brilliant mathematician, Sabera a gifted linguist and their daughter with an uncanny ability to recall everything she sees.
Frankie agrees to the job and not long after she arrives, a video of the woman surfaces, leaving the scene of a brutal double murder. Danger seems close by at every turn.

Lots of twists and turns and entertainment here, with Frankie's new living quarters where she is pet sitting some unusual friends in exchange for board, while working on the investigation. The characters were interesting and the way the author intertwines the various threads is again, masterful.
It was so good being back with Frankie and I will never tire of this series. 4.5*

I really had no idea where this was going, which honestly made the read more authentic. I really felt the characters confusion and frustration at not being able to piece together a clear understanding of the missing Sabera. I would’ve liked more of the puzzles and math equations to be part of the story so the reader could try to solve it, but I really enjoyed that piece of the story. The mathematics and unparalleled genius was a very interesting twist on a missing persons story.

i love frankie and i love the books in this series. while this one wasn’t my favorite, it still had some great qualities. i felt like the actual story was a good book with plenty of twists that kept me wanting more. i do love frankie herself, though, and i felt like this one had a little less of her personality in it. still a great book, even if you aren’t familiar with the series!

Mood Reader Problems: When the Book and Brain Just Don’t Sync

I’ve officially entered my full-blown mood reader era. I used to be able to grab a book at random and get into the vibe. Now It’s vibes-first, plot-second. If I’m craving heart-pounding suspense, no gentle thrillers will do. I need speed and danger. I need to white-knuckle my Kindle like it owes me money.

I’ve been a ride-or-die fan for years. Detective D.D. Warren and Flora Dane. Legends. Now Frankie. She is sarcastic, witty, and social who’s refreshingly different from Gardner’s usual heroines.

The pet-sitting reptile subplot here. Weird and delightful.

But here’s the thing… the mystery just didn’t land.

Instead of experiencing the suspense, I felt like I was getting secondhand updates. I never really felt in the moment. I was more observer than participant, and for a thriller, that made it tough to stay engaged.

I DNF’d at 65%.

I know, I know—so close to the end. But I honestly couldn’t tell you what was happening. Frankie was the bright spot in a foggy plot. I might return to it when my brain isn’t craving a full-throttle thriller.

This was a buddy read with the Witches Words coven (Debra, Dorie, Mary Beth)—and yep, I was the odd one out this time. Still love Frankie though

Frankie Elkin is back in the new book from Lisa Gardner.

"Frankie heads to Tucson, AZ to look for a missing mother. The mother is an Afghan refugee and her friend is positive that she wouldn't have left her daughter behind. Frankie is not sure what to think, especially after the missing mother is seen on video covered in blood and running from a murder. And now her husband is missing. Frankie wonders if she's finally in too deep this time (especially with the snake feeding job she took.)"

It amazes me that Gardner can take a character in so many directions and still have readers pulling for her. I kept putting my hands over my eyes and yelling "Watch out Frankie!" But she still looks for the missing people that no one else is looking for. There's a back story to the missing mom, Sabera Ahmadi. You find out what happened in the refugee camps and begin to suspect there's a reason she's missing. Gardner hints at it just enough to keep you invested in the story. And it's a pretty wild reason.
There are lots of colorful characters. Every scene with the snakes creeped me out. I could never take that job.

There's a wild ending and some surprising reveals. Another great story from Gardner.

Frankie Elkin has a new case, one that takes the amateur sleuth and recovering alcoholic to the ghettos of Tucson, Arizona, where Afghan refugees are resettled to rebuild their lives after the trauma of losing their country, their family, their careers and achievements, to unspeakable violence and suffering after the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in 2021. 

She’s there to find Sabera Amhadi – a brilliant mind with a dark secret or two – but a beloved mother and wife who has gone missing. Since the police aren’t helping, a desperate family friend turns to everyone’s favorite misfit, misanthrope, and missing persons specialist, Frankie Elkin, for help. 

Lisa Gardner’s latest novel finds our plucky heroine once again out of her depth, over her head, and hanging on by a prayer to crack the case and rescue the girl. I first encountered the Frankie Elkin books with One Step Too Far — the second in the series, which I finished in about 48 hours. In that novel, I resonated with Frankie, and I really liked the dog*. Despite not knowing the whole backstory (I will read the first book, I just haven’t yet), I felt like she was an interesting and unique detective, and I was rooting for her to get out of the woods. 

I eagerly picked up the third installment, Still See You Everywhere, and struggled to finish it despite myself. I briefly reviewed that one on Goodreads. Going into Kiss Her Goodbye, I admit I had lowered expectations. 

Gardner has written half of this novel from the perspective of Sabera, as letters to her daughter that document their family history, her childhood in Afghanistan, the violence she witnessed when her homeland fell, and the trauma she endured in the refugee camps. A good writer can transport you to new places and help you understand things you did not before; that’s exactly what Gardner has done with this book. For me, this part of the story was the highlight – the rich and heartbreaking world she created that illuminated a sliver of humanity that hasn’t had a voice or foothold in the zeitgeist, despite the events of 9/11 and the ensuing military operations in the Middle East. Americans love the noble idea of helping refugees – just NIMBY – which is what this story sadly brings to light. 

The puzzle, the supporting cast, and the settings were fun, beautifully written, and thoroughly enjoyable. The red herrings and layers to this case, were fascinating, despite the fact that most of the action happens “offscreen” until about the third act. The end is satisfying, sad, and all of the things you want to feel when a mystery resolves… itself.

