A family of five out of which four were gunned down and the last member of the family, sixteen year old Roxy Baez is missing. Detective D.D Warren along with vigilante Flora are in search for Roxy. While Flora is confident of Roxy's innocence Detective Warren is not so sure if Roxy is the victim or the suspect and it is a race against time to find her before any more killings take place.

Look for Me is a well written fast paced novel with a sensitive storyline. The book is narrated in the voices of three main characters with Roxy’s the most heart wrenching.Even though this book can be read as a standalone I would go back and read the previous ones as there is reference to Flora’s backstory that I missed. A thoroughly entertaining read.

I would like to thank Penguin Group Dutton & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.

This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

Look for Me by Lisa Gardner is one fabulous ride! First you think one thing, then another and then still another! How great is that!! This book is part of a series, but I was able to pick up the main points without having all the background… however - I enjoyed it so much, I might need to find some of the first ones.

Roxy is gone. Her family is brutally murdered. Did she cause this? Did she do this? Or is she going to be killed next? D.D. Warren needs to figure all this out. To help her Flora Dane (a character from an earlier book) has agreed to help figure out what is happening. Flora is a bit of a wild card as she was a victim and is now a survivor and maybe a bit vigilante. However, D.D. needs the help and Flora can go places D.D. can’t.

I found this book exciting and thrilling and a real page turner! The characters is were interesting and the story was fascinating. Not just the present day story, but the horror of the past that kept creeping in really brought you into the story. Lisa Gardner is now a must read author for me!!! Look for Me by Lisa Gardner was a fabulous read!

From the first page to the last, you will read furiously. Roxy, Lola, and Manny will become a part of you. Their story will break your heart. Their fight will become your fight. You will no doubt think about them while trying but failing to fall asleep.
This is a fast paced page turner and has many surprises and twists. Wait until you find out who the killer is!!!! We look forward to reading more from Lisa Gardner!
Perfect fall day. She should’ve known better....

Look For Me is #9 in the popular detective series by Lisa Gardner. Detective D.D. Warren and Flora Danes race against the clock trying to solve a complex crime case: four members of a family were brutally murdered and the only survivor – Roxy, a teenage girl – is now missing. While D.D. and Flora try find Roxy, they question is Roxy a victim of a tragic crime or a killer?

Overall, I am unimpressed with this book. Though the premise of the story initially piqued my interest, there seems to be a lot of unnecessary repetition of the background story and in the dialogue throughout the novel. I’m not sure if it’s because I didn’t read the other books in this series, but I just couldn’t get into this particular book. I was struggling to finish this story as it started to become tedious and a bit too predictable. The characters lack depth and none of them are likable, especially Flora. I felt that Flora and Sarah’s characters could have been written out completely. Their involvement with the police didn’t seem believable. I am not sure if the rest of the books in this series are written this way as well, but I would say to skip this read unless you are already fan of Lisa Gardner’s other books. The book releases on Tuesday 2/6/18.

"Mistakes, regret, repair. Family isn't a destination. It's a journey."

It is a perfect fall Saturday in Boston when peace is shattered in a Brighton neighborhood. A family of 4 is shot in their home. No forced entry, no witnesses. The oldest daughter, 16-year-old Roxanna Baez, is missing. When Detective DD Warren gets the call, her first thought is -- is Roxie a lucky near-victim or the perpetrator? Joining the police in the hunt and Amber Alert is Flora Dane (from FIND HER); she's the leader of a survivor group having escaped her captor after 472 days. She teaches women how to live again after their horrible experiences. Seems that Roxy had reached out to her group before that day's tragic events. The search is on and the narrative focuses on procedures and investigative techniques along with a very stark and scary portrayal of the foster care system.

I've read this author before, but have not managed to read all the books in any particular series. I don't feel that I missed anything significant by coming back in at #9. There's enough backstory to fill in the gaps. DD is now a mom and she's not quite as edgy as in previous books, but still tough and sure of herself and her job. She's not that excited to be working with Flora, but realizes that Flora and Sarah can help in this situation. The reader understands why Flora and Sarah do what they do - which is a sort of vigilantism and self-defense tactics not totally limited by laws and protocols that the detectives have to follow.

