| Title | : | Before She Disappeared (Frankie Elkin, #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1524745049 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781524745042 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 400 |
| Publication | : | First published January 19, 2021 |
Frankie Elkin is an average middle-aged woman, a recovering alcoholic with more regrets than belongings. But she spends her life doing what no one else will--searching for missing people the world has stopped looking for. When the police have given up, when the public no longer remembers, when the media has never paid attention, Frankie starts looking.
A new case brings her to Mattapan, a Boston neighborhood with a rough reputation. She is searching for Angelique Badeau, a Haitian teenager who vanished from her high school months earlier. Resistance from the Boston PD and the victim's wary family tells Frankie she's on her own--and she soon learns she's asking questions someone doesn't want answered. But Frankie will stop at nothing to discover the truth, even if it means the next person to go missing could be her.
Before She Disappeared (Frankie Elkin, #1) Reviews
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Before She Disappeared by Lisa Gardner
Frankie Elgin is a recovering alcoholic with such guilt and heartbreaking memories that she lives her life like a death wish in action. For the last ten years she has been on a one woman mission to find the missing. She has succeeded in finding sixteen missing persons, all the cases that she has taken on, and she has no plans to stop looking for more missing people as long as she is alive. Frankie has no home, no friends, no possessions other than what she can carry in a bag and she has no plans to ever change that fact. Nothing is going to hold her down and no one is going to tell her what to do.
Frankie's latest case brings her to Mattapan, a Haitian Boston neighborhood where she stands out in every way possible, including the fact that she goes walking around at night, a middle aged, white woman drawing attention to herself by her very existence, in this neighborhood who doesn't want her there. But often, people will talk to Frankie when they won't talk to law enforcement and Frankie makes quick inroads on the case of missing sixteen year old Angelique Badeau. Frankie is going to find out what happened to Angelique or die trying. I became fond of many of the side characters in this story and would love for there to be another one featuring Frankie and this neighborhood but Frankie isn't likely to allow such a thing because any attempt to grow roots or attachments to people are snuffed out as soon as Frankie finds what she is looking for.
This was my first story by Lisa Gardner and now I plan to go way back to her early writing to start her series that features Detective D.D. Warren. Thanks to my friend DeAnn, for suggesting that I do so. We have a lot of fun reading ahead of us.
Pub: January 19, 2021
Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP/Dutton and NetGalley for this ARC. -
I’m shaken, slowly crying, barely gathering right words to tell how I wholeheartedly loved this book and how deeply affected me with its resonating, realistic, deeply layered character portraits! That’s why Ms. Gardner is one of the most brilliantly talented authors who creates broken but willful, fighter characters with tragic pasts.
We’re introduced to brand new character Frankie Elkin: a recovering alcoholic, a loner, survivor of tragic past, having no proper place to call her home, no people to call friends, family, acquaintances, carrying her limited belongings including a phone, a few clothes, a whistle at her backpack.
Her mission is finding missing people who are given up by police and who are no longer remembered by public or never cared by media.
She keeps looking for them as her redemption of tragic event she’d faced ten years ago. She keeps searching them to keep her sanity intact, controlling to urge to start drinking. She wants to save lives because of the guilt feeling has been eating her alive and slowly killing her for years! But when it gets dark and when she is alone by herself, her nightmares start chasing her again! At those darker times she calls her survivor which saved her from herself 10 years ago. That’s how she spends her days and nights: finding girls, running away from her inner demons.
She found all the missing 14 people she’d be looking for but none of them were found alive!
She’s definitely old school; she never carries smartphones, trying to find her way out in big cities’ complex transportation system by using her maps. But she’s good listener and she really knows how to ask right questions which may be her secret weapon to make the people talk and get the right clues out of their mouths to be on the right track of her cases.
Now her last case dragged her to Mattapan, Boston: a very rough and dangerous neighborhood with its mostly Haitian population. Some of them moved to the states after losing their homes at the big earthquake for security reasons.
Frankie came here to find 15 years old Haitian girl Angelique Badeau who goes missing after school 11 months ago and nobody hears from her. She connects with her aunt and her little tech genius brother Emmanuel to offer her free investigation service, getting a job at local bar and a room sharing with one of the wildest cats reminds you of baby panther.
Of course locals get suspicious about a skinny white woman prying around their neighborhood and they want to know her real agenda ( 15 minutes fame, bribery money, insanity etc.) but she slowly finds her way to make them trust her and give the crucial information she needs.
She also gains trust of Detective Lotham who conducts the investigation ! Their sizzling chemistry between them may put the entire neighborhood on fire!
They find out Angelique’s disappearance may be connected with another case: another smart student, 15 years old Livia who is sister of drug dealer. As they dig deeper, they start to realize the case they’re working on so much complex, dangerous than simple case of two girls’ disappearances!
Overall:
Well balanced paced, action packed, smart, hooking up, addictive writing style, mind blowing characterization made me fall in love with this book over and over again so my final words about this excellent reading experience are: please take my five gazillion stars and give me at least 10 more Frankie Elkin books!
Millions of thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN Dutton for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts!
I cannot wait to read the next adventure of Frankie Elkin!!! -
***MS. GARDENER'S NEW BOOK WILL BE OUT IN JANUARY -- BUT YOU CAN READ THIS ONE FIRST***
What a completely enjoyable read this was!!!! I learned that this is Ms. Gardner’s first standalone novel in 20 years and what a treat it was!!
Our heroine, for she truly is, Frankie, is a recovering alcoholic with lots of regret and trauma in her past life. For the past decade she has been traveling from city to city working cold cases of missing young women. She looks for those that are sometimes neglected by the regular police or left to languish without much new information or evidence to track. So far she has closed 14 cases but has yet to find a survivor. She is hoping this new case will be the one!!!
Frankie is headed to Boston this time, a largely Haitian, somewhat run down neighborhood, Mattapan. This is where Angelique, “Angle” Bandeau lived with her aunt and brother. She has been missing for eleven months. She was last seen leaving her high school and no new information or evidence has arisen to cause the police to keep working the case.
