Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
I will start off saying that this is NOT a stand alone book! This story ties in characters from the D. D. Warren series and the Tessa Leoni series. In fact, Lisa Gardner's own website shows this as the 3rd book in the Tessa Leoni series. Generally, I don't request books that are in the middle of series that I have not been reading already.
That all being said, I am glad I received this book because it made me go read the D. D. Warren and Tessa Leoni series before I could pick up this one. And this might be the best one to date! A woman in an accident, or is it, whose memory is messed up, or is it, and her loving husband, or is he, must deal with the aftermath of horrible events from decades ago. I love how Gardner let's you think you have figured something out, slow and steady, but then comes back and turns your "discovery" on its head! This book was full of twists, crazy crazy twists that will keep you turning pages until it is way past your bedtime!
I received this book from Penguin's First to Read program for an honest and objective review.
That all being said, I am glad I received this book because it made me go read the D. D. Warren and Tessa Leoni series before I could pick up this one. And this might be the best one to date! A woman in an accident, or is it, whose memory is messed up, or is it, and her loving husband, or is he, must deal with the aftermath of horrible events from decades ago. I love how Gardner let's you think you have figured something out, slow and steady, but then comes back and turns your "discovery" on its head! This book was full of twists, crazy crazy twists that will keep you turning pages until it is way past your bedtime!
I received this book from Penguin's First to Read program for an honest and objective review.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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:
No
REVIEW FROM NerdProbs.com (http://www.nerdprobs.com/books/book-review-crash-burn-by-lisa-gardner/)
Not to start off on a bias note, but Lisa Gardner is hands down one of the best Mystery/Thrill writers out there today. I can say this because I’m a huge fan of mystery and thriller novels and I have read every single one of Gardners books. Every. Single. One. Every time I pick up a new one I am surprised at how Gardner has stretched herself and her story to new levels for us and for herself, keeping us guessing at every turn.
‘Crash and Burn’ is the newest book about to be released under Gardner’s name. The book is set for a release of February 3, 2015. It follows the story of Nicole Frank, a married woman who has suffered one too many head trauma’s and some would call her crazy. Crazy may not be the word for it though. ‘Crash and Burn’ follows Frank’s life, along with her husband Thomas, after a horrific car accident, a wild goose chase for a child that doesn’t exist (or does it), and more hidden secrets that one family can hold. Sgt. Wyatt Foster is the lead officer on the case, although we get to see one of our favorite private investigators, Tessa Leoni. ‘Crash and Burn’ is the third Tessa Leoni novel by Gardner. We also get a glimpse at one of our favorite Boston detectives… D.D. Warren.
To me, ‘Crash and Burn’ was a completely new type of novel for Gardner. It put a new meaning to psychological in psychological thriller. Aside from the typical “crime has occurred, now we solve it after many bumps, twists, and turns” writing we are use to in murder mysteries, Gardner took a leap into head trauma. A ballsy move, in my opinion, as head trauma is never the same for two people and can go any different way. Nicky Frank is no stranger to this as multiple concussions have left her brain a little scrambled, and she finds it hard to differentiate between reality and fantasy. Gardner definitely did her job because there were many times I was just as confused as the lead character.
I try to consider myself a pretty good guess, but Gardner kept me on the edge of my seat on this one. I did not guess who was behind everything until the very end. Remind me never to have a traumatic brain injruy (TBI). Gardner’s ability to draw a reader in and make them feel what the characters are feeling is one reason, I believe, she is at the top of her game. ‘Crash & Burn’ pushed boundaries for Gardner as a writer and for the reader, myself, and she came out blazing on top as usual! This novel is incredible, for lack of a better phrase. Intriguing, heart-wrenching at times, terrified at others, and just a really great read. I couldn’t put it down.
Not to start off on a bias note, but Lisa Gardner is hands down one of the best Mystery/Thrill writers out there today. I can say this because I’m a huge fan of mystery and thriller novels and I have read every single one of Gardners books. Every. Single. One. Every time I pick up a new one I am surprised at how Gardner has stretched herself and her story to new levels for us and for herself, keeping us guessing at every turn.
‘Crash and Burn’ is the newest book about to be released under Gardner’s name. The book is set for a release of February 3, 2015. It follows the story of Nicole Frank, a married woman who has suffered one too many head trauma’s and some would call her crazy. Crazy may not be the word for it though. ‘Crash and Burn’ follows Frank’s life, along with her husband Thomas, after a horrific car accident, a wild goose chase for a child that doesn’t exist (or does it), and more hidden secrets that one family can hold. Sgt. Wyatt Foster is the lead officer on the case, although we get to see one of our favorite private investigators, Tessa Leoni. ‘Crash and Burn’ is the third Tessa Leoni novel by Gardner. We also get a glimpse at one of our favorite Boston detectives… D.D. Warren.
To me, ‘Crash and Burn’ was a completely new type of novel for Gardner. It put a new meaning to psychological in psychological thriller. Aside from the typical “crime has occurred, now we solve it after many bumps, twists, and turns” writing we are use to in murder mysteries, Gardner took a leap into head trauma. A ballsy move, in my opinion, as head trauma is never the same for two people and can go any different way. Nicky Frank is no stranger to this as multiple concussions have left her brain a little scrambled, and she finds it hard to differentiate between reality and fantasy. Gardner definitely did her job because there were many times I was just as confused as the lead character.
I try to consider myself a pretty good guess, but Gardner kept me on the edge of my seat on this one. I did not guess who was behind everything until the very end. Remind me never to have a traumatic brain injruy (TBI). Gardner’s ability to draw a reader in and make them feel what the characters are feeling is one reason, I believe, she is at the top of her game. ‘Crash & Burn’ pushed boundaries for Gardner as a writer and for the reader, myself, and she came out blazing on top as usual! This novel is incredible, for lack of a better phrase. Intriguing, heart-wrenching at times, terrified at others, and just a really great read. I couldn’t put it down.
After reading TOUCH & GO last year (or maybe the year before) I kind of fell in love with Lisa Gardner’s writing. The non-stop fast pace, all the twists and turns, how she keeps you guessing, I just loved it. So when I had the chance to review another one of her books I jumped at it and I wasn’t disappointed.
CRASH & BURN sets you up immediately with an unreliable narrator in Nicky Frank who has gaps in her memory and can’t remember who’s real and who isn’t in her life. So whenever the story is from her POV you need to take it with a grain a salt. I found that my brain whirred into overdrive whenever Nicky took the reins because I was constantly trying to figure out who Vero was and who Tom was and how they all really played into her life, not just how she was told they played. That story was so adeptly played and there were so many twists and turns that I found myself turned around more than once but in a good way. It kept me on my toes and constantly guessing. I’m not a good guesser with these types of things although I was able to pick up one or two little things well enough in advance that I could be proud of myself.
The two other points of view the story alternated with were Wyatt, as one of the leads on the case of this seeming DWI turned all sorts of ridiculous, and Tessa, for whom the series is named and Wyatt’s tentative girlfriend. Initially Tessa isn’t involved in the story much beyond being a part of Wyatt’s private life but she eventually becomes a necessity. Considering this is her series I would have liked it to be more about her and her relevance to the case instead of it being predominantly Wyatt but the story was just so good I’d be complaining for the sake of complaining.
From the beginning you know that it’s not just another drunk driving accident and as new details keep being discovered and new issues keep popping up, the layers on the onion keep getting peeled back to reveal something even more awful than the last. And once you get to the end you’re able to take all those layers and fit them right back together so they make one complete whole again. The details are just so well-researched and the methodology is so realistic that I can’t help but love it a little more. Outside some military aspects and binge-watching of Law & Order: SVU I don’t have any experience nor a ton of knowledge about police work so I really don’t have a basis for comparison there. But it seemed like Gardner went through a lot of pains to make sure that the evolution and conclusion of the case would be as realistic as possible within the confines of what fiction would allow and I appreciate that. It keeps the work from feeling formulaic.
I haven’t read the first book in the Tessa Leoni series (I think it’s DD Warren #5) but I need to get on that. I really can’t say enough good about the books I have read from Gardner. They’re thrilling, I can’t put them down, I don’t want to put them down. They’re well-researched and gripping and feel like they’re so rooted in reality that you can believe it’d be something you’d see on the news. You won’t find guns blaring or huge explosions or action for the sake of action. It’s crime-fighting with characters who are normal people, who have trouble climbing ravines and getting their girlfriend’s daughter to warm up to them. They’re normal people, not action heroes, and I really like that.
5
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
CRASH & BURN sets you up immediately with an unreliable narrator in Nicky Frank who has gaps in her memory and can’t remember who’s real and who isn’t in her life. So whenever the story is from her POV you need to take it with a grain a salt. I found that my brain whirred into overdrive whenever Nicky took the reins because I was constantly trying to figure out who Vero was and who Tom was and how they all really played into her life, not just how she was told they played. That story was so adeptly played and there were so many twists and turns that I found myself turned around more than once but in a good way. It kept me on my toes and constantly guessing. I’m not a good guesser with these types of things although I was able to pick up one or two little things well enough in advance that I could be proud of myself.
