Frankie Elkin, a recovering alcoholic, with a tragic past has one thing she’s good at: finding missing persons.

Her newest case brings her to Mattapan, Boston where the case of a missing teenager, Angelique Badeau, has grown cold after eleven months. Her raking up the past quickly gets the attention of the original investigating officer, Detective Lotham. At first, he’s very suspicious of Frankie’s motives in the case, does she want money or fame? But when her questions bring fresh leads out Lotham and Frankie form a reluctant team with an undercurrent of attraction between them.

Before She Disappeared was sort of old-school investigation of asking a question and then the next one instead of relying on forensics and police technology since Frankie didn’t have access to all of that. She had a talent for shaking out information.

I liked Frankie, the way she effortlessly formed bonds with the people she met, even though she’s a self-proclaimed rolling-stone. Once settled on a new case she arrives in town and won’t leave until she finds the missing person. Frankie’s determination was admirable, but I do wish she’d allow herself to settle down, form roots and be happy. I think pulling up stakes when she finishes is her way of penance for a tragedy that was ultimately not her fault, and it made me sad thinking about it. That’s the thing about Lisa Gardner’s stories, she makes her characters come to life, flaws and all, so that you care about their happiness beyond just solving the current mystery.

I’ve been a huge fan of Lisa Gardner’s smart, well-researched mysteries for years. Even before Goodreads. Not completely sure if there will be more books featuring Frankie as Ms. Gardner has said this is her first “standalone” in twenty years. If there are more, I’d like Frankie to forgive herself. Plus, I want more of Piper the “attack cat”! I guess we’ll see. Whatever she comes up with next I’ll be reading!

I’ve enjoyed Hilary Huber’s narration before so when I noticed she was narrating Before She Disappeared I grabbed up an audio copy so I could continue with the story while doing other things in real-life. Sometimes, you just don’t want to put the book down, lol! Ms. Huber has a rich, sultry voice which enhanced an already captivating story. I listened at 1.5x normal speed.

“So many of our children have vanished. Too many will never be found. Often based solely on the color of their skin. Maybe the question shouldn’t be why am I doing this, but why isn’t everyone looking?’

———
My Rating: 4⭐️

Overview:
Meet Frankie Elkin, a middle-aged recovering alcoholic who lives a life on the road, traveling from town to town solving missing persons cases. (Or perhaps more arguably running from her demons.)

In “Before She Disappeared” Frankie is in Boston solving the case of Angelique Badeau, a 15 year old girl who disappeared one day after school. Eleven months later, the case has gone cold. But where everyone else has failed, Frankie is determined to find her.

What I liked:
The writing! The story was layered and beautifully told. Excellent attention to detail. I enjoyed all the layers and subplots throughout.

Character Development! Frankie as a character was full of depth and complexity. I liked that while she showed strength, the reader also sees a very raw vulnerability from her.

What I didn’t like:
Sometimes it felt like a stretch that Frankie, with no training, was able to gain so much ground so quickly doing what law enforcement could not. Piecing together parts of the puzzle very quickly.

Final Thoughts
This is my first book by Lisa Gardner, and I enjoyed reading it. The story was beautifully told, and I look forward to reading other books by Gardner.

Thank you Penguin Group Dutton and Lisa Gardner for this advance review! I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Frankie is a broken women who believes she has found her calling and a way out of the darkness. She has become a cold case “detective”. She takes on the cases that the police have let grow cold. Even though she has no police or investigative training she puts her all into finding those who are lost and giving their families closure if not the happy ending they hope for. In her latest case there is still hope and she will not give up.

I really enjoyed this book and hope that we see more of Frankie in future books. It would be awesome to see her work with DD Warren or Flora Dune.

Love Lisa Gardner books and this one was no exception! I was pulled in right away by the main character and her drive to find these missing people that she didn’t know. The descriptions of the area she was living was so vivid I felt like I was there. Wanted a bit more at the end but overall I loved it!

It's admittedly been a while since I've read a Lisa Gardner book, but Before She Disappeared made me remember why I love Lisa's writing style. She really is the master of the slow burn, making the reader become completely and totally invested in the story and taking them all the way to the explosive finish.

Frankie Elkin is every woman. She's made some terrible life choices, but she's got a big heart and the desire to overcome her addiction. She chooses to live her life without forming attachments and with minimal material objects, and instead travels the country searching for missing people that the police have all but given up on. This is women's crime fiction at its absolute best!

Frankie is an addict, well recovering. After giving up alcohol, her new addiction is searching for missing women of minority backgrounds, who likely have fallen through the cracks of law enforcement. That's exactly how she ends up in Mattapan, a Haitian community of Boston, to look for a teenager who has been missing almost a year. When one missing teen turns into two, will Frankie help or hinder law enforcements efforts to find the girls alive?
🌟🌟🌟🌟
For me, this book was slow to start. I wasn't a huge fan of Frankie's hardass character but I did end up liking the storyline after about 1/3 in. The crime scheme in this book is super interesting to me, Lisa Gardner definitely did her research and it was well worth it. A little new spin to these crime mysteries is never a bad thing. I would recommend!