Frankie, a white woman, stands out in this largely Haitian and African American area. She quickly finds a job at a local pub and talks the owner into renting the above apartment to her in exchange for working 5 days a week. She will have to share the tiny apartment with a feisty feline who adds some humor to the novel and even some comfort to Frankie with her loud purring in the mornings.
She has a way with people and while trying to find information on Angel befriends some women at a local donut shop who help her find her way around the confusing maze which is Boston’s commuter train and bus system. They also are a source of local knowledge, gossip and background information.
She manages to gain some trust with Angel’s aunt and brother and slowly, slowly, she begins to try to understand Angel’s life. As with all teenagers, Angel, age 15 has secrets that even her best friends and family don’t know. They do know that she was extremely intelligent and had hoped to head to college.
Frankie contacts the detective who worked on the case, Detective Lotham, and he tells her that they have covered all of the angles already and that she should go home!! Eventually she gains some of his trust and help and maybe a lot more than that!!!!
There are layers and layers to this mystery and Frankie ends up looking for not one but two missing young girls. What is their connection? What could they possibly have gotten themselves into that would lead to their kidnapping???
There are chase scenes and gunshots fired, Frankie’s life seems to be at stake if she continues her hunt. There are some big players here that don’t want her intrusion!!!
The ending is outstanding and left me wanting more. I don’t usually enjoy series but if this is the beginning of a new one with Frankie at the lead, count me in!! I’d recommend this one to anyone who enjoys a well written, character driven mystery, with a bit of Boston history and charm thrown in.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss. -
Lisa Gardner was inspired by the wide range of people who commit themselves to helping find the missing in our world for no reward for this crime thriller. Here, our hunter of the missing is haunted, alcoholic bartender Frankie Elkin, raised in Northern California, a white, middle aged woman, driven and determined, owning only what she can carry, staying only for as long as it takes to succeed in her mission and moving on to the next missing person. She is not a private investigator, she takes no payment, she is an ordinary woman taking on an extraordinary task, coming in when the police have failed and the public have forgotten the missing. She has never failed, so far she has located 14 people, the only problem is that they were dead when she discovers them, just like her latest, Lani Whitehorse, just for once she would like to find someone alive.
She travels to Boston for her next case, 15 year old schoolgirl Angelique 'Angel' Badeau, missing for 11 months, living with her Aunt Guerline and younger brother, Emmanuel. A clever girl, she has dreams of becoming a doctor, coming from Haiti after the earthquake disaster. Angel is no dreamer, but a planner, intent on staying in the US with her beloved aunt and brother, loyal and protective towards those she loves. She left her school one day and disappeared, her bag and phone found in bushes later, since then she has not been seen, leaving her family devastated and desperate. Frankie becomes bartender at Stoney's, living in a tiny flat above it, sharing her accommodation with a deranged and aggressive cat, Piper. Initially made to feel unwelcome by Angel's family and Detective Dan Lotham, Frankie begins to make headway in a case that had looked dead, but will she find Angel alive?
Once again Lisa Gardner delivers as one of my favourite crime thriller authors, she creates a complex and magnetic character in Frankie, a woman wanting to atone, having to live with grief, tragedy and the ever present threat of succumbing to the demon drink, needing to attend AA meetings in whatever town she finds herself in. Whilst Frankie wants to connect with Lotham, at no point does she have romantic delusions, she knows herself better than that, as soon as she is finished, she will be off to look for the next missing person. The conclusion of the novel suggests there might be a possibility of Gardner returning to Frankie in the future, which I really hope she does. This is a entertaining and engaging thriller with a great central protagonist that I think many of Gardner's fans and other crime and thriller readers will love. Many thanks to Random House Cornerstone for an ARC. -
I’ve been reading Lisa Gardner’s books for years, enjoying both her series stand-alone and options equally. Sadly this latest release fell short for me. Maybe I’ve just come to expect more from this author.💁🏻♀️
Frankie Elkin has devoted her every waking moment to finding missing children. Her focus is on those who may not have a voice heard through media, with no resources necessary to keep an investigation moving forward.
Her latest challenge brings her to a Boston suburb where a young Haitian girl, Angelique has vanished. Can Frankie work her magic and piece together the mystery of her disappearance in time to bring her home safely?
I had a hard time warming up to Frankie. I just didn’t find her...authentic?🤷🏻♀️ Her reasons for devoting her passion to this cause just didn’t add up for me. And her glimpses into her past just didn’t bring much to the table.
Still, Lisa Gardner remains one of my favorite authors. This was just a step back for me.
There are some great five-star reviews out there so take a look at those as well before making a decision on this book.
A buddy read with Susanne that left both of us a little bit perplexed and underwhelmed.🙁
Thank you to Edelweiss and Penguin Publishing Group for an ARC to read and review. -
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
“I’m growing on you, I can tell.”
“Forget Detective Lotham. Maybe I’m growing on the entire population of Mattapan.”
“What I lack in discipline I make up for in my personality.”
That is just SOME of the praise Frankie Elkin gives herself while talking to other characters in Lisa Gardner’s first standalone novel in 20 years...and her dialogue is a HOOT!
Frankie is an alcoholic who has been dry for years. What does she do in her free time? Investigate cold cases of missing people with the intention of solving them. She’s not a detective, police officer, or PI. She does this in part to absolve herself of her past, and also because she’s damn good at it. She searches for cases where police have given up and public outcry has diminished.
Her current case takes her to a rough part of Boston...Mattapan. It’s an area known for the high population of Haitians. Angelique “Angel” Badeau is a teenager who vanished from high school almost a year ago. Frankie gets word of this. Since nobody else seems to be tackling the case at this stage, she decides to give it a go.
