Joining a group of experienced hikers, Frankie Elkins is determined to help a father find his son who vanished in a national forest five years earlier. But just a day into their trek, the group is mysteriously sabotaged and finding Tim becomes the least of their worries. They’re no longer the hunters, they’re the hunted!

Lots of action and suspense that keeps you guessing. Second in the series but could stand alone.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early review copy.

One Step Too Far has Frankie Elkin on the search for a man who went missing five years earlier. Frankie has joined a yearly search crew after one of the original eight crew members requires medical care on the eve of the latest search. That's what Frankie does, successfully finds missing dead people long after their cases have gone cold.

The man went missing in a national forest while camping with his four college buddies. Now, one buddy has gotten sick so Frankie is on the team with the man's three remaining college buddies, the man's dad, a local wilderness expert, a Bigfoot hunter, and a Search and Rescue member and her cadaver dog, Daisy. Yes, Daisy is the one who rates being mentioned by name because Daisy is all kinds of awesome!

The father has been getting threatening messages that seem to be designed to get him to call off these yearly searches but dad is not going to stop looking for his son until he finds his body. The dad and the wilderness expert are very standoffish to Frankie and the others but the Bigfoot hunter and SARs team member are friendly and helpful. Then there are the three former college friends. The guys spend their time distanced from the others, obviously mad about spending another week in the wilderness looking for a friend whose disappearance is a source of both anger and guilt. It's not even clear if the friends still like each other, anymore.

The hike to the base camp is a tough one. Then things start happening to make it clear that someone is going to great and dangerous lengths to sabotage this search mission. As Frankie gets to know the three friends, she realizes that the dynamics between the college friends was not good, long before one of them went missing.

When there is a large cast of characters, it can be hard to get to know them and care about them. But Gardner does an excellent job of introducing us to this group of people and getting me to care. The three friends were so cold, standoffish, clearly grumpy about being on this search mission that I couldn't imagine liking them but as the story progresses and things fall apart, Frankie comes to know most of the crew members a lot better. As she gets the men to open up, I really didn't want anything to happen to them and could understand their wide range of emotions towards their missing friend, each other, and the friend's dad. I also feel like I understand Frankie's motivations better now, it's as if this difficult and dangerous expedition allowed me to bond with Frankie as she bonded with the three friends. The story really tugged at my heartstrings and now I can't wait to join Frankie on her next search.

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Dutton and NetGalley for this ARC.

I LOVE the Frankie Elkin character. Her no-address/ travels light MO resembles Jack Reacher’s- but her dedication to finding the truth - and the missing- puts her in a class with superheroes. And yet she’s vulnerable. A recovered alcoholic, Frankie has her own demons. But she confidently, or with the appearance of confidence- proceeds to discover the whereabouts of a missing person whose case has been forgotten or stalled. In cities, country towns, and this time in a treacherous wilderness setting, all unfamiliar to her, sixteen times she has asked the questions and questioned the people whom others overlooked- to find solutions, and the missing. Exciting stuff.

While at the start I was not at all interested, it was a bit wordy and was very slow moving. I kept on it & it quickly picked up the pace and boy was I hooked! I understood why the author put in all the deep details. It built up to an incredible story with a solid plot. I did not see the end coming at all. What a great twist! I definitely want to pick up more of this authors books!

I read Before She Disappeared earlier this year, and it was my very first Lisa Gardner book. I loved it and was determined to read more from Gardner. I actually didn’t get around to any of her backlist this year, but I did find out that Frankie Elkin was coming back and I was stoked! When I finished Before She Disappeared, it just felt like it would be the perfect start to a non-detective detective series and I’m so glad Gardner brought Frankie back.


I really love the idea behind the Frankie Elkin series. Frankie is a middle aged white women, who travels the country attempting to solve cold cases. She doesn’t ask for money or anything in return. She’s just really good at finding people. I love how Gardener based this series around real people who do just that, search for missing with people with no formal training or expectations of rewards. I also had no idea people did this in real life but they do. I also really enjoy that this series brings awareness to missing groups of people. In the first book it shows how easy it is to go missing and the lack of effort to find missing immigrants in large cities, especially those who have fallen through the cracks while trying to gain their citizenship. In the second installment, Gardner draws upon the disappearances that occur around National Parks. She bases these stories on real events, and while they may be embellished for entertainment purposes, I applaud Gardner for bring awareness to these missing cases.

In One Step Too Far, Frankie Elkin heads to the Wyoming wilderness to help find a Tim who went missing on his bachelor party, five years ago. Tim’s father an avid and experienced hiker has organized the search party for the past five years, and has guilted Tim’s friends into joining the trip. Along with Frankie and two experienced rescue personal, they set out for the final time to try and discover what happened to Tim.