But that brings me to the detective. Or, in Frankie’s case – non-detective, unemployed but weirdly self-sustaining and able to afford a phone with a data plan – amateur missing person finder. I’ll allow that I’m a weirdo who reads crime fiction because the detectives fascinate me more than the crimes. Mysteries come and go – but a good detective you can follow for years. 

I think I understand Frankie’s motivation for getting herself involved in these messes. But in this book and even the last one (Still See You Everywhere), Frankie’s story is completely overwhelmed in the plot. Gardner keeps her just comfortable enough to never have to actually face her problems – and her problems, dear reader, are so juicy! The trauma of her youth that was so tender and torturous in One Step Too Far is now a footnote (despite the past two novels dealing explicitly with mommy issues). Instead, Gardner has sprinkled in tidbits of anxiety so randomly, it seems that Frankie herself can barely be bothered to notice. Instead, her nightmares, which she mostly mentions instead of living, center on previous cases. Is that the point? Is Frankie losing herself in new terrible experience to avoid processing her old terrible experiences? When she finally loses herself in the misery of others, who will show up to find her? Unfortunately, she’s either not self-aware enough to examine these really critical character questions, or I’m reading way too deep. There was so much potential for that deep dive though, and glimmers of it through the last act. I want to root for Frankie! I want to see her get her shit together… or, and maybe the schadenfreude would be more fun – I want to see her lose her shit completely.  

Overall, I’m torn on this book. Frankie Elkin could have never shown up, and in the end, the plot points would have played out much the same. Rather than driving the story, Frankie Elkin is mostly being driven at this point. 
But, still a worthwhile journey the same. 

*This is NOT a spoiler I think: The dog does not die. I had to check on that before I could finish it so I’m not afraid to finish it. In the three Frankie Elkin books I’ve read, no animals are harmed (thank you!).

Missing: Frankie Elkin’s personality. This series is one of the few that I follow religiously. That’s why this review is so difficult to write. The Frankie of books 1-3 was just not the same in this installment. Instead we saw so much of the book dedicated to Sabera’s POV. It was wordy and cryptic and most of the time I had no clue what was going. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I really hope we see more of snarky Frankie (and no snakes) in book 5.

The latest in the Frankie.Elkin series brings her to Tucson in search of a young mother who has disappeared after leaving work.
The storyline as usual will keep you invited, and the plot keeps getting thicker as it becomes apparent that the woman's entire family is at risk, even her young daughter.
Definitely a book worth reading

I love the Frankie Elkins series so I was really excited to get to read the 4th book Kiss Her Goodbye on @netgalley before it comes out August 12th. In this book Frankie heads to Tucson, Arizona to find Afghan refugee Sabera Ahmadi. This task proves to be difficult and Frankie realizes there’s a lot more to the story. This book has a lot of plot twists that had me flying three it just to see what happens next. I gave it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

4.5 stars for yet another amazing thriller in the Frankie Elkin series by the amazing Lisa Gardner. This continues to be one of my most favorite series ever written for a couple of reasons - one the locations are really cool in this series - a different place but each place you feel like you really get to know well. Two, Frankie is the most lovable "unlovable" person there is - a down on her luck, recovering alcoholic, with no home to call her own - who goes on to solve missing persons that no one else seems to miss or care about - all without any formal training. By now, the no formal training has become training because of all she has seen and done.

This story takes us to a Tucson and the Afghan refugees that enter our country hoping and praying for a better life than the one the Taliban has destroyed. The depiction of their lives, what they have given up in Afghanistan, and what they are enduring here in the US is so hard to read at times - yet it is with the hope of a new beginning that keeps them coming here. A woman goes missing and Frankie is called to help find her.

Please do not miss the author's acknowledgments in the end of the book.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Lisa Gardner and Grand Central Publishing for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. I absolutely cannot wait til the next one!

I’m obsessed with the Frankie Elkin series and will literally read any book in the series no matter what. I was stoked when I got approved for the ARC of the latest addition to the series!! Her latest features Frankie working in Tucson, Arizona to locate a missing Afghan refugee named Sabera last seen almost a month ago.

Honestly, I was worried at first because I couldn’t wrap my head around a lot of the details in the beginning chapters of the book. Once I had a good grasp of the characters, setting, etc.—things flowed well and it was classic Lisa Gardener writing. Sabera and her family had so much incredible depth to them and I found them absolutely fascinating. It seemed like there was something new to uncover about them with each turn of the page. This book also probably had my favorite subset of characters as they were a bunch of lovable and talented misfits that somehow fit together to bring Sabera and her family to a safe place.

This book was so well-written which is an incredible feat given the importance of the subject matter at hand. I’m so impressed with Lisa Gardener and could not recommend this series more. Always incredibly interesting with characters full of depth. Thanks you again to Net Galley, the publisher and the author for this amazing ARC!

Kiss her Goodbye is a solid book on its own. However, it lacks the sane intensity as others in the series. Frankie is as always a solid heroine and has the same determination but in this one the book is a slow starter and it took me time to get through the book there is a great deal of wide story that I think gets in the way and kind of overtakes the main storyline. In the end though I’m really glad I finished it. All the grit and passion that make Frankie amazing are still here within this story and it dies end on a great finish. I definitely think you should give it a read!