Anyway, the mystery of Roxy and the murders is solved as the layers are peeled back to reveal the truth about "family." None are perfect and all require a lot of work and forgiveness. I was unsurprised by the conclusion and I can't say this was really suspenseful, but it was a meaty plot with many complex issues. Most notably that of the foster care situation -- for which I have no answers, only sadness.

I'll definitely pick up another title by this author and thank NetGalley and Dutton for the e-book ARC to read and review.

After reading but not loving a long novel that I powered through, I had to go to an old stand by, Lisa Gardner, as I knew her newest novel Look For Me would put my reading back in the fast lane. If you’re familiar with her books, then you’ll definitely want to pick up this one. This is part of her Detective D.D. Warren series and it brings back Flora Dane from Find Her, which I really, really loved. If you haven’t gotten around to reading Find Her yet (published Feb 2016) then you really want to start with that one before digging into Look For Me. It’s not bad as a stand alone, however you’ll be missing a HUGE part of the story by not reading Find Her first.

I sat down with this book just before dinner and stayed up until after 1 a.m. reading! I NEVER finish a book in a day, but I could not put this one down!! I became a page-churning maniac reading this book. The plot line is great. It’s so compelling and tension packed and the characters are familiar and likable. Lisa’s writing is dependably excellent. If you like domestic thrillers, this is going to be a great pick for you.

The run down of the story is that the Baez family is found murdered in their home, the only caveat is that the eldest daughter, Roxy, is missing. Detective D.D. Warren is called in to to help find the killer, the missing daughter, and to determine if those might just be one in the same.

Flora Dane is a victim of a kidnapping that happened approximately six years ago. She’s a survivor and she’s set herself up as sort of a mentor to other survivors of violent crimes. She’s one hard core girl, and someone you definitely don’t want to find yourself on the wrong side of. She’s got street smarts, a wicked since of humor and she’s on a mission. She inserts herself into the Baez family case and is determined to help find Roxy. What Flora will do if she finds her is anybody’s guess – it depends on if Roxy is a victim or a murderer.

I love Flora’s character and hope she’s a permanent fixture of fourth coming books in the D.D Warren series. Overall a great read.

DD and Flora together again, unwilling or not, reluctantly team up to investigate a missing girl whose entire family was just murdered. This book delves into the child protective services and the whole foster family system and leaves a sadness in your heart when you are done reading it. These “left behind” children really make a lasting impression. DD and Flora race against the clock to solve the murders and prevent an impending murder and ongoing child abuse. You’ll remember this book long after you are finished. Just read it already!

Wow! What a rush! I LOVED this one! And I loved the dogs in it. :) I really liked all the kickass heroines, not just D.D., but also Flora and newcomers Sarah and Roxy. This is a D.D. Warren book to rave over and recommend.

Look For Me – Lisa Gardner

I received this novel as an Advance Reader Copy, in exchange for an objective review.

Detective Sergeant DD Warren is back, this time to investigate the slaying of a small family in Boston’s Brighton section. There she finds four family members dead, nothing of value missing, and the oldest child of the family missing, along with the families’ two dogs. Is missing teenaged Roxanne the killer, or running scared?

Enter Flora Dane, a vigilante of sorts, who after surviving a kidnapping and torture of her own, now runs private chat rooms and teaches other victims how to protect themselves and go on living. Her newest rescue is Sara, a young woman who survived the brutal slayings of her roommates after a one night stand goes awry. They approach DD with information of their own as they realize Roxanne has been reaching out to them in their chat room, and DD grudgingly agrees to name her a confidential informant (CI).

As the investigation continues, we learn more about Roxanne and her siblings from Roxanne herself, as she re-lives the horror of she and her siblings being removed from her mother and being placed in foster homes – and we learn through her, that not all foster homes are safe and loving homes, and kids prey upon other kids in the name of survival.

As the action heats up and Roxanne is finally located, more questions than answers arise, until a stunning standoff reveals all is not as it seems, and even the most passive bystander is not quite what they seem to be…
A fabulous new addition to the DD Warren series, and one I read late into the night as it was too good to put down! While based on fictitious events, this book parallels the realities that some children in ‘the system’ face and will leave you wondering about the state of our ‘Child Protective Services’ for a long time to come…

D.D. Warren is called to the type of case one morning most cops hate: the murder of a family. A good family, decent neighborhood. One of the daughters is missing. Suspect or another victim still to find? The more D.D discovers, the larger the puzzle grows. Add in the appearance of the victim/vigilante from yet another of Detective Warren’s cases, and the resolution of the case looks farther away. Lisa Gardner brings together characters new and old to create a book full of twists and turns that keeps readers guessing.