First, she finds a home/job at a bar called Stoney’s. The owner, Stoney, rents her the room above the bar in exchange for working there 5 days a week...and sharing the space with a possibly homicidal cat named Piper. 🐱
Then, it’s time to dig into the missing teenager, which leads to a suspenseful mystery with many possible scenarios and culprits. Frankie quickly learns that she is not welcome with open arms while searching for the truth. It might even lead to physical danger.
I know I started this review with amusing quotes and mentioned Piper (killer cat), but this is not a cozy story. It’s a riveting mystery that goes from 0 to 60 in the course of seconds. I found it unputdownable as I was engrossed in everything going on, and learning the secrets that spilled out at timely moments.
Lisa Gardner is a fantastic author who gives her characters so much depth and background. Frankie has a reason for doing this “selfless act”, and we learn about it as each layer of her is peeled back throughout the novel. When I first saw that this was a standalone, I was sad that I wouldn’t be reading the latest adventures of D.D. Warren...or even Rainie and Quincy (remember them?). However, Frankie is awesome! She holds her own, and I found the character riveting.
As amazing as the mystery/thriller aspect is, my favorite thing about this book is the characters...and their interactions with Frankie. We have Stoney (her landlord and boss), Val (the bar cook), Detective Lotham (Through frustration and admiration, they have some SERIOUS chemistry! 🔥 ), and Angelique’s family. Oh, and of course Frankie’s feline roommate, Piper. Piper has glowing eyes...and likes to leave her with dead mice, vomit on the floor, and bodily injuries. 🐈
Each piece of the puzzle is handled so expertly. The buildup to the conclusion, as well as the denouement, is brilliantly plotted! This could remain a standalone, but I really hope it continues into a new series. The ending really left me yearning for more.
Thank you to Dutton, Lisa Gardner, and Edelweiss for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. -
Frankie Elkin is an alcoholic who moves across the country searching for missing people, chiefly from minority groups. She’s a restless soul, driven to help those perhaps to save herself from her inner demons. She makes her way to Mattapan an overcrowded and run down area of Boston, where she helps the Haitian family of Angelique Badeau, an excellent student, who disappeared eleven months ago. What unfolds is an intriguing case that places Frankie in danger.
The book starts really well and the character of Frankie really intrigues me. She’s resourceful, tough but also vulnerable with battling her addiction to alcohol. In my opinion, one of the biggest strengths of the novel is the characterisation and especially likeable are Stoney and Viv at the bar where Frankie works and lives to keep body and soul together. Detective Dan Lothan is another good character and the undercurrent between him and Frankie adds another dimension. There’s some smart dialogue, it’s a well written story and the setting in Mattapan is good as it’s a scary place to be especially at night. The case is interesting and the plot gets deeper and deeper with some good twists along the way particularly in the clues that smart cookie Angélique provides for her equally smart brother Emmanuel. . I have no trouble believing the storyline or outcome.
However, for the first half the read is compelling but the pace stays the same pretty much throughout. It’s a jog and I begin to want a sprint, more speed and an injection of more excitement although the end is good. I can honestly say I like the book but I don’t love it, it’s a solidly enjoyable read rather than a completely memorable one. I like Lisa Gardner and I will always want to read what she writes and I’d like Frankie to reappear in another novel because I think she’s fascinating.
With thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for the arc for an honest review. -
2.5 stars
Frankie is a recovering alcoholic who is fighting her demons and a past that haunts her.
For ten years she has traveled the country working cold cases as a “citizen detective” looking for missing children, typically those who are disenfranchised, and/or from a minority population. She works alone, and is old school, relying on talking to people to gather evidence.
In this case, she arrives in Mattapan, a largely Haitian neighborhood in Boston. It is a rough section with a lot of gang activity. She stands out like a sore thumb as a white woman in a mistrustful black community. She quickly finds a job as a bartender, an odd occupation for a recovering alcoholic but it’s work she enjoys and it leaves her daytime hours free to work the case. In exchange for a salary, she stays in a room above the bar, on the condition that she share the room with Piper, the irascible cat who adds levity to the story.
She’s looking for Angelique (Angel) who disappeared 11 months earlier. The case has grown cold, but Frankie, of course, gains the trust of the family, community, and the police, and finds out more in 3 days than the police were able to discover after nearly a year of investigation.
You have to suspend disbelief, which reached the tipping point, and I’m not necessarily a fan of a white woman who comes in to save the day in a black community, but there was enough that I did enjoy to keep me reading. I liked Frankie as a character although I’d like her more without the constant angst. I appreciated learning more about AA, as well as the tidbits we get about Haitian culture and food. Don’t read this book when hungry!
As we read, layers to Frankie’s story are peeled back and we learn details of her past trauma. Unfortunately, the hints were so drawn out, that by the time it was revealed, we had already guessed. I did like the supporting cast of characters: Stoney the bar owner, Val the cook, Angel’s aunt and brother, and Detective Latham.
I love a good character- driven mystery and this held promise. Unfortunately, while I found the first half riveting, the story lost steam in the second half. Being in Frankie’s tortured thoughts constantly grew tiresome. The story dragged on too long, and led to a disappointing ending. I struggled through the last half of the book.
This was my first book by this author, and a buddy read with Marialyce. It’s one that left us a bit disappointed and unsure if we will continue Frankie’s story in book #2. -
"I am my demons, and my demons are me."
3.5/4 stars
Frankie Elkin is a recovering alcoholic and amateur sleuth. She spends her time (and her life) moving from place to place searching for missing people. She works as a bartender to earn her keep while looking for those the police cannot find.
Angelique Badeau, a Haitian teenager has gone missing from Mattapan, a Boston neighborhood. She is a studious teen with ambitions of being a doctor. She disappears after school one day and the Boston PD, have been unable to locate her.
Armed with tenacity and questions, she begins her own search, one that many are not happy with. A search which will upset some, a search that will bring up more questions, answers, and rattle some feathers. Sometimes a fresh set of eyes and the ability to think like a teenager are all that is needed to uncover new clues. Often these skills, will also land you in hot water, place you in danger and make others uncomfortable.