Filled with plenty of suspense and red herrings, Gardner does a great job of drawing you into the story immediately. She portrays the wildness of the National Park well and really immerses readers into the setting. I will say there were a few unrealistic aspects of the the plot but then again this is a work of fiction and being a bit dramatic really makes the pages turn.

I’ll definitely be looking out for the next Frankie Elkin installment and recommend this one for anyone looking for a solid mystery.


One Step Too Far comes out January 18, 2022. Huge thank you to Dutton Books for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my instagram @speakingof_books.

One Step Too Far finds the reader back with missing persons hunter Frankie Elken. Travelling from Boston (where the events of last year's Before She Disappeared, also featuring Elken, took place) cross-country to her next case, she is in Wyoming when she hears about the mysterious disappearance of a man during a camping trip for his bachelor party years ago. She quickly inveigles her way into the search party, who go out annually, and finds herself being stretched to the very limit by the rough terrain of the mountains. And that's before some strange events in camp begin to make it clear that someone is tracking the trackers...

Frankie Elken isn't my favourite of Gardner's characters, but I enjoyed One Step Too Far more than her first outing. Taking the action out into the wilderness - where nature can be as much of a threat as other humans - worked really well at establishing and building the tension. The relationships between the other bachelors are well drawn; their trauma from what happened years ago manifesting in myriad ways. However, the eventual solution to the mystery felt jarring and far-fetched to this reader.

Our main character has a glaring trait that I cannot connect with. Usually, books with this as a large theme or main focus I am forced to abandon because I cannot immerse myself in that, with it hitting far too close to home. However, I'm also a sucker for camping and hiking in all forms so I pushed through my initial discomfort on the topic, pushed through the fact that I cannot connect with the main character because of a defining feature and plowed through this book in 3 days.

Well worth it. This was my first Gardner book, ever. I know she's a fairly popular read in my little library but I expected the formulaic trap that so many authors fall into. The twist I expected never came. The details that come with spending time in the woods and hiking was spot on, where it usually lacks. The plot moved quickly with no suspension of disbelief necessary. I spent a decent amount of time sobbing for a thriller novel. And most importantly, I'm excited to pick up another Gardner book to enjoy.

One Step Too Far by Lisa Gardner
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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This is my 75th book of the year, and what a way to end my 2021 reading goal! This book was insane. Like stay up all night to finish it good.
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Frankie heads to a small mountain town to help with the 5th anniversary search for missing person Tim's remains. Frankie is super into solving cold cases and thinks this one will be a breeze. However, when weird things start happening to the search party and they feel like they are being watched, Frankie rethinks this decision. Maybe Tim isn't missing after all?
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There's just something about a creepy "lost in the woods", "hills have eyes vibe". Loved, loved, loved this thriller! Thanks @netgalley for the early read! This one hits shelves in January.

Solid thriller. The plot was intriguing being that it w about. A missing person at a national park. Makes the fear very real and urgent. I really enjoyed Frankie and her character. Also loved how everything was tied up nicely at the end with follow up stories.

Lisa Gardner’s been one of my favorites for a long time. However, her new heroine, Frankie Elkin, and her new style of making sure she includes all the current hot topics, leave me cold. Her story telling, IMHO, greatly suffers due to the above.

In this latest novel, she spent almost the entire first half of the book with either excessive backstory of various characters, mostly Frankie Elkin, or excessive explanations of everything from hiking gear to national parklands. The only reason I continued reading was that I’ve enjoyed her books so much in the past.

Even after the final explanation in the end, there were so many holes in the plot, nothing was credible.

I am thankful to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly, this series is not my favorite series by this author. I have read everything she has written and have loved them all but Frankie is a character I am not fond of. I know friends who love this series The storyline is good and I did read the whole book

I was so happy to read about Frankie Elken again! This book was extremely thrilling and it took you in many different directions. Versus the first Frankie book, this one is definitely darker and scarier; even a bit gory. The end wrapped everything up, but also left you stunned at its conclusion. The book starts off as a picturesque look into the fictional national park in Wyoming, to an outright horror movie.

I’ll definitely never look at being in the woods the same way, thanks Lisa! 😅

Gardner is great at writing engaging mysteries. But this one is a bit different from many, as there is a lot of descriptions about scenery and hikes. That slowed things down for me a bit due to the overdetailing. If you enjoyed the first book in the series, you'll likely enjoy this one, too.

