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Frankie Elkin #3
Still See You Everywhere
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Gardner comes a harrowing new thriller:
Frankie Elkin is an expert at finding the missing persons that the rest of the world has forgotten, but even she couldn’t have anticipated this latest request—to locate the long-lost sister of a female serial killer facing execution in three weeks’ time.
She has called herself "death," but people called her the devil.
The case was sensational. Kaylee Pierson had confessed from the very beginning, waived all appeals. Despite the media’s chronicling of her tragic circumstances—the childhood spent with a violent father—no one could find sympathy for “the Beautiful Butcher” who had led eighteen men home from bars before viciously slitting their throats.
Now, with only twenty-one days left to live, Pierson has finally received a lead on the whereabouts of the sister who was kidnapped over a decade ago, and she needs Frankie’s help to find her. The Beautiful Butcher’s offer:
When was the last time your search ended with finding the living?
Unable to resist the chance for a rescue, Frankie takes on Pierson’s request. Twelve years ago, five-year-old Leilani went missing in Hawaii. The main suspect? Pierson’s tech mogul ex-boyfriend, Sanders MacManus. Now, on a remote island in the middle of the Pacific—the site of MacManus’s latest vanity project—fresh evidence has appeared. In order to learn the truth and possibly save a young woman’s life, Frankie must go undercover at the isolated base camp. Her challenge: A dozen strangers. Countless dangerous secrets. Zero means of calling for help. And then the storm rolls in…
Frankie Elkin is an expert at finding the missing persons that the rest of the world has forgotten, but even she couldn’t have anticipated this latest request—to locate the long-lost sister of a female serial killer facing execution in three weeks’ time.
She has called herself "death," but people called her the devil.
The case was sensational. Kaylee Pierson had confessed from the very beginning, waived all appeals. Despite the media’s chronicling of her tragic circumstances—the childhood spent with a violent father—no one could find sympathy for “the Beautiful Butcher” who had led eighteen men home from bars before viciously slitting their throats.
Now, with only twenty-one days left to live, Pierson has finally received a lead on the whereabouts of the sister who was kidnapped over a decade ago, and she needs Frankie’s help to find her. The Beautiful Butcher’s offer:
When was the last time your search ended with finding the living?
Unable to resist the chance for a rescue, Frankie takes on Pierson’s request. Twelve years ago, five-year-old Leilani went missing in Hawaii. The main suspect? Pierson’s tech mogul ex-boyfriend, Sanders MacManus. Now, on a remote island in the middle of the Pacific—the site of MacManus’s latest vanity project—fresh evidence has appeared. In order to learn the truth and possibly save a young woman’s life, Frankie must go undercover at the isolated base camp. Her challenge: A dozen strangers. Countless dangerous secrets. Zero means of calling for help. And then the storm rolls in…
416 pages, Hardcover
First published March 12, 2024
About the author
Lisa Gardner
88 books18.3k followersLisa Gardner is the #1 New York Times bestselling thriller author of the Frankie Elkin series, as well as the Detective D.D. Warren, the FBI Profilers and the PI Tessa Leoni series.
Her current suspense novels feature Frankie Elkin, an everyday, average person who specializes in finding missing people. When the locals have given up, when the media has never bothered to care, Frankie takes on the challenge. From looking for a missing teen in inner city Boston to searching for a missing hiker in the wilds of Wyoming to rescuing a possibly kidnapped girl on a remote island in the Pacific, Frankie is on the case!
Lisa lives in the mountains of New Hampshire with two crazy pups. When not writing, Lisa loves to hike, play cribbage, and, of course, read!
Her current suspense novels feature Frankie Elkin, an everyday, average person who specializes in finding missing people. When the locals have given up, when the media has never bothered to care, Frankie takes on the challenge. From looking for a missing teen in inner city Boston to searching for a missing hiker in the wilds of Wyoming to rescuing a possibly kidnapped girl on a remote island in the Pacific, Frankie is on the case!
Lisa lives in the mountains of New Hampshire with two crazy pups. When not writing, Lisa loves to hike, play cribbage, and, of course, read!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,672 reviews
July 1, 2024
Thank you Grand Central Pub for the ARC. Please don't blocklist me. IYKYK, my reviews are ALWAYS honest.
Writing: I refuse to believe this is THE Lisa Gardner | Plot: gave me nothing | Ending: stop it. stop it right now
SYNOPSIS
Frankie Elkin is sent to an atoll off the shores of Honolulu to track down a serial killer's missing sister.
MY OPINION
Respectfully... NO. Absolutely NOT. I was SO excited to read this one because even though Lisa Gardner and I have our differences, she is a WRITERRRRR. Her prose is very distinct, she clearly does her research, and her plots are always juicy. Sometimes a lil too juicy for my liking, but definitely entertaining. But THIS??? THIS RIGHT HERE???? Have you ever shoved a handful of tortilla chips into your mouth only to realize they're stale af? That's how reading this felt. Even if Lisa Gardner showed me a recording of typing every single word of this book, I would scream DEEP FAKE and run away. Let me stay in denial because this cannot be THE Lisa Gardner who wrote one of my all-time favourite books, Live to Tell. This is like Dervla McTiernan's The Murder Rule (if you've been following my reviews for awhile, you KNOW how I felt about that one).
