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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
Writing: 4/5 | Plot: 4/5 (suspension of disbelief required) | Ending: 3/5 tbh
THE PLOT
Flora Dane went through hell for 472 days, and five years later, after burning a man to death, she's snatched again. Is it connected to the Stacey Summers missing persons case? If Flora a victim or a vigilante?
MY OPINION
First things first, YOU NEED TO SUSPEND YOUR DISBELIEF FOR THIS TO WORK. What are the chances of being kidnapped and tortured twice? Unless your Liam Neeson's family in the Taken trilogy, pretty fking low. Usually I struggle to do this but I'm a sicko for a story with the POV of a trapped victim, so I let it rock. And after reading [b:Never Tell|40494791|Never Tell (Detective D.D. Warren #10)|Lisa Gardner|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1549652147l/40494791._SY75_.jpg|62092170] (yes I jump around in a series, and what about it? *Ariana Grande voice*) I had to get Flora's full story. Boy was it JUIIICYYYY!!
Gardner can write, that's for certain. I love her fragmented prose. Flora's flashbacks were everything and more. Gardner perfectly portrayed what a mindfuck Stockholm Syndrome is and why victims don't escape when given the opportunity. The scene where Flora is staring at the cop while locked up in Jacob's rig is chilling... so close, yet so far. Having read Never Tell, I found Flora to be much softer in this book. In Never Tell she is full-on, unemotional, and stoic. I appreciated seeing a more emotionally vulnerable side of her.
My only gripe, other than the ending, is DD seemed MAD insensitive about Flora's background. Ok and one more gripe—unnecessary fat shaming. If you only mention a character's weight when they're fat, and usually in negative context, that's lazy to me. I really don't care if the baddie looked like the fking Michelin man, there's 1391049 other reasons why this person is POS.
SPOILERS ALERT SO SCROLL IF YOU HAVEN'T READ IT
Now, why 3/5 for the ending? Well, I found that the law enforcement officers went full dumbass. You had postcards being sent from major interstates across the Southern US but you never thought trucker?? You went with survivalist?? What kind of survivalist is hiking it up and down from Georgia to Florida multiple times with a kidnapped girl? Me thinks tf not.
And then when they finally narrow it down to their suspect being from Florida, a bartender says hey actually one of the girls you think was kidnapped and described Devon (fried off face guy) as her "play thing" is from Florida, DD and Keyes are like... ok cool but we're really set on the manager being the baddie so stfu? Like broheims, how much more obvious could it be???
All in all, a juicy tale that will scratch your sickest itches. A Criminal Minds episode but on bath salts and I loved it. I will def be picking up more in this series.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: well-written, unique fragmented prose, juicy j story, Flora's character well-developed, you can tell the author did her research on police procedures and Stockholm Syndrome
Cons: unnecessary fat shaming comments, detectives went full dumbass at the end just to create suspense, DD was very insensitive at times
THE PLOT
Flora Dane went through hell for 472 days, and five years later, after burning a man to death, she's snatched again. Is it connected to the Stacey Summers missing persons case? If Flora a victim or a vigilante?
MY OPINION
First things first, YOU NEED TO SUSPEND YOUR DISBELIEF FOR THIS TO WORK. What are the chances of being kidnapped and tortured twice? Unless your Liam Neeson's family in the Taken trilogy, pretty fking low. Usually I struggle to do this but I'm a sicko for a story with the POV of a trapped victim, so I let it rock. And after reading [b:Never Tell|40494791|Never Tell (Detective D.D. Warren #10)|Lisa Gardner|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1549652147l/40494791._SY75_.jpg|62092170] (yes I jump around in a series, and what about it? *Ariana Grande voice*) I had to get Flora's full story. Boy was it JUIIICYYYY!!
Gardner can write, that's for certain. I love her fragmented prose. Flora's flashbacks were everything and more. Gardner perfectly portrayed what a mindfuck Stockholm Syndrome is and why victims don't escape when given the opportunity. The scene where Flora is staring at the cop while locked up in Jacob's rig is chilling... so close, yet so far. Having read Never Tell, I found Flora to be much softer in this book. In Never Tell she is full-on, unemotional, and stoic. I appreciated seeing a more emotionally vulnerable side of her.
My only gripe, other than the ending, is DD seemed MAD insensitive about Flora's background. Ok and one more gripe—unnecessary fat shaming. If you only mention a character's weight when they're fat, and usually in negative context, that's lazy to me. I really don't care if the baddie looked like the fking Michelin man, there's 1391049 other reasons why this person is POS.
SPOILERS ALERT SO SCROLL IF YOU HAVEN'T READ IT
Now, why 3/5 for the ending? Well, I found that the law enforcement officers went full dumbass. You had postcards being sent from major interstates across the Southern US but you never thought trucker?? You went with survivalist?? What kind of survivalist is hiking it up and down from Georgia to Florida multiple times with a kidnapped girl? Me thinks tf not.