This was an enjoyable read which kept me engaged although there were times, I wanted the book to hurry up a little bit. There were parts that dragged a little for me. Frankie is a woman with a past that haunts her and we learn more about it as the book goes on. I found this to be both interesting and frustrating at the same time, but it does work to show how she moved from one addiction (alcohol) to another (searching for missing people) and what may be her motivating factor. She also had me wanting to shake her from time to time.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own. -
Review also published on blog:
https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Frankie Elkins is a troubled middle aged woman, who is on the run from her life. She is a recovering alcoholic who finds missing persons. It’s just something she has been doing for the last ten years of her life.
In “Before She Disappeared” Frankie finds herself in Boston, searching for teenager Angelique Badeau who went missing from her High School eleven months prior.
Though she has no experience or training, somehow, Frankie has a way about her, an ability to make people trust her and get information that the police do not. In addition, she thinks of avenues to explore that the police don’t even consider.
Frankie is a complex character, whose backstory is somewhat compelling. She is kind and strong, yet tormented by her past.
While this book starts out as suspenseful and intriguing, it required this reader to suspend disbelief at Frankie’s ability to solve crimes, given her lack of training. I also found the romance that was brewing between Frankie and the Detective to be a bit rushed. Furthermore, I didn’t buy into Frankie’s background as the reasons for her needing to make things right and thought the novel felt “forced.”
What makes this story enjoyable however, is the writing. It is extremely solid and the character development, as always is very well done.
As a huge fan of Lisa Gardner, the DD Warren and Flora Dane series, unfortunately, this standalone novel didn’t quite live up to my expectations. I therefore hope that the author returns to her tried and true for her next go round.
Thank you to Edelweiss, Penguin Publishing Group - Dutton, and Lisa Gardner for the arc.
Published on Goodreads on 11.22.20. -
"My name is Frankie Elkin and finding missing people—particularly minorities—is what I do. When the police have given up, when the public no longer remembers, when the media has never bothered to care, I start looking."
Frankie arrives in Mattapan, a large immigrant neighborhood of Boston to look for missing 15-year-old Angelique who's been missing for 11 months. She works on this missing case during the day and bartends at night for a free room above Stoney's.
I had high hopes for this series after seeing glowing reviews. Now that I've finished, I can't say I love this first one. I found the missing girl mystery AND Frankie a bit underwhelming. Another missing girl. Another alcoholic recovery. Frankie is flawed and I guess I'm supposed to be curious about her backstory, and Paul? I was in beginning but the story moves a bit slow for me. Some coincidences were conveniently happening for Frankie to solve the case. I hope that book two wins me over but we'll see.
Great audiobook read by Hillary Huber. -
5 scintillating stars
Frankie Elkin is an alcoholic & has been for years, she is not a cop, detective or PI she does it voluntarily to write the wrongs of her past. Her recent case is to find missing teenager Angelique Badeau she disappeared from her school to help in the search Frankie brings in Detective O; Shaughnessy & Dan Lotham help in the search Angelique is Haitian descent & may be worried about being deported, then another girl goes missing Livina Sandi goes missing the search builds Angelique's parents are wary of Frankie as she starts to ask questions they really don't want to answer.
Both girls were highly intelligent WHY WERE THEY TAKEN/?
What is the connection between the two?
I found this a dark compelling read it was fast paced loved Frankie Elkins Character she had balls a new heroine i love her back story was interesting i could not put this down finished late last night , Lisa Gardner never disappoints in new plotlines was compelling just loved every minute of this book. -
**Many thanks to NetGalley, Penguin-Dutton, and Lisa Gardner for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 1.19!**
This was my very first Lisa Gardner book, and my first question is....how could I have waited so long?
Frankie Elkin knows the meaning of heartbreak: several years sober, her past has compelled her to pick up where the police leave off, an ordinary civilian armed with nothing but her razor-sharp instincts and a yearning for the truth. Specifically, she deals in missing persons cold cases that have stumped the authorities and have 'run their course' in the eyes of the law. She may not always find the subjects alive, but her irascible nature won't let her give up until she finds answers. This journey leads her to the town of Mattapan, where the Haitian community is reeling from the disappearance of Angelique Badeau, a teenager who vanished after school one day. Frankie finds herself a 'day job' at a bar Stoney's, becomes acquainted with her roommate (a persnickety feline named Piper), and hits the ground running investigating Angelique's whereabouts. Along the way, working with Detective Lotham, she stumbles into the reality that Angelique is not the only teenager missing...and it's up to her to suss out the connection. Luckily, whiz kid Angelique has left a few clues, and with the help of Angel's brother Emmanuel, Frankie is able to make out a few carefully coded messages. But will these breadcrumbs be enough to lead her down the trail to the teens? And what about the dark and ominous stranger Frankie has caught watching her in the shadows?
The premise of this book is fascinating, and I appreciate that Gardner actually took inspiration from real life for this one. It's hard to believe there are legions of brave 'regular' people out there who are so motivated beyond the norms of a police investigation that they will pick up where others left off, and I find that incredibly moving. I was excited to read this book because it was a stand-alone mystery/thriller, rather than the first in a long series featuring Detective or Inspector X, and to have the lead 'investigator' not as a member of a police force or a detective was so refreshing! I tend to steer clear of anything that personally feels like too much like a police procedural, but the beauty of this book is that it had several of these elements without feeling too slow, detail-heavy, or stereotypical. Frankie is such a wily yet tortured protagonist, it was fascinating to climb inside her mind while the drama of the mystery played out simultaneously. Ironically, although this book wasn't set to become the first in a series, I certainly think it has the potential to become one if Gardner chose to go that route.
This foray out of the norm was welcome, thrilling, exciting, and an interesting journey from start to finish! This may have been my first Lisa Gardner, but assuredly it won't be my last! 4 ⭐ -
I love Lisa Gardiner books and I have read most, if not all, of them and enjoyed them immensely. This, unfortunately, was not one of those books and I’m definitely in the minority with my opinion and review.