To no on'e surprise, I did not read the first two books in this series. BUT, after finishing this piece of work, I picked up book #1 to confirm my suspicions that this was whack af. Where were Gardner's signature sentence fragments??? All I got was basic ass writing that was trending Freida McFadden. Yes. THAT bad. And what happened to Gardner's suspenseful storytelling? After getting off to a great start, we're stalled out learning about forest patterns and birds and big ass crabs for a solid 30% of the book. Frankie, you've been brought to the atoll to find Lea, stop tryna hit on your boss. Save some rizz for the rest of us please.
Also, Frankie makes it clear that she doesn't find missing people for money and I'm convinced that's not by choice. In fact, SHE should be paying her clients for letting her make a mess of everything. Frankie is about as discreet as a straight man's line of sight when a phat ass walks by. She's allegedly undercover so either 1) she doesn't understand what that really means or 2) there is no second option, it has to be the first. And Frankie's special skill being that she "asks the right questions" was absolutely hilarious. I wouldn't even trust Frankie to ask a six-year-old what they had for dinner.
I really didn't want to do any spoilies because the release date is so far away, but like Frankie, I just can't stfu... SPOILERS ALERT. SCROLL TO BOTTOM
Tbh because I'm a certified Gardner stan, I wanted to toss this a lil three stars, but the final showdown solidified this 2 star (which is still generous, considering). So, we find out that Lea and Kaylee were in cahoots. This makes no damn sense because why would Kaylee hire Frankie to find Lea??? Apparently it was the lawyer's fault, but this felt like a cop-out because Kaylee could've easily said absolutely not and refused to see her. Instead, she makes things extra complicated by sending Frankie's stupid ass to the atoll to blow her spot up. There was absolutely no reason Frankie needed to be there. It was like Mariana in The Maidens. GIRL YOU DON'T EVEN GO HERE!!!
Anyways, Kaylee somehow escapes death row and makes it to the atoll, where she lets the chopper sing and then WINKS at Frankie as she darts into hiding. But wait, it gets more cringey. Frankie and the gang go to Mac's cabin to 'hide out', and decides the best course of action is to blurt out LEA YOU DID IT in front of everyone, including Lea of course. Scooby Doo would never. And despite Frankie's certainty that Lea is involved, everyone, including an undercover FBI agent, lets Lea chill out while they wait for Kaylee and her accomplice (Bill) to ... idk? Kill them all I guess.
But here is where things got laughable: Frankie decides to lure Kaylee and Bill to them by........... LEAVING OUT A BOWL OF HOT N FRESH SPAGHETTI. YES, YOU READ THAT CORRECTLY. Frankie believed that a hardened serial killer and death row escapee would give everything up for a bowl of spaghetti. If I'm going to surrender, it's not going to be for SPAGHETTI. Make it a filet mignon and we'll talk. Not only is this plan so childish, but the undercover FBI agent agrees that it's a great idea. Sir, you're fired. Don't even bother coming back to the mainland. Just let the coconut crabs have your ass. Because WHAT??? Again, this cannot be THE Lisa Gardner writing this.
And lastly, there was an incest twist. Was it necessary? Of course not. But was it absolutely disgusting? 100%.
SPOILERS DONE
Idk what happened here, but I didn't like it. Read Live to Tell instead. A banger.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: I was approved for this ARC, I like Hawaii
Cons: girl BYE
Writing: I refuse to believe this is THE Lisa Gardner | Plot: gave me nothing | Ending: stop it. stop it right now
SYNOPSIS
Frankie Elkin is sent to an atoll off the shores of Honolulu to track down a serial killer's missing sister.
MY OPINION
Respectfully... NO. Absolutely NOT. I was SO excited to read this one because even though Lisa Gardner and I have our differences, she is a WRITERRRRR. Her prose is very distinct, she clearly does her research, and her plots are always juicy. Sometimes a lil too juicy for my liking, but definitely entertaining. But THIS??? THIS RIGHT HERE???? Have you ever shoved a handful of tortilla chips into your mouth only to realize they're stale af? That's how reading this felt. Even if Lisa Gardner showed me a recording of typing every single word of this book, I would scream DEEP FAKE and run away. Let me stay in denial because this cannot be THE Lisa Gardner who wrote one of my all-time favourite books, Live to Tell. This is like Dervla McTiernan's The Murder Rule (if you've been following my reviews for awhile, you KNOW how I felt about that one).
To no on'e surprise, I did not read the first two books in this series. BUT, after finishing this piece of work, I picked up book #1 to confirm my suspicions that this was whack af. Where were Gardner's signature sentence fragments??? All I got was basic ass writing that was trending Freida McFadden. Yes. THAT bad. And what happened to Gardner's suspenseful storytelling? After getting off to a great start, we're stalled out learning about forest patterns and birds and big ass crabs for a solid 30% of the book. Frankie, you've been brought to the atoll to find Lea, stop tryna hit on your boss. Save some rizz for the rest of us please.