And then when they finally narrow it down to their suspect being from Florida, a bartender says hey actually one of the girls you think was kidnapped and described Devon (fried off face guy) as her "play thing" is from Florida, DD and Keyes are like... ok cool but we're really set on the manager being the baddie so stfu? Like broheims, how much more obvious could it be???
All in all, a juicy tale that will scratch your sickest itches. A Criminal Minds episode but on bath salts and I loved it. I will def be picking up more in this series.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: well-written, unique fragmented prose, juicy j story, Flora's character well-developed, you can tell the author did her research on police procedures and Stockholm Syndrome
Cons: unnecessary fat shaming comments, detectives went full dumbass at the end just to create suspense, DD was very insensitive at times
My Rating System: 4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ticked most of the boxes ALMOST LOVED IT!!!
Flora Dane, a young woman residing in Boston, a young women who has a unique hobby, a young woman who was kidnapped 7 years ago and kept in a coffin shaped box for 472 days. Flora survived her traumatising, horrific ordeal but not all of Flora came back the day she was rescued - there are things Flora has been forced to do and memories she keeps that changed her forever.
Now, Flora spends her time combing the news for girls just like her who didn’t make it home… figuring out if there is anything she can do about it. That is until the day Flora is snatched up and goes missing again.
Detective D.D. Warren is on the case but can she, while on restricted duties, trust in her team and herself to bring Flora and the other missing girls home?
Fair warning, this is number 8 in the series - I was alerted to this story by GirlWithThePinkSkiMask because she knows me well enough to know how sick and twisted I am and that I needed this story in my life. She was absolutely right!!!
Flora Dane, a young woman residing in Boston, a young women who has a unique hobby, a young woman who was kidnapped 7 years ago and kept in a coffin shaped box for 472 days. Flora survived her traumatising, horrific ordeal but not all of Flora came back the day she was rescued - there are things Flora has been forced to do and memories she keeps that changed her forever.
Now, Flora spends her time combing the news for girls just like her who didn’t make it home… figuring out if there is anything she can do about it. That is until the day Flora is snatched up and goes missing again.
Detective D.D. Warren is on the case but can she, while on restricted duties, trust in her team and herself to bring Flora and the other missing girls home?
Fair warning, this is number 8 in the series - I was alerted to this story by GirlWithThePinkSkiMask because she knows me well enough to know how sick and twisted I am and that I needed this story in my life. She was absolutely right!!!
Find Her is Lisa Gardner’s latest D.D. Warren book (the eighth book in series). Florence “Flora” Dane was kidnapped seven years previously and held captive for 472 days by Jacob Ness (what a horrible experience). Flora has never returned to the happy go lucky girl she was before the attack. Sergeant Detective D.D. Warren is called out to a scene and finds Flora Dane naked with zip ties on her wrists. A bartender “rescued” her at a bar and then kidnapped her. Flora used resources in the garage (where he put her) to attack him. The man is now dead (and a little crispy). Warren finds out that this is the fourth such incident that Flora has been involved in. Was Flora an innocent victim in these incidents or a vigilante?
Stacey Summers, a Boston College student, is missing. No one has been able to find her. Then Flora goes missing. Are the cases related? Was Flora kidnapped or is she trying to rescue Stacey on her own (playing vigilante again)? Follow D.D. Warren as she sets out to find both women.
Find Her is different from Lisa Gardner’s other books. The majority of the book is written from the victim’s point-of-view. How it feels to be kept in a small box by a kidnapper. It goes on for many, many pages. It was just not enjoyable or a good part of the book. I like the crime. Following the mystery to the end (this part of the book was good). These parts with the victim (what she was thinking, doing, what the attacked did to her) seemed to drag and were difficult to get through (I started skimming through them). I give Find Her 3.5 out of 5 stars. The novel is just not up to Lisa Gardner’s normal standards. This will not, though, stop me from reading her books in the future.
I received a complimentary copy of Find Her from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Check out The Avid Reader: http://bibliophileandavidreader.blogspot.com/2016/02/find-her.html
Stacey Summers, a Boston College student, is missing. No one has been able to find her. Then Flora goes missing. Are the cases related? Was Flora kidnapped or is she trying to rescue Stacey on her own (playing vigilante again)? Follow D.D. Warren as she sets out to find both women.
Find Her is different from Lisa Gardner’s other books. The majority of the book is written from the victim’s point-of-view. How it feels to be kept in a small box by a kidnapper. It goes on for many, many pages. It was just not enjoyable or a good part of the book. I like the crime. Following the mystery to the end (this part of the book was good). These parts with the victim (what she was thinking, doing, what the attacked did to her) seemed to drag and were difficult to get through (I started skimming through them). I give Find Her 3.5 out of 5 stars. The novel is just not up to Lisa Gardner’s normal standards. This will not, though, stop me from reading her books in the future.