This book was a challenge for me to get through and forcing myself to keep moving was the only way I progressed. Publishers do themselves and the writer a disservice when they classify a story as a “propulsive thriller” when it’s not. To me this was more a character-driven mystery about one courageous woman Frankie Elkin, who cares about humanity and the missing, who are frequently lost, tossed aside as life continues.
As a character study it’s a beautiful book, full of great one-liners and nuggets of wisdom and shows how one person can change lives.
Based on a true story of Alissa Yellowbird-chase, who searches for missing persons and she’s not alone, as other private citizens, turn private-eye, searching for the missing.
This book was a slow burn and there isn’t anything that happens for awhile. We do get to know Frankie, who is a flawed (aren’t we all), recovering alcoholic with bigger daemons to slay. Is she a hero? Absolutely! She has traveled from place-to-place for 10 years to find those who are lost, but not forgotten, giving families closure, sometimes heartbreak and other times peace. And, in her years of service and experience, she had found 14 missing people.
What tripped me up were all the pages that contained Frankie’s deep-thoughts, introspection and self-analysis, then migrated toward tidbits of info that didn’t forward the storyline. Halfway through the book, I felt the same. It wasn’t until the 70% mark when I awoke from my Winter slumber and sniffed Spring in the air.
Normally, when I get a book like this I will cut my losses and move on. Being a Lisa Gardner book, I read on and on ... tick, tick, tick.
For those that love character driven, police procedural, mysteries, I think you will love the book. It’s well-written and I loved the characters and I was left wanting to know more about them. I loved learning about Mattapan, in Boston, a rough & rocky neighborhood, but also with interesting Haitian culture and flare.
Bottom line for me is the book just didn’t have enough thrill to be a thriller. -
I have mixed feelings about this.
On the one hand, I was drawn into this story about a missing girl who the local police have given up on, leaving amateur detective Frankie Elkin to discover what happened to her. I really enjoyed reading about Frankie, who had both claws and flaws-- meaning she wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty, but she was also struggling with alcoholism and a grief that was incredibly poignant.
On the other hand... white woman comes to a black Haitian neighbourhood and, um, attempts to save the day? Not a great look in 2022.
Still, the next book in this series presents us with an entirely new mystery, so I will probably read it and hope we don't get more of the same. -
Frankie Elkin isn’t your typical “detective”. For starters, she’s just a regular citizen. But she’s made it her goal to find missing people. And she’s done it fourteen times, even if all of those times, she’s found them dead rather than alive. This time, she’s arrived in Boston to find a missing teenager. She’s a middle aged white woman. She’s searching for a lower income, Haitian teenager who's been missing for almost a year.
Frankie was a well fleshed out character. She’s a recovering alcoholic, but she’s most comfortable working behind a bar. She’s got a backstory that only comes out in dribs and drabs. The story was interesting even if totally unbelievable. Frankie turns up clue after clue that the police had missed. She has no problem getting folks, even recalcitrant teens from talking to her. Still, I was invested to see what was the story behind the disappearance. And I’ll give credit to Gardner for coming up with an unusual reason for the disappearance.
I’m a fan of Lisa Gardner but this isn’t one of her stronger stories.
Hillary Huber did a great job channeling Frankie. And she was able to realistically handle male voices as well. -
With the skilled hand of a seasoned pro, Lisa Gardner peels back the layers of her first stand-alone novel in twenty years through the eyes of snarky Frankie Elkin - a recovering alcoholic hellbent on finding missing persons while dodging the demons of her past. Suspenseful, gritty, intense. Before She Disappeared is Gardner at her best.
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From a great start that had me turning the pages in a furious manner, this book took a steady downturn to become another mediocre story. I was fully engaged and rooting for Frankie Elkin, a recovering alcoholic, who has carved out a most interesting career for herself, that of finding the lost. Where the police and news has forgotten these people, Frankie is determined to find them and bring peace to the families even though it seems as if she will never find peace herself. She arrives in Mattapan, Massachusetts, a poor predominately black town where her white face is unwelcomed and people seem to be threatened by her.
The missing girl, Angelique Badeau, seemed to have vanished from school grounds even though the area was highly monitored by cameras, leaving only a backpack behind hidden in the bushes. Frankie gets involved with the Boston PD, where she becomes involved with Detective Lotham who initially warns her off the case. Angelique has been missing for eleven months and the trail has gone cold.
As Frankie worms her way into the family of Frankie, a brother and an aunt, she takes up residence and a job from a tavern where she eventually becomes accepted as well. It's a hard occupation for a woman who has had and still seems to have alcohol as a constant companion. Meanwhile the author releases bits and pieces of a man, Paul, who Frankie loved.
As the case continues Frankie unearths clues that send her into dangerous territory and then when another girl goes missing and the clock seems to be counting down to what seems like its inevitable end.
Frankie is not a neophyte in tracking lost people, but in returning these people alive, so far, she has not succeeded. She is determined to find and return Angelique and subjects herself to increasingly dangerous situations, as she endeavors to find Frankie alive.
This was a fine premise, but as we follow Frankie, the story becomes circuitous as we chase our tails around a plot that became harder to follow and one that seemed contrived. Present are some plot holes, with an idea of overkill in the story telling. It was another sprint to the end with a bit of sadness as this book seemed to have lost its initial momentum.
Jan and I shared this book and the disappointment that once again we were reading a mediocre tale. As they say, onto better we tread, hoping to score a five-star book soon. -
This is Lisa Gardner's first standalone in 20 years, so I was anxiously awaiting this read!
It was everything I’ve come to expect from Lisa!! The plot is gripping and there are enough twists to keep you turning the page.
Frankie Elkin, a recovering alcoholic, searches for people that the cops have stopped looking for and families have given up on. It is her life's work and she is good at it! Frankie follows her own set of rules which keeps the story very exciting. You get to know Frankie and all her past mishaps which makes her real and very likable. Her new case brings her to a rough neighborhood outside of Boston and the search to find Angelique Nassau before it's too late!!