Also, Frankie makes it clear that she doesn't find missing people for money and I'm convinced that's not by choice. In fact, SHE should be paying her clients for letting her make a mess of everything. Frankie is about as discreet as a straight man's line of sight when a phat ass walks by. She's allegedly undercover so either 1) she doesn't understand what that really means or 2) there is no second option, it has to be the first. And Frankie's special skill being that she "asks the right questions" was absolutely hilarious. I wouldn't even trust Frankie to ask a six-year-old what they had for dinner.
I really didn't want to do any spoilies because the release date is so far away, but like Frankie, I just can't stfu... SPOILERS ALERT. SCROLL TO BOTTOM
Tbh because I'm a certified Gardner stan, I wanted to toss this a lil three stars, but the final showdown solidified this 2 star (which is still generous, considering). So, we find out that Lea and Kaylee were in cahoots. This makes no damn sense because why would Kaylee hire Frankie to find Lea??? Apparently it was the lawyer's fault, but this felt like a cop-out because Kaylee could've easily said absolutely not and refused to see her. Instead, she makes things extra complicated by sending Frankie's stupid ass to the atoll to blow her spot up. There was absolutely no reason Frankie needed to be there. It was like Mariana in The Maidens. GIRL YOU DON'T EVEN GO HERE!!!
Anyways, Kaylee somehow escapes death row and makes it to the atoll, where she lets the chopper sing and then WINKS at Frankie as she darts into hiding. But wait, it gets more cringey. Frankie and the gang go to Mac's cabin to 'hide out', and decides the best course of action is to blurt out LEA YOU DID IT in front of everyone, including Lea of course. Scooby Doo would never. And despite Frankie's certainty that Lea is involved, everyone, including an undercover FBI agent, lets Lea chill out while they wait for Kaylee and her accomplice (Bill) to ... idk? Kill them all I guess.
But here is where things got laughable: Frankie decides to lure Kaylee and Bill to them by........... LEAVING OUT A BOWL OF HOT N FRESH SPAGHETTI. YES, YOU READ THAT CORRECTLY. Frankie believed that a hardened serial killer and death row escapee would give everything up for a bowl of spaghetti. If I'm going to surrender, it's not going to be for SPAGHETTI. Make it a filet mignon and we'll talk. Not only is this plan so childish, but the undercover FBI agent agrees that it's a great idea. Sir, you're fired. Don't even bother coming back to the mainland. Just let the coconut crabs have your ass. Because WHAT??? Again, this cannot be THE Lisa Gardner writing this.
And lastly, there was an incest twist. Was it necessary? Of course not. But was it absolutely disgusting? 100%.
SPOILERS DONE
Idk what happened here, but I didn't like it. Read Live to Tell instead. A banger.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: I was approved for this ARC, I like Hawaii
Cons: girl BYE
March 8, 2024
*3.5 stars*
Frankie Elkin finds missing persons - the cold cases that the law have closed, having exhausted all lines of enquiry. She doesn’t get paid for this service, she just wants to give closure to their loved ones.
However, Frankie’s latest case involves female serial killer Kaylee Pierson, nicknamed “The Beautiful Butcher’ requesting that she find her long lost sister.
It appears that Pierson’s 5 year old sister was kidnapped over a decade ago in Hawaii, and the kidnapper is thought to be Pierson’s tech mogul ex-boyfriend, Sanders MacManus. In the present, on a remote island in the middle of the Pacific—the site of MacManus’s latest vanity project—fresh evidence has appeared. Pierson herself is on death row and facing execution in three weeks time - clearly time is of the essence, and so it is that Frankie finds herself undercover on a remote atoll in the Pacific, in the hope that she can rescue the young woman from MacManus.
The story was a bit slow to take off, providing readers with lots of information about the flora and fauna found on the atoll, but once it got going it was firing on all cylinders. I did have to suspend disbelief at times but nevertheless I still enjoyed it.
*Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
Frankie Elkin finds missing persons - the cold cases that the law have closed, having exhausted all lines of enquiry. She doesn’t get paid for this service, she just wants to give closure to their loved ones.
However, Frankie’s latest case involves female serial killer Kaylee Pierson, nicknamed “The Beautiful Butcher’ requesting that she find her long lost sister.
It appears that Pierson’s 5 year old sister was kidnapped over a decade ago in Hawaii, and the kidnapper is thought to be Pierson’s tech mogul ex-boyfriend, Sanders MacManus. In the present, on a remote island in the middle of the Pacific—the site of MacManus’s latest vanity project—fresh evidence has appeared. Pierson herself is on death row and facing execution in three weeks time - clearly time is of the essence, and so it is that Frankie finds herself undercover on a remote atoll in the Pacific, in the hope that she can rescue the young woman from MacManus.
The story was a bit slow to take off, providing readers with lots of information about the flora and fauna found on the atoll, but once it got going it was firing on all cylinders. I did have to suspend disbelief at times but nevertheless I still enjoyed it.
*Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
November 14, 2023
“I only wish I knew what we were dying for.”
“Way of the world, luv. Very few people do.”
