I’m normally a big Lisa Gardner fan but this one fell short
It felt kinda boring and slow and I had to push myself to finish it.
Not what I’m used to from her

4.5-4.75⭐️

Frankie Elkins Book 4

I had the audiobook read by Hillary Huber who does a good job and a decent British accent.

I love Frankie, a woman who has her own demons choosing to live a nomadic life to search for missing people who have been overlooked by the authorities. This time it’s an Afghanistan refugee Sabera who has gone missing.

Frankie can’t afford the rent in Arizona, unsurprising as she isn’t paid for her searches, so she looks for a part time job which incorporates accommodation. It’s this arrangement which provides some light relief, and character diversity with the interesting Daryl and Gennie. I loved both of this minor characters.

The reader gets to learn how the legal refugee system works in the US, as well as the process they go through to get to their destination.

I feel that the author is back on form with this book, I felt the last one took a dip, the location felt too much like a holiday tourist over view (the author is a dedicated traveller). Here the author has added things which takes it into a new dimension keeping the series fresh, not easy finding a new spin on a missing person.
It’s got an intricate plot with vibes of the Enigma code. At times I found myself confused by Sabera’s declarations, but it’s explained eventually. It switches time frames to Sabera’s early life in Kabul.

I loved it another win for Frankie, I’m not sure how the author is going to manage to top this one, but I look forward to finding out. Oh It’s worth listening to the authors note.

Lisa Gardner is the queen of suspense! I just finished listening to Kiss Her Goodbye and it was awesome! Pick this one up on publication day!

Frankie Elkin has a new missing person to find in Tuscon, Arizona. Once again Lisa Gardner has used her own travel experiences to bring us a new chapter in Frankie's story.

Here are four things I liked:

🎮Frankie housesits for Bart, the gamer. He has an iguana named Petunia, a Burmese python named Marge, and twelve baby pythons. Even a herper might find that to be challenging. Could those critters come in handy later?
🌎Lisa Gardner takes us to Afghanistan via journal entries from the missing woman. Experiencing the fall of Kabul and becoming a refugee is unimaginable. It is hard to walk in her shoes.
🥣The Afghan food sounds amazing, especially the rice pudding made with rose water and topped with pistachios.
🕵️‍♀️Frankie may seem a bit lost on her own path, but she has a knack for helping others. Love to watch her work through the challenges of each case.

The audio book is narrated by Hillary Huber and I spent a majority of my reading time with that version, finishing up with the digital.

I look forward to each new title from Lisa Gardner with anticipation. Once again she has delivered a unique and thought-provoking read. Thank you to Hachette Audio, Grand Central Publishing, and NetGalley for both an audio and digital ARCs. All opinions are my own.

this book was sooooo good!!! even better on audiobook hands down. love everything Lisa Gardner writes! such a wild ride

This was my first of this series and it can be read as a stand alone.

Set in Tucson, Arizona, the story follows Frankie—a missing persons expert with no badge, no credentials, just relentless determination—as she searches for Sabera Ahmadi, an Afghan refugee and young mother who vanished three weeks prior.

Hillary Huber’s performance is pitch-perfect, capturing Frankie’s grit and vulnerability while giving distinct voices to a diverse cast of characters. Her pacing and emotional nuance elevate the tension and heartbreak woven throughout the story.

Tense, timely, and utterly unputdownable, Kiss Her Goodbye is a triumph of storytelling. Whether you’re a longtime fan of Frankie Elkin or this is your first time reading this series, this audiobook is a must-listen for lovers of psychological thrillers with heart.

Publication August 11, 2025

Thank you Hatchette Audio, Lisa Gardner, Hillary Hubar and Netgally for my ALC.

I won’t be reviewing this book. I think I got the author mixed up when I requested it. I didn’t realize this was part of a series. I got about halfway through the book, but just wasn’t vibing with it and was a bit confused. It wasn’t keeping my attention.

Thank you so much I was thrilled to be able to read this! The pacing was perfect, the stakes felt real, and I was completely invested from beginning to end. Lisa Gardner strikes that rare balance of emotional depth and heart pounding suspense. I especially loved the way this book handled the cultural and personal complexities of the case it added so much more weight to the story.