I was so excited to get an ARC for this book!!! 1, because it's written by Lisa Gardner so OF COURSE it's going to be amazing #favoriteauthor. 2, it's about National Park disappearances. Ever since I listened to the Park Predators podcast I have been intrigued by this subject, and I'm a sucker for a good wilderness survival novel!
I really liked the first book, Before She Disappeared, and this one was EVEN BETTER 🙌🏻

I love that we got to know Frankie a little better. Frankie has overcome many trials in her life. As a recovering alcoholic and professional wanderer, she can be a little rough around the edges - but she is relentless with a heart of gold. Literally living her life to help others find their lost loved ones, and bringing closure to cold cases the world has forgotten about.

I loved Luciana and Daisy from the start, but the whole search and rescue group grew on me over time. I especially love Bob and Miggy! Set in the Popo Angie Wilderness of the Shoshone National Forest, this was the perfect setting for a creepy thriller: beautiful, vast, secluded...and holding many dark secrets (because six people have gone missing in 20 years...). This is the kind of book that just gets creepier the more you go on. At one point I sat up and turned the light on before I kept reading 😆

Tense, thrilling, emotional and with so many twists and turns this is the perfect psychological thriller. Eight people go into the woods . . . But how many of them will return??

And with that, I leave with this very important quote from Frankie Elkin, "Dear God, where is the coffee?"

Thank you SO MUCH Dutton Books and Netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book is due for Publication 1/18/22 and I definitely recommend it!

I loved the first book to feature Frankie Elkin and I have loved the second. I so hoped that there would be a sequel to Before she disappeared and here it is and it was just as good. Frankie always knows how to sniff out truth and lies but sometimes it just takes longer. Set in the outbacks of Montana, Frankie is pushed to the limit and this is a real nail biting tale. Loved it.

I really enjoyed this second book in the Frankie Elkin series by Gardner. (I do recommend reading the first one prior to this one as it gives more background information to Frankie.)
Frankie travels the country helping find missing persons and is headed to Wyoming to find a man who disappeared five years ago. She is street-smart, observant, funny, and stubborn. Also, sober for 10 years. I really like her character.
This book actually took on a different tone than I was expecting as it turned into a wilderness survival thriller. Nothing is what it seems as Frankie and the others in the group search for Tim.
I give it 4 stars. I did figure out who the killer was, but couldn't piece together how it all happened. The epilogue was a nice conclusion.

Frankie is a drifter who has a knack for finding missing people. She has come to Wyoming to help on the case of a man who disappeared years ago. She joins a team of his Father, friends who were on a camping trip with him when he disappeared, a woman with a cadaver dog and a guide. Soon things start happening to the group and they realize there is someone out there hunting them. This book kept me on the edge of my set. There was a twist at the end that came out of left field, I never saw it coming. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

After I read Before She Disappeared, I had high hopes for a dull Frankie Elkin series, and Lisa Gardner did not disappoint. I usually figure out the villain pretty quickly, but twists and turns in One Step Too Far had my jaw dropping to the floor. I stayed up till 3 am to finish it, and I did not regret a moment of it. One note—you definitely want to read Before She Disappeared prior to One Step Too Far, as it will provide the background you need to fall in love with Frankie and to understand her motivations.

I love Lisa Gardner and this book was no exception to that! This book was different than the first of Frankie's but I still thoroughly enjoyed it! This book was emotional, suspenseful, and it had me flipping the pages so quickly. Great read!

This was my first Lisa Gardner series that I have read and I just want to thank Netgalley for the free arc in exchange for a review, but also thank you NetGalley for introducing me to her writing and this awesome series!!!!!

We follow Frankie as she leave Boston to go Wyoming in search for Tim, a bachelor, who had disappeared 5 years ago. We take a trip with Frankie, Martin (Tim’s father), Nemeth, Bob, and Tim’s groomsmen as they go on one last adventure to try and find Tim’s body. But what they find is something much more sinister and something that no one was expecting at all!!!

I was approved for this book but found out that this was actually the second book, so I seek out the first book and I was already very impressed. But this book absolutely blew me away!! I was a little skeptical with Frankie and the group when they first started, but as they ventured together, I grew to love them each as individuals and them as a group.

Frankie, i knew she was going to be amazing! There was a moment where I was unsure, but Frankie pulled through and proved me wrong!!
Martin, a grieving father and husband, who just wants to find his son leads this one last expedition into the woods.
The groomsmen?? They all stole my heart at the end, and I only wished them all the happiness they deserved! <3
My favorite character has to be Daisy tho!!! All dog lovers are going to enjoy her!!!

I enjoyed everything about this book, from the beginning to the epilogue (yes, it has an epilogue!!) This book had me on the edge of my seat, gave me sleepless nights, and had me thinking about it even while i was working, and I cant believe it’s over already!! (This was one of the books where i wanted it to end because I need to know what happened/to get out of the woods, but for it to not end because I just loved them so much!!) i cannot wait for Frankie’s next adventure.

I received an ARC of this novel through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to read and review this story that comes out Jan 2022!!!