I jumped at the chance to read an arc of this, having enjoyed the previous two Frankie Elkin books-- Before She Disappeared and One Step Too Far. And I did enjoy it in the end, but it took me longer to get into this one.
The prologue is excellent. Really dramatic, bloody and exciting, and it introduces us to a serial killer nicknamed 'The Beautiful Butcher.' After said prologue, we quickly learn she is on death row and her final wish is to discover what happened to her sister who went missing many years ago in Hawaii.
This task takes Frankie to a very small, remote (fictional) Hawaiian island where a filthy rich business tycoon ( and possible crime lord) is overseeing his latest project. By his side is his ward: the missing sister.
I felt like there was a huge chunk of the book after Frankie got to the island that moved very slowly. As is always the case, Frankie befriends an interesting cast of characters, but all they seem to do is prep stuff in the kitchen, discuss conservationism, and avoid coconut crabs.
I've felt in the other books that Frankie is less an investigator and more an observer, and once again she seems to do a bit of halfhearted looking around until the answers fall in her lap. When shit goes down-- when mystery turns to action --is when she really steps up and isn't afraid to get her hands dirty. Unfortunately, here that meant it seemed like not much happened until the later chapters of the book.
May 1, 2024
Her name is Frankie Elkin. She goes where she's needed most, but she never stays. She's an excellent listener, but a terrible sharer. She's run from bullets. She's held total strangers while they died. She's fought to save people she barely knew. And she's sobbed hysterically when she failed in that mission.
She misses a detective in Boston. She mourns a man in Wyoming.
One day, much as her ex-lover predicted, her current obsession probably will kill her.
And then, she will be the one who vanishes without a trace.
Every time I embark on another journey with Frankie Elkin, I know it will wrench my heart and soul simultaneously. Lisa Gardner has crafted an incredible character, one with the power to touch readers' souls and elicit deep empathy. You can feel her struggles resonate deep within your heart, and you long to extend your hand to hold hers, ensuring she will be okay somehow. Frankie is resilient, tough, a survivor, making amends for her past mistakes by providing closure to those who have lost loved ones, even though she can never bring back the ones she tragically lost.
This time, she's assigned a task by a prisoner sentenced to death, Kaylee Pierson, aptly nicknamed the "Beautiful Butcher" for her gruesome acts involving the dismemberment of eighteen men and feeding them to her pigs. Kaylee is desperately searching for her missing younger sister, who vanished twelve years ago. She believes her sister was kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend, Sanders MacManus, a tech mogul, billionaire, and one of the world's most influential and wealthy individuals. Kaylee shares a letter ostensibly from her sister, Lea, who declares her love and longing for her. If Lea is in the clutches of this dangerous man, someone brave enough must help her escape from his sinister grasp. The only person suited for the job is Frankie, who must infiltrate the remote eco-lodge on a Hawaiian island owned by MacManus. She will have to pose as one of his staff, quietly investigate Lea's whereabouts, and, once located, bring her to safety.
With the assistance of Kaylee's lawyer, Erin takes on the identity of a member of a diverse crew that takes on various odd jobs, enabling them to travel across the globe. Their destination is a tropical island, an environment that captivates Erin with its enchanting crabs and an increasing sense of peril. Erin soon discovers that the search for Lea is not her only problem, as the remnants of a woman's body are found buried on the island. Dark possibilities emerge, including drug-related criminal activity or human trafficking. To complicate matters further, someone is actively sabotaging the resort's operations, putting staff members' lives at risk. The saboteur might be among the employees, but their true identity remains a mystery. Is it Charlie, the Australian engineer, who keeps taking photos of Erin? Could it be Vaughn, MacManus's right-hand man, who suspects Erin's motives are suspicious? Or perhaps Ronin, the charismatic archaeologist who disapproves of MacManus's interference with the island's natural habitat.
The story opens with a powerful and gripping start, and as Erin reaches the remote island, the pace slows down, turning the book into an island adventure filled with numerous characters. However, an unexpected, jaw-dropping twist awaits as you pass the midpoint, and especially in the final third, the pressure and tension keep building, leaving your heart racing and you on the edge of your seat.
Furthermore, there is a chapter within the book that is both tragic and mind-shattering, likely to haunt readers and shake them to their core. The bleak revelations are profoundly unsettling.
As always, I couldn't award less than five stars to another Frankie Elkin book! This was yet another impeccably executed, earth-shattering adventure that readers should not miss.
Frankie has a long journey ahead to forgive herself and embrace her own happiness. In this journey, we hope to witness this remarkable character finally giving herself a chance to settle down and find a place she can call home.
Until that day arrives, I will never cease to read her thrilling, thought-provoking, action-packed, and sentimental journeys.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for generously providing a digital reviewer's copy of one of the best books I've had the pleasure of reading lately, in exchange for my honest opinions.
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She misses a detective in Boston. She mourns a man in Wyoming.
One day, much as her ex-lover predicted, her current obsession probably will kill her.
And then, she will be the one who vanishes without a trace.