Thank you Lisa Gardner, Dutton, Peguin Random House, and Netgalley for the great ARC!

Lisa Gardner has been a favourite writer of mine for many years. I’ve read so, so many of her books but then took a break. When I saw this one listed on NetGalley, I knew I had to read this stand alone book. Now I need to go back and get to know D.D. again. Thanks to PENGUIN GROUP for helping me see that!

This story was great right from the start! As soon as I started reading I felt I was in the story and could see what was being described as if with my own eyes. The plot continued with many twists and turns and I found myself turning the page to see what happens next! Gardner’s ability to write with this much accuracy and imagination just amazes me. How does she think of all this and make it so realistic. Sometimes I find myself guessing the ending and being right. Not this time. I never figured this is!

I only gave four stars though because in some parts of the story felt like they dragged on too long. There was just too much “thinking out loud” or hashing over the same details, just with a different character. I found myself skipping a few paragraphs here and there. To me a five star read is when I read every paragraph, every word.

I grew to love Frankie and hope that things worked out for her and that her life would take a turn toward happy. The ending left me feeling bittersweet. I was on the sidewalk watching Frankie walking off into the day, on to her next search. I miss her already.

SUMMARY:
Frankie is an average woman, recovering alcoholic, and a nomad. She goes from place to place to solve missing person cases. She’s not in it for the fame or money and she has her own dark past to deal with,-- but she pushes because she cares because while everyone else may have forgotten, she’s still looking. 14 cases solved, no one found alive -- but maybe this new case will be different? As Frankie situates herself in Mattapan, Boston (rough neighborhood), she soon realizes that her search for Angelique is more complicated than it seems.

***
Wow! I absolutely DEVOURED this book. The story read so easily and captivated me immediately. As a true crime fan/follower I loved Gardner’s idea of taking an everyday person and having them solve actual (fictional) crimes.

This book deals with social class and racial issues, alcoholism, and the sad aftermath that follows far too many missing person cases. In the author's note/acknowledgment, Gardner was inspired by Lissa Yellowbird-Chase, an everyday person who searches for missing persons! Gardner even went to Boston, talked with BPD, and experienced the Haitian pies referenced in the book! (FYI, Angelique and her family are from Haiti). **I’m not sure how accurate everything is, but I love that Gardner took time to research for this book.**

I don't think I could do this book justice so here's a collection of thoughts:

I loved learning about Frankie -- her motives, her past, and how determined she was. She wasn’t perfect and never tried to be. She went to AA meetings and struggled internally, but she was also blunt, smart, and thought on her feet.

It was funny seeing how pissed Detective Lotham got when Frankie started finding answers -- especially since they investigated almost all the same people and places, but somehow this random woman starts finding new clues 11 months after the incident.

Some of my favourite parts were the bar scenes. Seeing Frankie in her zone as she took orders and interacted with Stoney, Viv, and other customers was a nice contrast. Even Piper (cat) was a fun touch.

It was heartbreaking yet touching to see how close Emmanuel (brother) was to Angelique. It was nice to see his involvement in the case especially since info is usually withheld from the public and even close members (ya never know who to trust, but I 100% trusted Emmanuel!!)

As for the story, I pretty much hung on after each chapter. I found myself stumped alongside Frankie and Lotham with more questions than answers. SO MANY TWISTS TOO!! The book does a great job walking through the info you have and possible answers, but still manages to keep you on edge! There’s so much more I could discuss, but I don’t want to spoil it!!

Overall, if you like true crime/mystery/thriller books (or even if you don’t), I HIGHLY recommend this read!!

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for a copy of this book to review!

Before She Disappeared was my first Lisa Gardner book. I loved it! Frankie is a recovering alcoholic who is unreliable about everything except for finding missing people. Frankie has solved 14 disappearances when she arrives in Mattapan for her 15th case which she is hoping to find Angelique Beadeu alive. Gardener gives us not only Frankie's in person pov but also the thoughts in her head. I hope we see more of Frankie reading along as she puts together the missing pieces was fascinating.

Thank you netgalley and Dutton for the opportunity to read this book all opinions are my own. Highly recommend especially if your cold case fan.

4 out of 5 stars!

Frankie Elkin is a middle-aged, recovering alcoholic who goes around searching for missing people that the cops have given up on. She's brought to a tough Boston neighborhood in search of Angelique Badeau, a Haitian teenager, who seemingly vanished into thin air almost a year ago. As Frankie starts unraveling more of the mystery, she's getting closer to the truth, but is her life now at risk too?

A page turner that will keep you wanting to read more! This was my first Lisa Gardner book, and I'll definitely be reading more from her!

Thank you Lisa Gardner, Penguin Dutton, and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. #BeforeSheDisappeared #NetGalley

Lisa Gardner’s first standalone in 20 years is everything you want in a good book. The plot is gripping, the main protagonist Frankie is engaging and there are enough twists to keep you turning the pages. I’ve read and loved the authors other series with D.D. Warren and now after reading her newest I’m crossing my fingers and toes that there will be another book with Frankie as the lead.
So, if you’re a fan of a good mystery & enjoy crime fiction, you will love this book! I know I definitely did.