Lisa Gardner has to do a sequel to this book! I need more of Frankie❤ If you like mysteries and crime fiction, you will love this book! -
Some parts of the book were really good, but I found my mind wandering due to the slow pace. I get that we need time to get to know the main character, but I could honestly skipped 50 % of the book without feeling I missed out of something. Gardner’s strength however is writing a compelling story ripe with emotions. I worried about the missing girl and hoped she would be found. I also liked the girl’s brother.
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Frankie Elkin is a middle-aged recovering alcoholic on a mission. She travels from town to town looking for missing persons no one else is trying to find. All of her worldly goods fit into one suitcase and she doesn’t do long lasting relationships but it isn’t because she has problems connecting with people. This time, she’s in the Mattapan neighborhood of Boston, looking for missing Haitian teen Angelique Badeau. It’s not clear if she went away willingly or if she’s being held against her will.
What immediately comes to mind is the question of why Frankie is the way she is, which is somewhat revealed slowly through the course of the story. She’s smart and resourceful, able to insert herself into communities where she obviously doesn’t belong but quickly making “friends.” The Haitian neighborhood didn’t embrace her initially but Frankie’s honesty and authenticity is hard to ignore. And, she’s the only one still looking for Angelique.
The story is filled with richly developed characters and I was immersed in the Haitian culture, gaining insight into the issues they confront and their strong will and resilience. The investigation into Angelique’s disappearance took lots of twisty turns and my instincts about who was behind it all was somewhat right but not completely. Hillary Huber is one of my favorite narrators with a sultry voice that quickly became synonymous with Frankie. She’s one of the reasons I chose the audio version and it was such a great decision. I enjoyed this story and Frankie, even though I still have a lot of questions about her. But, I’m ready to go along with her noble quest and hope in the process she ends up finding herself.
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.) -
EXCERPT: This is how most cases start. With a bubble of desperate hope and tentative trust. Where things go from here, how Guerline and Emmanuel might view me months from now . . .
Emmanuel walks me back downstairs. He doesn't speak a word, relying on the rigid set of his shoulders to radiate disapproval.
'You love Angelique,' I state softly when we reach the lobby. She's a good older sister. She looks out for you.'
He glares at me, but I see a bright sheen in his eyes. The pain he's trying hard not to show.
'You really done this before?' he asks roughly.
'Many times.'
'How many people have you actually found?'
'Fourteen.'
He purses his lips, clearly taken aback by that number.
'Goodnight Emmanuel. And if you think of anything I should know.' I stick out my hand. This time he takes it.
Then I exit the triple, out into the crisp fall night, where the sun has set. Bright lights wink in the distance. But on this block no streetlights are working. Not the best idea for a lone woman to be walking around after dark, but I hardly have a choice.
I square my shoulders and head briskly back toward Stoney's, grateful it hadn't occurred to Emmanuel to ask the next logical question.
Not just how many people I'd found, but how many people I'd found alive.
None.
At least, not yet.
ABOUT: 'BEFORE SHE DISAPPEARED': Frankie Elkin is an average middle-aged woman, a recovering alcoholic with more regrets than belongings. But she spends her life doing what no one else will--searching for missing people the world has stopped looking for. When the police have given up, when the public no longer remembers, when the media has never paid attention, Frankie starts looking.
A new case brings her to Mattapan, a Boston neighborhood with a rough reputation. She is searching for Angelique Badeau, a Haitian teenager who vanished from her high school months earlier. Resistance from the Boston PD and the victim's wary family tells Frankie she's on her own--and she soon learns she's asking questions someone doesn't want answered. But Frankie will stop at nothing to discover the truth, even if it means the next person to go missing could be her.
MY THOUGHTS: Can someone please explain to me how and why I have never previously read anything by this author of twenty books? Because I am sure I don't know. What I do know is - that is about to change!
Before She Disappeared is the first of two books featuring Frankie Elkin, an alcoholic with enough baggage to make a porter shudder. She keeps her demons at bay by focusing her energies on investigating disappearances that are cold cases.
To fund her search, she tends bar, something she is very good at. She regularly attends AA meetings, and has nightmares that gave me the willies just reading about them, never mind having them invade my sleep night after night. And just in case that isn't enough, she is sharing her accommodation with Piper, an attack cat, and just one more to add to the list resenting Frankie's intrusion.
Frankie doesn't endear herself to the police, who resent her involvement and accuse her of many things including trying to rip off the families of the missing. But what Frankie has on her side is a kind and caring heart and the ability to ask the right questions.
Before She Disappeared is a fast paced and gripping story that kept me immersed throughout as the search for one missing girl turns into a search for two missing girls; the second never reported missing by her family or her school. As Frankie slowly builds up a picture of Angelique's life, little snippets of Frankie's back story are revealed.
This is a story that has something for everyone. There are two incredibly bright and talented young girls, living in poverty in a crime ridden Boston neighbourhood, determined to rise above their backgrounds and make something of themselves. So there is hope. There are thrills as Frankie is warned off her endeavours to find Angelique and Livia. There are chills and dread as it becomes apparent just how vulnerable these young girls are. There is sadness, and joy. Mystery, crime and suspense. The characters are realistic and beautifully crafted, their stories ones that happen every day. Gardner has taken these stories and written a moving and thrilling book that highlights the plight of the 'forgotten' missing - those who come from a background of poverty, from high crime areas where the police have more important issues to deal with than looking for some teenage girl who has probably run of with some boy.
This is no ordinary missing person story!
Gardner's author notes at the end of the book are worth reading as she explains what inspired her to write Before She Disappeared.