If you’ve been following the series, this is another must read. And if you haven’t started yet…well what are you waiting for?

I've been enjoying this series, but this one is my least favorite. I actually rated this 3-stars, but realized, after typing the last paragraph of this review, how much the ending pissed me off & negatively affected how I feel about the MC, Frankie. On one hand, I loved the main topic discussed and the eye-opening details of the refugee lives and struggles. It was one of my favorite plot themes of the series & it had such great potential.

On the other hand, it felt like it dragged on. There were moments I should have felt thrilled or excited, but was just bored. Also, it was VERY repetitive (certain words and names were repeated/used to the point of it being annoying), which is frustrating enough when reading a physical copy, but even worse when it's the audio version & the narrator is repeating a person's names three times in row for...idk...emphasis??

Okay, the thing that really made it plummet....

In this series, Frankie has to find a job in whatever town she's searching for the missing person. I own snakes & love reptiles, so I got excited that her job in this book involved reptiles. Regardless of what kind of pets you have or don't have, I think we can agree that, if a person is hired to take care of pets, then INTENTIONALLY puts their lives as risk, they should suffer some repercussions. Were we supposed to complete disregard that? That entire plan was insanely ridiculous, unnecessary, and just plain stupid. Did she not understand how the "dropping" (trying not to give spoilers here) could seriously injure the animals? Way to make Frankie seem like an entitled, arrogant moron, just doing whatever the hell she wants in another person's home without their permission. Ugh it was so frustrating to read.

Kiss Her Goodbye by Lisa Gardner.

This suspense/thriller from Lisa Gardner is the latest in the Frankie Elkin series, where Frankie is called to Tucson, Arizona. Frankie is tasked to search for a missing Afghan refugee whose friend suspects she’s in danger.

With Frankie on this case, this mystery/suspense has many twists and turns you won’t see coming. You will be on the edge of you seat the entire time.

The narration was excellent for the audiobook.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ALC.

She’s back! Frankie Elkin is on another mission
4/5 ⭐️ spoiler free!
Totally grips you by the hair and pulls you in to this story.

The story stars off super fast paced and brings you into the story by building emotion.
The middle is a little confusing but definitely brings us into more action and chasing and actually has a heartbreaking story of refugees.
A story of mystery and suspense you are not going to want to miss!
Thank you NetGalley for this audiobook!

Kiss Her Goodbye-book 4 in series(audio) 3.5⭐️

With this being my first Frankie Elkin novel, I found my favorite part was her great witty sarcasm. It was a good balance to the heavy subject matter. My intrigue and attention ebbed and flowed. Some parts had me deeply enthralled, but I also found myself distracted at times and having to refocus. I found this could be read as a standalone book. The bits and pieces mentioning information from earlier books has me interested to go back and read those too.

Narrator Hillary Huber is extremely talented!

Pub Date Aug 12 2025

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC audiobook.
This is #4 in the Frankie Elkin series.

I love this series so very much and Frankie is a delightful smartass.
As I have said in my reviews of the previous books, Hillary Huber narrating was the absolute best decision ever made. SHE IS FRANKIE!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lisa Gardner is one of my go to thriller authors, but I have to admit Kiss Her Goodbye wasn’t one of my favorites from her.

This time, Frankie Elkin heads to Tucson to search for Sabera Ahmadi, a missing Afghan refugee and devoted mother. As Frankie digs deeper, the case becomes anything but straightforward Sabera’s husband disappears, a violent crime surfaces, and it’s clear something far more complex is happening beneath the surface. Through Sabera’s journal entries, we also get a heartbreaking glimpse into her past in Kabul and the trauma she’s carried with her to America.

The story offers strong emotional layers and relevant themes, particularly around immigration, identity, and family. Frankie is still a standout lead flawed, determined, and easy to root for. But the pacing felt uneven at times, and the story didn’t fully grip me the way some of Gardner’s other books have. Some characters and tonal shifts also pulled me out

This one has depth and heart, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. Still, fans of the series will likely appreciate the continued development of Frankie’s character and the emotional weight of the story.

