lagnew15's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
cassypotts24's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I didn’t want to put it down - and then it got creepy and I had to so I could sleep. Overall, great book. Only 4 stars because I was expecting a bigger shock at the end because of how well the book was written.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Blood
learningtoreadagain's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I honestly loved this and wish I could give it five stars — the narrator’s attitude at the beginning put me off just enough to bump it down a quarter star.
nikkihrose's review
5.0
Wow. I grew up reading Lisa Gardner’s books – I shared them with my mom, with my grandmother, and we all LOVED them. Mystery novels were my first love for reading – but it’s been awhile since I’ve read a 5 star mystery novel.
Lisa Gardner knocked this one out of the part. A lot of the time with mysteries, it takes awhile to build up to what happened, but not in this one. This one started immediately and maintained the high suspense nearly the entire time – not revealing any of the impactful secrets until the last few chapters of the book. I didn’t want to put it down. My mom COULDN’T put it down. And even though I guessed the killer on a complete fluke, it was an incredible story to read.
For a bit of detail: four groomsmen follow a soon-to-be groom into the woods for a bachelor party of sorts, but only four of them return. The groom is missing and search parties reveal nothing. Turns out, the events that transpired are not exactly as the groomsmen once claimed they were, but even still, there’s more going on within the woods than just a disappearing man. Six or so similar cases have transpired in these woods, with the people and bodies never to be seen or heard from again. Enter Frankie. Frankie Elkin loves to find people. Usually with the use of a computer and her people-person skills, but entering into a high-risk hike with complete strangers? Sure, why not. And when Frankie is present, all the secrets come pouring out, whether anyone wants to hear them or not.
If you haven’t read Lisa Gardner’s books, please change that. While a second in a series, this book can be read as a stand alone and I urge everyone who likes, loves, or is interested in mystery novels to pick this one ASAP!
Lisa Gardner knocked this one out of the part. A lot of the time with mysteries, it takes awhile to build up to what happened, but not in this one. This one started immediately and maintained the high suspense nearly the entire time – not revealing any of the impactful secrets until the last few chapters of the book. I didn’t want to put it down. My mom COULDN’T put it down. And even though I guessed the killer on a complete fluke, it was an incredible story to read.
For a bit of detail: four groomsmen follow a soon-to-be groom into the woods for a bachelor party of sorts, but only four of them return. The groom is missing and search parties reveal nothing. Turns out, the events that transpired are not exactly as the groomsmen once claimed they were, but even still, there’s more going on within the woods than just a disappearing man. Six or so similar cases have transpired in these woods, with the people and bodies never to be seen or heard from again. Enter Frankie. Frankie Elkin loves to find people. Usually with the use of a computer and her people-person skills, but entering into a high-risk hike with complete strangers? Sure, why not. And when Frankie is present, all the secrets come pouring out, whether anyone wants to hear them or not.
If you haven’t read Lisa Gardner’s books, please change that. While a second in a series, this book can be read as a stand alone and I urge everyone who likes, loves, or is interested in mystery novels to pick this one ASAP!
anu_10's review
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
lwags's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
alycille's review
4.0
Enjoyed this author’s writing. Some spoilers to her previous one in series. Wish we’d gotten the missing character Tim’s POV and not just main character Frankie’s.
riversandlakes's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0