I may be late discovering this author, but I now have a lot of backtitles to catch up on. And Frankie Elkin #2 to look forward to.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#BeforeSheDisappeared #NetGalley
I: @lisagardnerbks @randomhouse
T: @LisaGardnerBks @RandomHouse
#contemporaryfiction #crime #mystery #suspense #thriller
THE AUTHOR: Lisa Gardner, a #1 New York Times bestselling thriller novelist, began her career in food service, but after catching her hair on fire numerous times, she took the hint and focused on writing instead. A self-described research junkie, she has transformed her interest in police procedure and criminal minds into a streak of internationally acclaimed novels, published across 30 countries.
Lisa lives in New Hampshire where she spends her time with an assortment of canine companions. When not writing, she loves to hike, garden, snowshoe and play cribbage.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Random House UK, Cornerstone, Century via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Before She Disappeared by Lisa Gardner for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/... -
4 missing person stars -- this one is now available!
I first have to say that I really like the way Lisa Gardner writes! It might be a bit of a slow burn for some, but I like the way she sets the scene. She tells the story and draws me in with fighting crime and flawed characters. This time the story centers around a civilian, Frankie Elkin, who has a personal mission to try to find missing people. These are usually cold cases -- the people that the police have given up on, but families still have hope that someday the missing person will come home or that they will get resolution. It is interesting that she makes progress on these cases, perhaps there is reluctance to talk to the police or she just finds a new angle. Frankie often puts herself in dangerous situations and we get small clues to her past throughout the book.
The setting was fun for me since I went to school in Boston, I never visited Mattapan though. I don’t think it’s somewhere you visit! Frankie starts digging up the past in her quest to find Angelique, a high schooler who has disappeared without a trace. It’s fascinating because in a city like Boston, there are cameras everywhere, but the police have drawn a complete blank and quite a bit of time has elapsed since Angelique has gone missing.
I enjoyed the descriptions of the tight-knit Haitian community in Mattapan and there were some great characters in this one. I liked the bar owner and the cook at the bar where Frankie gets a job as well as the detective on the case. And how could I forget the memorable cat Piper? Frankie is a realistic and flawed character and sticks out as an outsider in Mattapan; we know that she is a recovering alcoholic and Gardner depicted that very realistically. I like that she goes to meetings and much of the help she gets is from her networking.
The story takes some time to develop and it just seems to get stranger and stranger as a few new clues come to light. I was not close to figuring this one out and I did enjoy how it turned out. I really enjoyed the author notes at the end that she got this idea from people that do just this – go out and try to solve cold cases. This is my sixth book by this author, and I wish I had more time to read all of her earlier books!
Thank you to Dutton and Edelweiss for the early copy of this one to read. -
I have been a huge fan of Lisa Gardner's books - series, stand-alones, and short stories - but Before She Disappeared absolutely bored me to tears. Halfway through I literally just began skimming to finish. I apologize for not being able to state specifically what it was that turned me off of the book but, gosh, from the main character who should have been admirable, to the streets of Boston (I've read about darker, more violent streets in London and Iceland) to the constant reminder that Frankie is a recovering alcoholic (I got that the first dozen times it was referenced.) Whatever the reasons, collectively this book just didn't work for me. Perhaps it will for you.
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I'd like the next Frankie Elkin story right now, please.
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Lisa Gardner is another go to author of mine, which I love every time. This one held my interest from the very first lines, and the audio format was excellent. The first of this author I have listened to in this format.
Frankie is our troubled female protag (I LOVE unisex names) and I so loved her character, too. I found with this one I really was invested in the characterisation, way more than the story line. I was fully invested in Frankie who was so troubled, and clearly was running from her past and anything that comes close to her feelings.
She is an alcoholic, and I found fascinating that the author referred to the 12 step program and the illness with such a preciseness, it was curious to me that she had researched remarkably or has close ties with those that have the affliction.
Frankie shows us a woman conflicted with the person that she truly is, hopping from town to town working on cold case missing persons cases where the media and law enforcement have given up hope, or probably showed no care for at all on closer inspection. She seeks no fame, glory or money and we see how she must prove this to the loved ones of those who have disappeared, in this case, one of a teenage Haitian girl in Boston.
Frankie has rarely found someone alive, so the question is will this case be any different? I loved reading about how she finds the will to keep going; she’s a fighter. Bartending (baffling but very interesting and of course as an addict this shows her dogged determination) to earn enough coin to support her lifestyle and Gypsy way of being. No mortgage, picket fence, ‘real’ job. No lasting human interactions. She showed herself to the manager of the bar which was a nice connection to see her develop (if not guardedly) and we saw her reveal more of herself to the detective as they worked the case together, but she is a lone wolf, of this it is certain.
I was hoping for a successful outcome with the missing teen, but moreover, I wanted her to save herself. I loved this novel and knowing I can read about Frankie again. From the great author of a much-loved series,
https://www.goodreads.com/series/4169....
Highly recommended, absolutely loved it! -
3.5 Stars rounded up. The start of this novel was fantastic and I was completely enthralled on account of Gardner's magnificent character development. Frankie Elkin is a deeply flawed, middle-aged recovering alcoholic who is only good at one thing: finding missing people. People that society seems to give up on and forget about disturbingly quickly. Frankie travels from town to town investigating these disappearances and has successfully brought home 14 people, the only catch is none of them have come home alive, thus far anyway. Frankie is looking to change that when she hears about missing Haitian student Angelique Badeau, bringing her to the immigrant-laden depths of Mattapan, a neighborhood within Boston, and one that is unwelcoming of strangers, to say the least. Upon arrival Frankie soon discovers she's not going to get any help from the locals, or law enforcement, save one wary and hesitant Detective Dan Lotham, who is initially doubtful of Frankie's abilities and motivations, but nonetheless accepting of the civilian assistance. I enjoyed dynamic back and forth between Frankie and Lotham, and could predict they would become friendly as the investigation intensified, becoming ever so dangerous the closer Frankie got to uncovering the truth of the missing teen. Not being a huge fan of procedurals or gang and drug-related plots, I tried my best to remain fully engaged, but predicted the conclusion fairly early on, and stuck it out for the protagonists and side-characters, which were incredibly amusing, especially Frankie's furry roommate, Piper the cat. Even though the mystery element didn't work out for me as well as I'd hoped for, there is no denying that Gardner is a phenomenal writer and this could very likely be the beginning of another series for her. In the event Garner continues to write standalones, specifically psychological suspense/thriller standalones, I will most definitely continue reading them!! Undoubtedly this will be a fan favorite for 2021 :-) and I can see why Gardner has become such a star. Here's to a great '21 of reading!