Audiobook

Missing persons expert Frankie Elkin heads to Tucson, AZ, to help locate missing Afghan refugee Sabera Ahmadi. Frankie is running from her demons, and quickly becomes caught up not only in the missing persons case, but also in snakes and an Iguana named Petunia. A ragtag team investigates Sabera in hopes of bringing her to your young daughter.

This is the fourth installment in the Frankie Elkin series; however, this is my first exposure. Luckily, Garder provides enough backstory for Frankie for a newbie to feel involved. Frankie seems like a hell of a gal, and I look forward to going back and learning more about her.

This story is heavily based on the experiences of Afghan refugees' immigration to the US after the recent fall of the Taliban. While this is a work of fiction, Gardner provides great detail to understand the plight and hardships of all the people looking to start a new life.

Advance reading copy provided by Grand Central Publishing and Hachette Audio. All opinions are my own.

As anticipated, another fantastic Frankie Elkin novel from Lisa Gardner and narration by Hillary Huber!

I am already a fan of Frankie Elkin and her always brilliant companions, Kiss Her Goodbye was no different, perhaps even better? I loved Darryl, I am always dubious of all characters in a thriller, but he felt like a safe presence instantly, so I enjoyed that Frankie was able to work with someone she could trust! I would love to see him and Jenny appear in future novels! As a reptile owner, the lizard appreciation made me smile and laugh throughout!

The exploration of the lives of Afghan refugees in the US was the most compelling part of this story. It felt like it was handled with so much care and respect, from the heartbreaking experiences of a child growing up to the sacrifices a mother must make to protect her child. Parts of the culture, including food and family values, were also explored, which added so much depth and joy to the story. It was clear that a lot of research, love and appreciation went into creating this story.

Hillary Huber was brilliant as always. Without spoiling, there was a particular moment that I've never come across in an audiobook before, I think other listeners will know the moment I'm referring to. Full props to whoever came up with the idea on the audio production team, such a quick and simple but genius addition that gave me chills and made it a memorable listen!

Kiss Her Goodbye is a wonderfully gripping and tense thriller and a story of true resilience, love and friendship.

Thank you, NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this ALC 😊

Kiss Her Goodbye by Lisa Garner is the fourth installment in the Frankie Elkin series, and I’ve read all the previous books. I really enjoy following Frankie’s journey—her relentless drive to find missing individuals from marginalized communities.

One of the things I love about the series is the recurring presence of animals in each story. In this book, my favorite character was Petunia, the salad-loving, Simpsons-watching iguana—absolutely unforgettable!

Hillary Huber did a fantastic job narrating; her performance truly brought the story and its characters to life.

Thank you to NetGalley & Hachette Audio | Grand Central Publishing for letting me read this ARC.

Frankie Elkin returns in a story that’s equal parts thoughtful, immersive, and emotionally grounded. While this one isn’t as heavy on the investigative thrills as Gardner’s past work, it showcases a new kind of depth—especially in how it explores a culture that’s often seen but rarely understood in mainstream America. The research is apparent, and the respect for that diversity comes through.

Another major stand out? The animals (including their tech-savvy owner). They were surprisingly realistic, vivid, and at times even entertaining, bringing a special kind of life to the story. This book might not be what long-time Gardner fans expect, but she’s clearly evolving—and it’s working. A smart, unique addition to the Frankie Elkin series!

This is book #4 in the Frankie Elkin series, but I have not read any of the previous books and found this story very accessible as a standalone. I enjoyed spending time with Frankie and her group of misfits. The story is engaging and mostly paced well (with the exception of a few sections). What I enjoyed most about this book is the exploration of the topic of Afghan refugees in the U.S. and the difficulty and sacrifice involved in making a life in a new country and culture, while mourning the loss of the previous one. If you like your suspense novels to explore current issues, this is a good one to add to your TBR.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing, Hachette Audio, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love Lisa Gardner books and this was no exception! This book was gripping and emotionally charged. I enjoyed the plot and the character development, and I was intrigued until the very end. The narration and production were top notch. I love this series and I can’t wait to see what happens next! Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for this ARC.