Gardner is certainly a compelling storyteller, and I can see why her books are so beloved by those who enjoy the mystery/crime genre. She's a great writer and it's easy to fly through her stories. The white savior aspect of this book was difficult for me at times. I definitely appreciate the focus on crimes against minorities as they don't get the same media attention and resources as missing/murdered white women. But at the times, the attempts at being diverse and inclusive felt a little forced. I wish this aspect of the book had flowed a bit more naturally for me, because I definitely appreciate what Gardner was trying to do here, and I think it's very crucial that this genre explores a wide range of stories.

A new series from Lisa Gardner. Ms Gardner writes what most would call "gritty" mystery/ thrillers. She builds her characters with such detail that you see and hear them in your mind's picture, eventually becoming so familiar, you THINK you know what their next move will be, then....well let's say, you'll be surprised just when you least expect it. Frankie Elkin is just such a character. She's lean and tough, life has left her with few expectations and even less trust. Her penance just for living is to travel finding those who are lost, so lost that Frankie may be their only hope. Frankie is good at what she does. With few clues, little help and a whole lot of dogged determination, her success ratio is 100%. How she works and the tools she uses, make every chapter another step toward her salvation, then on to the next missing person.

3.5 stars

This was a fast-paced thriller with a flawed MC. I really liked the pacing and style of writing in this book. I really enjoyed Frankie though and look forward to getting to know her better in future novels.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

Frankie Elgin is a haunted recovering alcholic who has so many demons she has decided that she will do good in the world she follows chats on line and helps find missing people. She decides which case to follow by her instincts, over the years shr has assisted and found sixteen missing people.

Her latest case brings her to Boston where she gets a job as a bartendar near the missing girl's home. What follows is an action packed adventure. I enjoyed the characters and Lisa's writing. I would definitely recommend this to other readers.

I didnt realize that there was more to this series when I first requested it. :Luckily it was just fine as a stand a lone and it was not a challange to get into. The writing is fast paced, the action packs a punch and I was thoroughly invested in the who done it.
This book made me go back and read more in the series as I was curious to see how it all started.

With twists and turns around every page and a plot that grips you hard, Before She Disappeared is a thriller crime novel that should be put on your shelf. I have a love/hate relationship with crime thrillers, for me they either hit the nail on the head or leave me bored. Lisa Gardner is most definitely the former.

Frankie is a unlikely character that you're rooting for to win. You're on the edge of your seat hoping for the positive outcome that everyone wants. Gardner puts a great backstory together to tug at your heartstrings and makes you care for the character.

What I love most about this one was that I couldn't guess the ending. That's when you know that it's a good book.

Absolutely thrilling. I don’t know why it took me so long to read this book, because it was so good. The characters were so compelling. I don’t usually read series, but I can’t wait to continue on this one.

Unfortunately, this took me forever to get through...as should be evidenced by the fact that this review is two years late. The ending did pick up - but I wasn't invested in the main character or the storyline for so long, that I felt like I dragged myself through reading.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. A good mystery/thriller. Great weekend read.

I love Lisa Gardner books. While I wasn’t totally on board with the premise of the mystery, it worked out okay. Frankie was lucky many times. She was brave (not smart?) at times. I am looking forward to seeing how her character develops in the next book. It is a four star read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the DRC.

Before She Disappeared is an action-packed, smart, addictive read with gut-wrenching plot lines. It's one of those rare reads that resonates deeply and stays with you long after the pages stop turning.

Frankie Elkin is a recovering alcoholic who travels the country compelled to solve missing persons cases. She is not a police officer or private investigator but an ordinary person hoping to bring peace to a forgotten missing girl’s family. I love that Frankie is flawed yet strong and fragile at the same time. She uses the old school basics of field work - asking questions, not relying on the internet, and digging into people and the past to find the answers. Another excellent book from Ms. Gardner and I hope we see more of Frankie in the future! Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. 5 ⭐️

Love this book! Such a good mystery/thriller. Had me on the edge of my seat. Read this book asap. You will not regret it,

Anything by Lisa Gardner is an automatic 'add to cart'. Her stories are captivating and descriptive and always make you read through the night when you should be getting your beauty sleep. It took me awhile to read it (mom life) but I'm sad I didn't read it sooner.

Frankie is a great concept for a character - a former alcoholic with a *past* whom roams the U.S. finding missing women and girls. She's hardened around the edges, but still desperately trying to find something to be tethered to. She ends up in Boston to help locate a missing Haitian girl, where she finds an unfriendly, unwilling community (well, so we're told - Frankie finds her way in pretty quickly) and a lot of deadends. She builds relationships with the locals through her job, AA meetings, and the police force.

The actual crime was interesting and unique vs. a lot of missing teen dramas we get. I'd put this on par with network TV fare, vs. HBO - both in santization and ability to be serialized.

I don't read a lot of crime series, but I would continue to read Frankie's series and learn more about her back story.

I enjoy Lisa Gardner's books, and this was no exception. With a gripping plot that kept me turning pages and a broken hero I could root for, it was a quick and enjoyable read!

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the opportunity to read this!

Frankie Elkin is an armchair detective who isn't afraid to ask the right questions. She has replaced one addiction with another: missing people instead of alcohol. Jumping from case to case around the country, Frankie sticks around to try to work with police, families, and anyone who will help find the forgotten missing people from marginalized communities. Some may call it a white savior-complex, but Frankie is just trying to right some wrongs in her life while avoiding the bottle. Angelique Badeau lives in a Boston neighborhood known for high crime rates and she goes missing on a Friday afternoon. Eleven months later, Frankie is on the case and determined to bring Angelique home.
This was an excellent book for those of us obsessed with true crime and missing persons cases. Though fictional, there are those online sleuths who are able to help law enforcement solve some of these mysteries. In the first few sentences, I was hooked on who Frankie was and the cases she solves. She is deeply flawed and the narrative slowly uncovers some of her past, which were interwoven into the narrative that leaves readers wanting to learn more about her. When reading mysteries, I'm always suspicious of characters introduced, but the semi-twist and circumstance of Angelique's disappearance with satisfactory. Overall, an excellent read that was engrossing and captivating. I'm ready to see what shenanigans Frankie gets into next.

This was not one I enjoyed much. I did not realize it was the first in a series for this character which i typically don't enjoy. thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy

Super heartbreaking thriller . I loved the usual character that were a part of this story. The author described the characters and they came to life . The suspense was kept alive with the time elements of the writing !

Lisa Gardner is an automatic read for me and this was no exception. In this fast pace thriller the Boston Police have given up on a case, but others have not. At what lengths will one go to solve this! Well done .