Every time I embark on another journey with Frankie Elkin, I know it will wrench my heart and soul simultaneously. Lisa Gardner has crafted an incredible character, one with the power to touch readers' souls and elicit deep empathy. You can feel her struggles resonate deep within your heart, and you long to extend your hand to hold hers, ensuring she will be okay somehow. Frankie is resilient, tough, a survivor, making amends for her past mistakes by providing closure to those who have lost loved ones, even though she can never bring back the ones she tragically lost.
This time, she's assigned a task by a prisoner sentenced to death, Kaylee Pierson, aptly nicknamed the "Beautiful Butcher" for her gruesome acts involving the dismemberment of eighteen men and feeding them to her pigs. Kaylee is desperately searching for her missing younger sister, who vanished twelve years ago. She believes her sister was kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend, Sanders MacManus, a tech mogul, billionaire, and one of the world's most influential and wealthy individuals. Kaylee shares a letter ostensibly from her sister, Lea, who declares her love and longing for her. If Lea is in the clutches of this dangerous man, someone brave enough must help her escape from his sinister grasp. The only person suited for the job is Frankie, who must infiltrate the remote eco-lodge on a Hawaiian island owned by MacManus. She will have to pose as one of his staff, quietly investigate Lea's whereabouts, and, once located, bring her to safety.
With the assistance of Kaylee's lawyer, Erin takes on the identity of a member of a diverse crew that takes on various odd jobs, enabling them to travel across the globe. Their destination is a tropical island, an environment that captivates Erin with its enchanting crabs and an increasing sense of peril. Erin soon discovers that the search for Lea is not her only problem, as the remnants of a woman's body are found buried on the island. Dark possibilities emerge, including drug-related criminal activity or human trafficking. To complicate matters further, someone is actively sabotaging the resort's operations, putting staff members' lives at risk. The saboteur might be among the employees, but their true identity remains a mystery. Is it Charlie, the Australian engineer, who keeps taking photos of Erin? Could it be Vaughn, MacManus's right-hand man, who suspects Erin's motives are suspicious? Or perhaps Ronin, the charismatic archaeologist who disapproves of MacManus's interference with the island's natural habitat.
The story opens with a powerful and gripping start, and as Erin reaches the remote island, the pace slows down, turning the book into an island adventure filled with numerous characters. However, an unexpected, jaw-dropping twist awaits as you pass the midpoint, and especially in the final third, the pressure and tension keep building, leaving your heart racing and you on the edge of your seat.
Furthermore, there is a chapter within the book that is both tragic and mind-shattering, likely to haunt readers and shake them to their core. The bleak revelations are profoundly unsettling.
As always, I couldn't award less than five stars to another Frankie Elkin book! This was yet another impeccably executed, earth-shattering adventure that readers should not miss.
Frankie has a long journey ahead to forgive herself and embrace her own happiness. In this journey, we hope to witness this remarkable character finally giving herself a chance to settle down and find a place she can call home.
Until that day arrives, I will never cease to read her thrilling, thought-provoking, action-packed, and sentimental journeys.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for generously providing a digital reviewer's copy of one of the best books I've had the pleasure of reading lately, in exchange for my honest opinions.
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May 13, 2024
In Still See You Everywhere, the third installment of Lisa Gardner’s Frankie Elkin series, we follow our protagonist to a remote atoll in the middle of the Pacific in her efforts to find the younger sister of serial killer Kaylee “Keahi” Pierson dubbed by the media as the “Beautiful Butcher” and guilty of eighteen proven murders.
Over twelve years ago, after a particularly violent episode involving her wealthy, influential and abusive boyfriend Sanders “Mac” MacManus left Keahi hospitalized, her younger sister Leilani “Lea” then only five years old, disappeared without a trace. When Keahi receives a letter she believes was written by Lea, she has reason to believe that Mac has been holding Lea against her will. Barely three weeks before her scheduled execution Keahi, who has had a tragic and violent past but shows no remorse for her actions, asks Frankie to save Lea, who she believes will be accompanying Mac to an isolated Hawaiian island, the site for his latest business venture. Aided by Keahi’s lawyer, Frankie secures employment on the isolated island. Surrounded by dangers- both natural and man-made- with limited outside communication and among strangers, some of whom are harboring their own secrets, Frankie just might be out of her depth.
Still See You Everywhere by Lisa Gardner is an immersive, suspenseful thriller with plenty of twists and turns that keeps you hooked until the very last page. I was drawn to the premise of the novel and loved the setting. After an intriguing start, the novel slows down considerably as we meet the characters and are treated to a detailed description of the island’s flora and fauna before picking up again for an action-packed finale. Despite some minor repetition and pacing issues, there were enough surprises and red herrings along the way. I should mention that a few of the twists, though shocking, weren’t quite convincing. I don’t mind suspension of disbelief, but a few of the revelations bordered on absurd. I’ve enjoyed the previous books in the series and I do find the protagonist interesting, but I was disappointed with the lack of character development. I thought Frankie spent too much time brooding over her troubled past, wallowing in self-pity and lacked the sharpness that defined her character in the previous books.
Overall, despite the intriguing premise and atmospheric setting, I didn’t enjoy this book as much as the previous installments but I do look forward to reading more from Lisa Gardner in the future and will be eagerly awaiting the next book in the series!