I always enjoy the D.D. Warren character and this one she reluctantly joins forces with Flora Dane from Find Her. It starts with the murder of four members of a family and the eldest daughter has gone missing. Earlier, the missing Roxie contacted an online support group for survivors run by Flora Dane. Roxie was concerned for "a friend" which everyone assumed to be Roxie herself. As they investigate the family and its history, a new suspect and motive are revealed at every turn. Themes of alcoholism, an overburdened foster care system and high school bullying make this a riveting story. When the killer was finally revealed, it was someone that I had not suspected. The story kept me riveted and I could not put it down.

Four members of a family -- 2 young children, their mother and her live-in boyfriend -- are murdered. The crime scene is brutal -- it's clear that the daughter was shielding her younger brother when they were both shot. The oldest daughter, Roxy, and the family's two deaf dogs are missing. Ironically, DD Warren commences her investigation on the very morning that she is supposed to be with her husband and son adopting a dog. Is Roxy a cold-blooded murderer, a witness to the heinous crime or a would-be victim herself? The evidence is inconclusive. Flora Dane, a survivor who counsels and educates other crime victims, ingratiates herself into Warren's investigation and Warren reluctantly accepts her assistance given that she can pursue avenues of inquiry and possible subjects that Warren cannot. The story is told from the perspectives of both women, and includes a narrative from Roxy -- chapters of her school writing project on the "perfect family" in which she details the impact of her mother's addiction to alcohol and life choices upon Roxy and her younger siblings. Look for Me is more than a tautly-crafted thriller. It is also a commentary on the failures of the foster and legal systems, the tragic consequences of addiction, and what constitutes a family in light of such extreme circumstances. It is unnecessary to read the prior installments in the DD Warren series in order to thoroughly enjoy this volume. Look for Me is a moving, effective, and thought-provoking stand-alone tale.
(Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader's Copy of the book!)

3.5 STARS - This 9th book in the D.D Warren series has the experienced detective in the middle of a murder of a family and includes Flora Dane, a character from the previous book, Find Her, who becomes D.D's sidekick/confidential informant.

The addition of Flora's POV and different methods of getting information added an extra layer to the plot and funny banter between the seasoned police detective and the vigilante. But, there was often overlap between the two POVs which sometimes gave the story a 'didn't I just read about that?' feel for me.

This book picks up two years after 2016's Find Her (a wonderfully gritty read and one of my top reads of 2016). While readers don't have to read previous books in the series, I highly recommend reading Find Her to get Flora's back story which is important to understanding her character's development.

In Look For Me, Gardner gives her readers another twisty read and provides insight into the overburdened foster care system, how it has helped some kids and failed others. Gardner also addresses the issue of family, mistakes and healing and the addition of a teen's school essays on what 'The Perfect Family' means to her were touching and poignant.

This is a clever police procedural that kept me entertained, had some twists (even though I figured out the culprit) and an important social aspect. And while I can't say I was totally wowed this time out, I look forward to reading the next installment in this series.

Disclaimer: This ARC was generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Lisa Gardner never ceases to amaze me. Never could I tire of the stories that she writes. Look For Her is an amazing book from start to finish. I mean how could it not be with the infamous Flora Dane?



D.D. has her hands full in this latest book. Once again having to deal with the stress of the job and the demands of home life, which I can completely sympathize with her on that front. However, in true D.D fashion she handles everything like a champ.



We finally get to see what Ms. Flora Dane has been up to since we last left her. The latest thorn in D.D's side. Flora thrusts herself into the investigation and doesn't hold back. Using the skills she's developed over the years after surviving her own ordeal.



A brilliant addition to the D.D. Warren chronicles.

This is the book I've read from the author, and even though it is #9 in the series, I really didn't feel lost at any point. That could be because the story has very little of this Detective, D.D. Warren's personal life, instead, the focus is on the crime itself.

Four family members dead.
One missing.
Is the missing girl on the run or the main suspect?
That is for DD to determine.