I received a complimentary copy of Find Her from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Check out The Avid Reader: http://bibliophileandavidreader.blogspot.com/2016/02/find-her.html
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
So i've had this book on my shelf for a little while now and had completely forgotten what the synopsis was, all I had was the title and cover to give me an idea of what I was getting into and boy was this a ride. Apparently I'm really into the figuring out who the bad guy is and what happened to the missing people theme/genre. Clearly I'm not 100% sure what to call it, but I'm thinking a CSI type mystery or something.. I dunno.
Anyway, this story start off with a girl trapped in a a box and jumps from different timelines and different people to keep you on your toes trying to figure out who is who, what is what and whats going on in general. Its pretty fast paced, I loved twists and turns, I was really engaged. And I cried at the end. So, not a surprise that I gave it 5 stars.
Anyway, I don't want to give anything away because I think the less you know the more interesting the book is. So hopefully my vague descriptions give you a good enough idea of what this book is about. Read trigger warning if that is something you need, I don't think this book is too graphic but I'm pretty desensitized to that kinda stuff so there could be things that I'm just not thinking about.
ALSO BIG NOTE is that I listened to the audiobook (from scribd) and found out when I tried to sync with my physical copy to see how far into it I was, that the audiobook SKIPS a ton of stuff. So its possible that the audio book that I read cut out the more graphic scenes.. I plan to read the physical book at some point to see what I missed but most of it didn't seem to be important for the story to get across.
Spoiler Thoughts:
First off I LOVED that the girl in the box was the girl who defended herself. I thought that scene was pretty bad ass although I dont feel like they gave a goood enough explanation on how she knew the science behind the items she found to use as a weapon. (again it was possibly mentioned in the book and not the audio so I guess I'll re-visit this once I read the actual book).
As for the missing parts in the audio book, I am REALLY surprised that the audio book is so different from the physical book. I often listen to audiobooks and read along with the physical books for parts of the experience (not always, and not the full book, but for some parts) and typically they match up word for word with a few small changes (like cutting out a "to" or an "a" things that make speech sound more natural etc) So when I was trying to figure out where I was in the physical book and started to read along i was surprised at the fact that full sentences and EVEN PAGES where skipped.
I noticed at the part where she meets his daughter and attacks her with a knife. the audio book mentions that she is told that she has to get a new girl for them to kill or something, or be killed herself BUT it skips the whole section of them actually doing that? like 3-4 pages of stuff, just completely skipped. It also skipped some flowery language that was used..
But yeah, now I'm worried about how many audiobooks do that, and how off some of my reviews may be because stuff was just skipped over..
Anyway, this story start off with a girl trapped in a a box and jumps from different timelines and different people to keep you on your toes trying to figure out who is who, what is what and whats going on in general. Its pretty fast paced, I loved twists and turns, I was really engaged. And I cried at the end. So, not a surprise that I gave it 5 stars.
Anyway, I don't want to give anything away because I think the less you know the more interesting the book is. So hopefully my vague descriptions give you a good enough idea of what this book is about. Read trigger warning if that is something you need, I don't think this book is too graphic but I'm pretty desensitized to that kinda stuff so there could be things that I'm just not thinking about.
ALSO BIG NOTE is that I listened to the audiobook (from scribd) and found out when I tried to sync with my physical copy to see how far into it I was, that the audiobook SKIPS a ton of stuff. So its possible that the audio book that I read cut out the more graphic scenes.. I plan to read the physical book at some point to see what I missed but most of it didn't seem to be important for the story to get across.
Spoiler Thoughts:
Spoiler
First off I LOVED that the girl in the box was the girl who defended herself. I thought that scene was pretty bad ass although I dont feel like they gave a goood enough explanation on how she knew the science behind the items she found to use as a weapon. (again it was possibly mentioned in the book and not the audio so I guess I'll re-visit this once I read the actual book).
As for the missing parts in the audio book, I am REALLY surprised that the audio book is so different from the physical book. I often listen to audiobooks and read along with the physical books for parts of the experience (not always, and not the full book, but for some parts) and typically they match up word for word with a few small changes (like cutting out a "to" or an "a" things that make speech sound more natural etc) So when I was trying to figure out where I was in the physical book and started to read along i was surprised at the fact that full sentences and EVEN PAGES where skipped.
I noticed at the part where she meets his daughter and attacks her with a knife. the audio book mentions that she is told that she has to get a new girl for them to kill or something, or be killed herself BUT it skips the whole section of them actually doing that? like 3-4 pages of stuff, just completely skipped. It also skipped some flowery language that was used..
But yeah, now I'm worried about how many audiobooks do that, and how off some of my reviews may be because stuff was just skipped over..
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes