Reviews

Before She Disappeared by Lisa Gardner

jenhurst's review against another edition

3.0

I have mixed feeling about this one. I liked the writing, the mystery and pacing. I was really engaged throughout the whole book. I really didn’t like the fact a white woman goes into a primarily black Haitian neighbourhood to solve the mystery. It felt a bit like white saviourism and is not a good look in 2021.

arstirn_2000's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

blueviolets19's review against another edition

Boring; weird about black people

brottany's review against another edition

5.0

Frankie Elkin moves from town to town with the sole purpose of working missing persons’ cases. While fighting her inner demons, Frankie fights for the lives of others. 14 cases, and each one she brought the family news that their loved one has died. But, maybe things can be different this time. Angelique deserves to be found. Found alive. Frankie inserts herself into the community to uncover every tidbit she can to lead her to Angelique. Because, well, her duty is to Angelique. Although Frankie has never met the girl, this is who she works for. Everything she does is for Angelique.
I found myself at the edge of my seat throughout this book. I wanted to know the truth just as much as Frankie. I can’t wait to follow more of Frankie’s cases in the books that follow!

kaylie_reads's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

4.0

me_alley's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

Being 13 years sober, I appreciate that Frankie is a recovering alcoholic, the things that she says about alcoholism and the AA program are very true to life and accurate.  
Frankie is a bartender who devotes her life to looking for missing people, even though she is not a detective, not a private investigator, and not in law-enforcement whatsoever. That seems a little strange, at the very least. Once I got over that I really enjoyed the story. It is , great genre of mystery to look for missing people, because you aren’t sure if they will be discovered alive or dead. In this case she is looking for a teenage girl who went missing after school one day. It has the vibe of a police point of view, And overall a good mystery and story. I will read the rest of the series.

thistlereads's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

4.0

krssy31m's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

readwkatie's review against another edition

5.0

Words can’t express how immediately I was drawn into this story. My kindle reported this book being 560 pages and I read it in less than 24 hours. I fell asleep with it in my hands and woke up early to continue the journey. I couldn’t get enough and I am eagerly waiting for the next one to become available. Without a doubt one of my top reads for the year!

bella613's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25