Without knowing any of the Detective's professional history, three things were clear:
She's dedicated to her job.
She's good at her job.
And my favorite part, she has her theories, but she lets the case play out. She looks at things from all angles instead of looking at one (maybe obvious) suspect.

What made this book different from other crime thrillers I've read is the involvement of a vigilante of sorts, Flora Dane. As a survivor of a horrific crime, she has made it her goal to help other women in need. Whether it is to protect themselves or seek justice, wasn't clear at first. But she is someone who has a loose link to the missing girl, Roxanna "Roxy" Baez, and does her best to assist the Detective in safely finding her.

The story itself is told from alternating POVs, D.D. and Flora. It was interesting to see how different their methods were, but how together, they found the answers they needed.

I'll admit that for a good part of the story, I had no idea who killed Roxy's family, but I eventually narrowed it down to two suspects, just as the author intended. I liked how the author led us down the path the heroines took, no big hints were presented. But as the facts became clear, so did the suspects, or ultimately, the actual killer.

The story itself is tragic, detailing the horrors children face in the foster care system and what path it leads them in life. It also highlighted the importance of family and protecting those loved.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and the well thought out plot. I'll definitely check out more books in the series.

If I could rate a book higher than a 5, then this would be at least a 10! Lisa Gardner’s latest book in her D.D. Warren series is not just a mystery/thriller. It is also a social commentary on so many issues. Roxie Baez has a dysfunctional family, and the whole book is centered around her and her life. When her family is found murdered, at least everyone except her, she is the number one suspect. LOOK FOR ME becomes a cat and mouse game between Detective D.D. Warren, with quirky survivor Flora Dane thrown in as a confidential informant. The social commentary is fascinating and worked into the story so well that you want to keep reading to find out what happens to Roxie and the many ways the system has failed her. First her mom failed her, then the judicial and foster system failed her, and even her school was not a place of safety for her. So, where does a young girl find help when she is desperate. Enter another character who seems to be on the autism spectrum, but Mike Davis is her only friend in foster care, the one who warns her and tries to watch out for her. The author does an outstanding job of presenting the case against bullying by having two of the main characters, Roberto and Anya be so evil to Roxy from the time she first enters the foster care system. I was enthralled by the mystery as much as by the social commentary. The whole book has an “if only” kind of aura about it. But in the book, as in life, there are no “if only’s”. There is only the reality that is heart-breaking and eye-opening at the same time. Read the book for the mystery; remember the book for the lessons you can take away from it.

3.5ish, rounded up. I adore Lisa Gardner's books, and eagerly anticipated Look for Me. Overall, it's a decent series entry, and I really enjoyed Flora Dane's role in this book (I'd be happy to see her return again, too). This wasn't my new favorite in the series- it felt repetitive at times (with both D.D. and Flora doing investigative work, it felt like there were instances where the same information was rehashed several times), and due to that, I think the book was a little too long. However, I enjoyed both D.D. and Flora as smart, powerful investigators (with their own methods). The overall story was solid, though, as with most Lisa Gardner books, trigger warnings abound and there is difficult subjet matter here.

I really liked the story line and it did keep me on the edge of my seat. I was a little disappointed in the ending though. A great read for a cold and cozy Saturday or Sunday afternoon.

If advertisers are to be believed, the perfect family can be obtained by making the right purchase. The right house. Right car. Right furniture. Right coffee. In her latest novel, Look for Me, Lisa Gardner explores the complex ideas of families and perfection, and how little it takes to destroy either.

This is part of a long running series but can easily be read on its own.

The story begins with a snippet of worst case scenario: a young college girl brings home a boy from the bar and wouldn’t you know it, right in the middle of sex he pulls out a knife and starts slashing away at her. Her three roommates try to help but the battle does not go in their favor.  Sarah, one of the roommates, is the lone survivor of that horrible night.

The next scene in our tale is one of domestic bliss. Detective D.D. Warren, her husband Alex and their son Jack are taking advantage of a perfect fall day to go apple picking and dog shopping when the call comes. It’s a red ball, which means all hands on deck. It’s a domestic, with small bodies. Perfect fall day? D.D. should have known better than to believe any such thing exists.

When D.D. gets to the Boyd/Baez household crime scene, it’s as bad as she had feared. Man of the house gunned down in front of the TV; mom shot while putting away groceries, a can of soup lying inches from her fingers; and upstairs the most heartbreaking of all, a thirteen year-old girl wrapped around her seven year-old brother in a futile attempt to keep him safe. But there’s a problem. The oldest girl, Roxanne, and the family dogs are missing.