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I am a definite Lisa Gardner fan, I've read and really loved everything she has written. She has a gift for gripping plots and authentic police procedurals.
This is a the beginning of a new series (? maybe, might be a one off but I hope not) featuring Frankie Elgin, a recovering alcoholic who travels around the country as an amateur researching cold cases involving missing people and has found fourteen of them so far. She has arrived in Boston after learning that Angelique, a teenager, has been missing for nearly a year and the police are at a dead end.
I connected with Frankie and identified with her deep seated motivation to bring closure to these families. Not everyone wants her around, but her no-nonsense, astute way of investigating draws people to her and bit by bit she uncovers more of the story. I appreciated the setting of Mattapan, a mostly immigrant area of Boston and the way the author sheds light on the community's strengths and troubles.
As with all of Gardner's novels, there is an intricate mystery to unravel, complete with lots of shady characters and many good guys who initially seem bad and bad guys who initially seem good. There's a fair amount of action and intrigue that kept me invested and turning pages. Definitely give this new character a try and hopefully you'll be on the same page as I am afterward and hope that Gardner continues to feature Frankie and the rest of the cast of characters in their own series.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own. -
I listened to the audio CD of Before She Disappeared by Lisa Gardner and found it to be fast paced and very engaging. Hillary Huber narrated it and her performance was quite good. It was the first book in a very long time that I have read by Lisa Gardner. Before She Disappeared was the fist book in the new series called Frankie Elkin. It was about a middle aged woman named Frankie Elkin. Frankie has had a troublesome past but has devoted her time and life to volunteering to save missing victims that others have forgotten about. Frankie was good at what she tried to do. She was a recovering alcoholic. When she arrived in Mattapan, just outside of Boston, her first order of business was to find a job, preferably in the neighborhood of the missing victim. Frankie found work in a local pub as a server. What a test for a recovering alcoholic! Frankie found herself in a section of Boston called Mattapan. It was a pretty rough neighborhood but that did not deter Frankie. She was in Mattapan for one reason and that was to find Angelique Badeau, a young fifteen year old Haitian girl, that had been missing for eleven months. The police have seemed to forgotten all about her. Soon after her arrival in Mattapan, Frankie went to Angelique’s family’s apartment to offer her services. Frankie offered to find Angelique at no cost to the family. Met with suspicion, resistance and skepticism, Frankie was not deterred. She was determined to bring Angelique home alive. She soon realized that she was looking for not one missing girl but two. Would she be able to accomplish what the police force could not in the eleven months that Angelique had gone missing? Could she also bring home the second missing girl as well?
Before She Disappeared by Lisa Gardner introduced a strong female protagonist known as Frankie Elkin. Frankie had a lot of baggage which included her constant battle as a recovering alcoholic, the existence of a man she loved that was no longer in her life but she could not seem to forget and an obsession in finding missing people that others have given up on finding. She was determined, persistent, smart and astute at recognizing clues and putting together the pieces of a puzzle. Frankie was very likable. I look forward to reading or listening to her next case she chooses to take on. I am so glad I discovered this new series. I highly recommend it. -
This was a rare stand alone not-quite-thriller from the author and it was a wonderful story. Frankie Elkin is a middle aged, former alcoholic who channels her guilt and regrets into finding missing people - the missing people that everyone else has given up on. She’s found 14 so far but jeez, it’d be great to find them alive occasionally!
This time she’s headed to Mattapan in Boston - a troubled area where Frankie stands out as the only white face among a melting pot of African Americans, Haitians and Hispanics. She is looking for Angelique Bardeau a Haitian teenager who was one of the many who came to US after a severe storm wreaked so much damage in Haiti. This promising young girl with a bright future ahead of her disappeared 11 months ago aged 15 and although her family - Aunt Guerline and younger brother Emmanuel - have not given up hope, the police pretty much have.
Frankie talks her way into a bartending job, her preferred option, that comes with a room and a roommate, the homicidal cat, Piper! Piper was hilarious with her baleful yellow eyes, her slashing claws and her tendency to leave eviscerated mice lying around. While, as a private citizen, Frankie doesn’t have access to all the sophisticated tools available to the police, she does have her winning personality (her words) and a never say die attitude and she is soon learning things that the police were not aware of. Like another girl went missing three months after Angelique only her family didn’t report it. Like Angelique made a new friend at the summer school at the rec centre. Like she was aware of a lucrative money making enterprise happening under everyone’s nose.
The police are, predictably, not happy with Frankie’s ‘interference’ but when Emmanuel comes to Frankie with claims that Angel has been in contact using a secret code the siblings developed they start to take her more seriously.
Frankie was a wonderful character - damaged, flawed but fiercely determined, fiercely loyal, crazy brave and single minded in her quest. She soon develops a good working relationship with Detective Lotham which develops into mutual respect and possibly affection.
Things take a darker turn as Frankie and Lotham start to unravel what is going on and guns start to become involved and bodies turn up and a menacing black man seems to be following Frankie.
So while this was not a thriller per se until close to the end, it was a wonderful character based story that shed a sympathetic light onto the plight of disadvantaged communities and the struggles that some people have trying to avoid falling into a life of crime. It showed, along with the struggles, the richness of these communities and the way that they often looked after their own. It was also a pleasant change from the usual human trafficking stories. The reason for the girls’ disappearance is a novel one but makes a lot of sense within the context of the location. This was a library ebook that arrived early but I had to squeeze it in and I ended up thoroughly enjoying it. 4.5. Stars.