The two other points of view the story alternated with were Wyatt, as one of the leads on the case of this seeming DWI turned all sorts of ridiculous, and Tessa, for whom the series is named and Wyatt’s tentative girlfriend. Initially Tessa isn’t involved in the story much beyond being a part of Wyatt’s private life but she eventually becomes a necessity. Considering this is her series I would have liked it to be more about her and her relevance to the case instead of it being predominantly Wyatt but the story was just so good I’d be complaining for the sake of complaining.
From the beginning you know that it’s not just another drunk driving accident and as new details keep being discovered and new issues keep popping up, the layers on the onion keep getting peeled back to reveal something even more awful than the last. And once you get to the end you’re able to take all those layers and fit them right back together so they make one complete whole again. The details are just so well-researched and the methodology is so realistic that I can’t help but love it a little more. Outside some military aspects and binge-watching of Law & Order: SVU I don’t have any experience nor a ton of knowledge about police work so I really don’t have a basis for comparison there. But it seemed like Gardner went through a lot of pains to make sure that the evolution and conclusion of the case would be as realistic as possible within the confines of what fiction would allow and I appreciate that. It keeps the work from feeling formulaic.
I haven’t read the first book in the Tessa Leoni series (I think it’s DD Warren #5) but I need to get on that. I really can’t say enough good about the books I have read from Gardner. They’re thrilling, I can’t put them down, I don’t want to put them down. They’re well-researched and gripping and feel like they’re so rooted in reality that you can believe it’d be something you’d see on the news. You won’t find guns blaring or huge explosions or action for the sake of action. It’s crime-fighting with characters who are normal people, who have trouble climbing ravines and getting their girlfriend’s daughter to warm up to them. They’re normal people, not action heroes, and I really like that.
5
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
In truth I would give this book 2.5 stars if possible. It was a good book. Compelling. But the constant repetition as Nicky said the same things over and over and over got old fast. And while I accept I need a certain amount of suspension of disbelief to read a Lisa Gardner book, this one really stretched the boundaries of common sense. Not her best work.
This new book by Lisa Gardner is full of her signature twists and surprises- every time I thought I had figured out the story, I was wrong. The fascinating, unreliable narrator certainly helps with those twists. With appearances by familiar characters D.D. Warren and Tessa Leoni, both fans of Lisa Gardner and other crime fiction and psychological drama writers will enjoy this one. Review copy provided by NetGalley.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The last 30% of the novel were too predictable, somewhat clichéd and consequently spoiled the very good opinion I initially had of the novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug use, Kidnapping
One of the basic requirements of reading a Lisa Gardner book is absolute quiet for 3-4 hours. Coz that's the kind of book she writes. There shouldn't be any distractions that will take you away from her books even for a second. She's marvelous in creating such edgy characters that makes a reader go mad and at about 80% of the book I was sharing Wyatt's and Tessa's frustrations. Heck, what's going on?
There is Nicky who is suffering from multiple concussions and therefore has a sketchy memory who has some chilling dialogues like 'Vero learns to fly' and then 'November is the saddest month'. Every time it is repeated by Nicky goosebumps erupts on our skin coz we can sense the pain and the terror she feels about something in her memory that makes her doubt her own sanity. and then there's Thomas who loves her with no regard to his own well-being and who knows the truth but who's not willing to talk.
In all, a highly recommended thriller for all crime lovers with a very disturbing child abuse story at its core.
There is Nicky who is suffering from multiple concussions and therefore has a sketchy memory who has some chilling dialogues like 'Vero learns to fly' and then 'November is the saddest month'. Every time it is repeated by Nicky goosebumps erupts on our skin coz we can sense the pain and the terror she feels about something in her memory that makes her doubt her own sanity. and then there's Thomas who loves her with no regard to his own well-being and who knows the truth but who's not willing to talk.
In all, a highly recommended thriller for all crime lovers with a very disturbing child abuse story at its core.
mysterious
This was a very suspenseful, twist turning, book. Just when you thought the book was going to go in one direction, it completely surprised you and went in another. I think that's why I didn't enjoy it as much as Lisa's other novels. There was just too many wtc points. It was like she was going in fifty different directions and decided to lump it all together. Just wasn't a fan of this one.