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
Over twelve years ago, after a particularly violent episode involving her wealthy, influential and abusive boyfriend Sanders “Mac” MacManus left Keahi hospitalized, her younger sister Leilani “Lea” then only five years old, disappeared without a trace. When Keahi receives a letter she believes was written by Lea, she has reason to believe that Mac has been holding Lea against her will. Barely three weeks before her scheduled execution Keahi, who has had a tragic and violent past but shows no remorse for her actions, asks Frankie to save Lea, who she believes will be accompanying Mac to an isolated Hawaiian island, the site for his latest business venture. Aided by Keahi’s lawyer, Frankie secures employment on the isolated island. Surrounded by dangers- both natural and man-made- with limited outside communication and among strangers, some of whom are harboring their own secrets, Frankie just might be out of her depth.
Still See You Everywhere by Lisa Gardner is an immersive, suspenseful thriller with plenty of twists and turns that keeps you hooked until the very last page. I was drawn to the premise of the novel and loved the setting. After an intriguing start, the novel slows down considerably as we meet the characters and are treated to a detailed description of the island’s flora and fauna before picking up again for an action-packed finale. Despite some minor repetition and pacing issues, there were enough surprises and red herrings along the way. I should mention that a few of the twists, though shocking, weren’t quite convincing. I don’t mind suspension of disbelief, but a few of the revelations bordered on absurd. I’ve enjoyed the previous books in the series and I do find the protagonist interesting, but I was disappointed with the lack of character development. I thought Frankie spent too much time brooding over her troubled past, wallowing in self-pity and lacked the sharpness that defined her character in the previous books.
Overall, despite the intriguing premise and atmospheric setting, I didn’t enjoy this book as much as the previous installments but I do look forward to reading more from Lisa Gardner in the future and will be eagerly awaiting the next book in the series!
Connect with me! ✏ Instagram ✏ My Blog ✏ The StoryGraph
January 2, 2024
Frankie Elkins’ mission in life is searching for people after others have long since moved on and forgotten about them. She doesn’t do it for money. It’s just her little way of making things right in this crazy world.
There’s a woman on death row known as the Beautiful Butcher for murdering multiple men. Her last wish is for Frankie to find her younger sister whom she believes is being held against her will by a very powerful man.
With the clock ticking, Frankie will need to fly to a private island owned by this particular man where he plans to build an exclusive resort for the ultra-wealthy. Frankie will hide in plain sight as one of the many employees, hopefully gaining access to this victimized young woman.
We got to view life on this small island as Frankie befriends her co-workers.
The story took some time to take-off. But once it did…oh my! I did not see any of that coming!
Money aside, I don’t think I’d ever want to visit this island with its plethora of crabs underfoot and the frightening coconut crabs that come out at night! Eeeeeek! And yes, it’s a thing! I googled it!😱
Anyhoo…this is the third installment of the Frankie Elkin series, but can easily stand on its own. I’m a huge Lisa Gardner fan and will read every single books she releases. So Ms. Lisa… I’m ready for your next!
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing
There’s a woman on death row known as the Beautiful Butcher for murdering multiple men. Her last wish is for Frankie to find her younger sister whom she believes is being held against her will by a very powerful man.
With the clock ticking, Frankie will need to fly to a private island owned by this particular man where he plans to build an exclusive resort for the ultra-wealthy. Frankie will hide in plain sight as one of the many employees, hopefully gaining access to this victimized young woman.
We got to view life on this small island as Frankie befriends her co-workers.
The story took some time to take-off. But once it did…oh my! I did not see any of that coming!
Money aside, I don’t think I’d ever want to visit this island with its plethora of crabs underfoot and the frightening coconut crabs that come out at night! Eeeeeek! And yes, it’s a thing! I googled it!😱
Anyhoo…this is the third installment of the Frankie Elkin series, but can easily stand on its own. I’m a huge Lisa Gardner fan and will read every single books she releases. So Ms. Lisa… I’m ready for your next!
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing
March 26, 2024
EXCERPT: 'Victoria says you find missing people.' Beside me, Twanow nods. She has a legal pad out and looks like she is taking notes. Keahi continues, 'People no one else is looking for.'
'I specialise in working missing persons cold cases.'
'But you're not a private investigator?'
'No.'
'Are you a computer hacker, someone who can discover a speck of sand in the desert just by following its purchase patterns on the internet?'
'Don't even own a smart phone.'
Keahi frowns. 'Then what are you?'
'A person with a really obsessive hobby.'
Her frown deepens. 'Victoria says you've found everyone you've ever searched for. How?'
'I ask questions. Lots of questions. Sometimes it's as simple as people being willing to talk so many years later, sometimes it's that I'm not the police, making neighbors in certain communities more willing to disclose the truth.' I shrug. 'Once someone starts to talk, I make sure I listen. Not enough people do that any more.'
'How many cases have you solved?'
'Nearly twenty.'
'You brought people home to their families?'
'I brought closure to their families.'
Keahi's lips quirk. She isn't fooled by my answer. Neither am I.
ABOUT 'STILL SEE YOU EVERYWHERE': Frankie Elkin is an expert at finding the missing persons that the rest of the world has forgotten, but even she couldn’t have anticipated this latest request—to locate the long-lost sister of a female serial killer facing execution in three weeks’ time.