While D.D. works the crime scene, survivor Flora Dane races across another side of town on her morning run. Flora had once been the victim of a kidnapping, a beautiful young woman who had been dancing on a beach when a predator found her and held her for close to two years. Now she is a tough, intense fighter, running a chat group for other survivors where they can share their stories and fears. When she returns from her run and turns on the TV she gets a nasty surprise: scrolling across the screen is an amber alert for Roxanne Baez, the newest member of her support group.

D.D. isn’t pleased when Flora and another of her survivors, Sarah, push themselves into the investigation but rather than working against or around them she decides to utilize them, which is a wise move since both girls prove themselves to be surprisingly astute investigators. As they engage in a desperate hunt for a teenage girl who is either a clever perpetrator or an innocent, frightened victim they find themselves facing off against a canny, prolific killer.

Ms. Gardener is a master of her genre, a skilled artist who keeps you guessing until the very last pages. The pacing here is brilliant; you will find yourself unable to put the novel down once you begin since you will immediately become invested in the unfolding story. While the characterization of D.D. and her squad is slim (that has been handled in the previous books) Flora, Sarah, Roxanne and the other key players in the novel are excellently executed, well drawn and three dimensional. When we get to the final denouement you can’t help but think, ‘Of course! This is completely in character with all the players.’

I especially liked the fact that Flora got the chance to see the good and bad sides of the training she provides for her survivors group. Sarah has gone from shaken victim to concerned, clever and strong citizen under her tutelage. Roxanne has been given the skills needed to survive and thrive in a tough situation.  But sometimes they are a tad unethical when utilizing those skills, which draws Flora up a bit short. This conundrum, of morals and not just knowledge, being part of survival is a minor but intriguing point in the text.

The fact is the book is engrossing, entertaining, well written and a sheer delight for a mystery fan to peruse. My initial reading left me blown away. But thinking about the novel just a few short hours later I found myself seriously doubting the way the domestic situation of the Baez/Boyd family was portrayed. I found Juanita Baez perhaps the most unrealistic of the characters and since many of her previous actions drive the text, that was a small weakness in the story. But while it knocks the novel down from DIK status it should in no way serve as a deterrent to other readers.  This book might not be perfect but it’s damned good and you’ll be sorry if you don’t read it.

Look for Me is almost everything a mystery should be. I strongly recommend it to fans of the genre or for anyone who enjoys a good read.

Buy it at: A/BN/iB/K

As you can tell even from the short to the point description of this book this has a dark plot, the brutal murder of an entire family (minus one) does not make for light reading but I wouldn’t expect, nor would I want, anything less when I’m diving into a new LG book. She has a knack for writing about tough subjects while showcasing human emotion and behavior that isn’t seen very often in crime fiction all the while coming up with fresh plot lines that never fail to engage me.

Anytime I’m able to catch up with D.D. Warren I’m a happy camper and since she’s teaming up with Flora Dane who made her first appearance in Find Her I was even more excited. These two are quite the pair and since they don’t exactly see eye to eye it adds an additional layer of friction and tension to an already highly intense, emotional plot. Since D.D. became a parent we’ve seen a softer, gentler side to her and this case hits close to home, at times it’s almost too much for her to bear. I’m a fan of seeing this side of D.D. and I think long time fans of this series will agree. She’s not totally mushy by any means, she’s still that fast talking, snarky woman we all love, but she does have a sweet side, who knew?!

Per usual I won’t be discussing the plot, Gardner’s books are too well executed and I wouldn’t be able to describe much without spoilers and that’s not my thing, it’s best to discover this on your own. I will say that sometimes she uses flashbacks in her novels and this time it switches between Flora and D.D. in the present day to a collection of personal essays from Roxy, the teenager who was the only member of her family left when someone murdered the rest. This structure worked incredibly well for me and as much as Roxy’s essays were a difficult read, they were just SO well written that I couldn’t get enough. Her story was utterly heartbreaking, this poor kid has had a rough time and there are mentions of abuse towards children, so heads up on that. Gritty, entertaining and a police procedural with depth and heart, if you haven’t read this series I can highly recommend each book, they’re all fantastic!