Frankie Elkin has chosen an unusual path in life. She searches for missing people – the ones everyone has forgotten. Most of the time she finds herself in out-of-the way places. But, this time, she is in Boston, in a rough neighborhood called Mattapan. The missing person is Angelique Badeau, a Haitian teenager who vanished outside her school almost a year earlier. As a recovered alcoholic and battling her own private demons, Frankie faces distrust from the community, scorn from the police, and a tangled investigation she never anticipated.

Before She Disappeared is a well-written, well-paced mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed. Frankie is an extremely likable character – flawed, determined, and smart. The people she encounters during her time in Boston are varied and interesting, and their interactions and personalities add so much depth to the story. Knowing that there are real people, just like Frankie, who are pursuing missing persons cases made this book even more believable and emotional.

Many thanks to Lisa Gardner for this entertaining and thoughtful book. I hope we see Frankie again.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

I am OBSESSED with Lisa Gardner. I’m slowly working my way through her backlist, so I was thrilled when Dutton offered to send me a copy of this book. It was intriguing, fast paced, and all around just amazing. 10/10.

This was a highly enjoyable read. This book was nice introduction to Lisa Gardener’s work. I will definitely be reading more of her. The book moved at a consistent pace and the characters were well developed.The story was very intriguing because the subject matter is relevant today. This book shows how law enforcement can completely disregard BIPOC and immigrants.

Lisa Gardner is one of my very favorite authors. I love all of her books and they never disappoint. This one is no exception. Before She Disappeared features Frankie Elkin, a recovering alcoholic, with her own crosses to bear she tries to make things better by trying to solve cold cases. Frankie searches for Angelique Badeau, a Haitian teenager who vanished from her high school months earlier. The case has gone cold but it speaks to her.
As she creates tenuous bonds with people she meets in her search she quickly and intensely shakes up the people trying to hide Angelique. Will this be the first case she is able to solve the cold case and find them alive....
This is a great story and I am happy to have been able to read it. I look forward to more stories especially the ones with D. D. Warren featured prominently.

Another great thriller from Gardner. We meet a new character Frankie who searches for missing people. Frankie is also a recovering alcoholic and I thought this part of the storyline was well done. I heard this was a stand alone but I wouldn't be surprised if we see Frankie again.

This one kept me guessing all the way through and I thought the reveal of what happened to these women was well done.

Hillary Huber's narration was really great she truly brought out all the emotions from Frankie and every other character!

4 stars

3.5 stars rounded up

Frankie Elkin is a middle-aged recovering alcoholic that has made it her life mission to find people that have gone missing after the cases have gone cold.

This was my first book by Lisa Gardner and won't be my last. I was definitely pulled in by the premise, and it turns out there are real people out there like Frankie. There were some slower parts, and I think that was due to the first person perspective as there tended to be a lot of introspection in spots. Frankie was an intriguing and likable narrator; I liked her sarcastic tone and witty dialogue with other characters, but she also had a lot of depth. The twists had me questioning everything until the last page.

Thank you Dutton and NetGalley for the gifted e-copy!

I am pretty new to this author and so far what I've read by her has made me happy. Lisa Gardner writes a tight, well developed story.

Her main character Frankie has a good heart underneath all the pain and hardness she has endured. She is deeply flawed and has clawed her way to normalcy which still evades her most of the time. Her desire to help people find those they love is her mission and she does not stop until she succeeds no matter the consequences. I really hate reviews that include spoilers so I won't do that. But what I will say is if you like edge of your seat thrillers, less than perfect characters, and a well written book then please read this. I will be reading much more by this author.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

3.5 stars

Before She Disappeared by Lisa Gardner is about Frankie Elkin, a recovering addict. Frankie is running away from the ghosts of her past by devoting her life to solving missing persons cases. Receiving no compensation, she travels from town to town solving missing person cases. Her latest case is in a tough neighborhood in Boston where a teen girl has been missing for nearly a year. For Frankie, this may be her most challenging and dangerous case yet.

Lisa Gardner has written a lot of crime fiction, but this is the first book that I have ever read by her. Many of her books are connected in a series, but this one is a standalone, making it the perfect place to jump into her work. I really enjoyed this story. Frankie was a great character, with a quirky and brave personality and an intriguing backstory. I loved how she just forged ahead into every situation, no matter how dangerous. And even though this is a standalone book, I feel like Frankie could make a return in future novels as she finds more cases to attack with her amateur sleuthing skills.

I did find the middle section of this story to be a bit slow. For a good part of the book, the action is minimal. Instead Frankie and the detective spend a lot of time rehashing the details of the case and what they know so far. I felt like they explained the case and what they knew a few too many times, and I found myself impatient with them and the story. We know all this already-- time for something new to happen!

Ultimately, the story and the action did pick back up, and I thought it reached a satisfying conclusion. After reading this book, I will add Lisa Gardner to my list of authors to check out in the future!

Frankie finds missing people. Frankie is a recovering alcoholic. When she decides to follow up on a 15 year old that’s been missing for 11 months, it takes her on a journey that tests her sobriety.


I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own