She has called herself "death," but people called her the devil.
The case was sensational. Kaylee Pierson had confessed from the very beginning, waived all appeals. Despite the media’s chronicling of her tragic circumstances—the childhood spent with a violent father—no one could find sympathy for “the Beautiful Butcher” who had led eighteen men home from bars before viciously slitting their throats.
Now, with only twenty-one days left to live, Pierson has finally received a lead on the whereabouts of the sister who was kidnapped over a decade ago, and she needs Frankie’s help to find her. The Beautiful Butcher’s offer:
When was the last time your search ended with finding the living?
Unable to resist the chance for a rescue, Frankie takes on Pierson’s request. Twelve years ago, five-year-old Leilani went missing in Hawaii. The main suspect? Pierson’s tech mogul ex-boyfriend, Sanders MacManus. Now, on a remote island in the middle of the Pacific—the site of MacManus’s latest vanity project—fresh evidence has appeared. In order to learn the truth and possibly save a young woman’s life, Frankie must go undercover at the isolated base camp. Her challenge: A dozen strangers. Countless dangerous secrets. Zero means of calling for help. And then the storm rolls in…
MY THOUGHTS: I think I may have gone off isolated tropical island resorts!
Although the action takes some time to get started in this, the third installment of the Frankie Elkin series, when it does kick off, it is relentless! Until then enjoy the various types of crab that abound, including the giant blue coconut crab, the holes in the sand that can easily snap an ankle, the spiders, the mosquitos, constant humidity, tropical downpours, and various other flora and fauna that are described so beautifully. There's no sunbathing on the beach or swimming in the lovely blue lagoons.
It's all work and no play that just might see Frankie Elkin live another day . . .
There are some wonderful characters - Anne and Trudy the cooks; Charlie, the Australian engineer; and Vaughn the head honcho are only a few of them.
I admit to having had to suspend belief in places, but Lisa Gardner writes with such fervor that I could see everything playing out in front of me as I read. There are a few gory scenes - but what else would you expect with an escaped serial killer called the Beautiful Butcher on the island?
If you are looking for an escapist, action packed read - pick this one up. You won't be disappointed.
Although this is the third book in a series, it is easily read alone as the author has provided enough backstory to make this feasible.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.3
#StillSeeYouEverywhere #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Lisa Gardner began her career in food service, but after catching her hair on fire numerous times, she took the hint and focused on writing instead. A self-described research junkie, she has transformed her interest in police procedure and criminal minds into a streak of internationally acclaimed novels.
For a bit of fun, Lisa invites her readers to enter the annual “Kill a Friend, Maim a Buddy” Sweepstakes at LisaGardner.com. Every year, one Lucky Stiff is selected to meet a grand end in Lisa’s latest novel. Past winners have nominated spouses, best friends and even themselves.
Lisa lives in New Hampshire where she spends her time with an assortment of canine companions. When not writing, she loves to hike, garden, snowshoe and play cribbage.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Random House UK, Cornerstone via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Still See You Everywhere by Lisa Gardner for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
'I specialise in working missing persons cold cases.'
'But you're not a private investigator?'
'No.'
'Are you a computer hacker, someone who can discover a speck of sand in the desert just by following its purchase patterns on the internet?'
'Don't even own a smart phone.'
Keahi frowns. 'Then what are you?'
'A person with a really obsessive hobby.'
Her frown deepens. 'Victoria says you've found everyone you've ever searched for. How?'
'I ask questions. Lots of questions. Sometimes it's as simple as people being willing to talk so many years later, sometimes it's that I'm not the police, making neighbors in certain communities more willing to disclose the truth.' I shrug. 'Once someone starts to talk, I make sure I listen. Not enough people do that any more.'
'How many cases have you solved?'
'Nearly twenty.'
'You brought people home to their families?'
'I brought closure to their families.'
Keahi's lips quirk. She isn't fooled by my answer. Neither am I.
ABOUT 'STILL SEE YOU EVERYWHERE': Frankie Elkin is an expert at finding the missing persons that the rest of the world has forgotten, but even she couldn’t have anticipated this latest request—to locate the long-lost sister of a female serial killer facing execution in three weeks’ time.
She has called herself "death," but people called her the devil.
The case was sensational. Kaylee Pierson had confessed from the very beginning, waived all appeals. Despite the media’s chronicling of her tragic circumstances—the childhood spent with a violent father—no one could find sympathy for “the Beautiful Butcher” who had led eighteen men home from bars before viciously slitting their throats.
Now, with only twenty-one days left to live, Pierson has finally received a lead on the whereabouts of the sister who was kidnapped over a decade ago, and she needs Frankie’s help to find her. The Beautiful Butcher’s offer:
When was the last time your search ended with finding the living?
Unable to resist the chance for a rescue, Frankie takes on Pierson’s request. Twelve years ago, five-year-old Leilani went missing in Hawaii. The main suspect? Pierson’s tech mogul ex-boyfriend, Sanders MacManus. Now, on a remote island in the middle of the Pacific—the site of MacManus’s latest vanity project—fresh evidence has appeared. In order to learn the truth and possibly save a young woman’s life, Frankie must go undercover at the isolated base camp. Her challenge: A dozen strangers. Countless dangerous secrets. Zero means of calling for help. And then the storm rolls in…
MY THOUGHTS: I think I may have gone off isolated tropical island resorts!
Although the action takes some time to get started in this, the third installment of the Frankie Elkin series, when it does kick off, it is relentless! Until then enjoy the various types of crab that abound, including the giant blue coconut crab, the holes in the sand that can easily snap an ankle, the spiders, the mosquitos, constant humidity, tropical downpours, and various other flora and fauna that are described so beautifully. There's no sunbathing on the beach or swimming in the lovely blue lagoons.
It's all work and no play that just might see Frankie Elkin live another day . . .
There are some wonderful characters - Anne and Trudy the cooks; Charlie, the Australian engineer; and Vaughn the head honcho are only a few of them.
I admit to having had to suspend belief in places, but Lisa Gardner writes with such fervor that I could see everything playing out in front of me as I read. There are a few gory scenes - but what else would you expect with an escaped serial killer called the Beautiful Butcher on the island?
If you are looking for an escapist, action packed read - pick this one up. You won't be disappointed.
Although this is the third book in a series, it is easily read alone as the author has provided enough backstory to make this feasible.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.3
#StillSeeYouEverywhere #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Lisa Gardner began her career in food service, but after catching her hair on fire numerous times, she took the hint and focused on writing instead. A self-described research junkie, she has transformed her interest in police procedure and criminal minds into a streak of internationally acclaimed novels.
For a bit of fun, Lisa invites her readers to enter the annual “Kill a Friend, Maim a Buddy” Sweepstakes at LisaGardner.com. Every year, one Lucky Stiff is selected to meet a grand end in Lisa’s latest novel. Past winners have nominated spouses, best friends and even themselves.
Lisa lives in New Hampshire where she spends her time with an assortment of canine companions. When not writing, she loves to hike, garden, snowshoe and play cribbage.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Random House UK, Cornerstone via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Still See You Everywhere by Lisa Gardner for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
March 30, 2024
It's Lisa Gardner and I've been reading her for a few decades now, and she still rocks.
I tried to review this on Netgalley, as that's where I got it from, but after searching for 10 minutes or so I gave up. To heck with it! So, if they don't give a poo, then why should I spend more time? Not going to happen.
I tried to review this on Netgalley, as that's where I got it from, but after searching for 10 minutes or so I gave up. To heck with it! So, if they don't give a poo, then why should I spend more time? Not going to happen.
April 13, 2024
Third book in the Frankie Elkin series: Before She Disappeared (2021) and One Step Too Far (2022).
January 23, 2024
4+
Frankie Elkin #3
Frankie is back! Keahi Pearson aka The Beautiful Butcher, awaits the ultimate punishment on Death Row in a Texan prison after killing multiple men. Frankie makes her way there to learn Keahi wants her to find her much younger sister Lea who disappeared twelve years ago. Keahi tells a heartbreaking story, one that takes the sisters to safety in Hawaii where their mothers family is from, a story which is further complicated by Keahi’s involvement with tech mogul Sanders MacManus. Has MacManus got Lea? Has he had her under his control from her being a little girl of five? Although Frankie initially refuses to get involved and though she fully appreciates she could be way out of her depth going up against such a powerful man, she does agree to help. Has Frankie bitten off more than she can chew? Yes, probably but that’s Frankie for you!
First of all THAT setting. MacManus is developing the Hawaiian atoll of Pomaikai and Frankie is able to secure a job with the team. It’s truly an out of this world location for a cracking story. It’s beautifully described and used so effectively in the dramatic events that develop. The history of the islands, the stories of a marginalised native population, the flora and fauna and as for the wildlife- good grief. The manta rays (amazing), the birds such as boobies, I’m less keen to say the least of the wolf spider Frankie shares her accommodation with and yikes, yikes, yikes, the giant coconut crabs. Google them. I cannot believe my eyes and may not sleep tonight as they are nightmarish. All the above feature throughout this very exciting and twisty tale.
There are really good characters and a wide variety of them which I like with Ann and Trudy, the cooks, livening the pages. It’s clear that some are very untrustworthy (understatement) to say the least. The dialogue is smart as are Frankie’s reposts. What is so good about this latest instalment is that there are so many unpredictable and unexpected situations that catch you out and take you by surprise. The storytelling becomes increasingly gripping, it’s a novel that is hard to put down, it’s dramatic, unsettling, sometimes scary as well as horrifying and it’s all told at a fast pace. There are wolves on Pomaikai heavily disguised in sheep’s clothing and we only see their fangs towards the end. At times the island seems to be lit up like its Bonfire Night and there are shoot outs, OK Corral style. It builds to a good and very satisfying ending.
I thoroughly enjoyed the latest Frankie outing, in fact, I think this is my favourite so far. I can’t wait to see what adventures await her next.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House, UK, Cornerstone for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Frankie Elkin #3
Frankie is back! Keahi Pearson aka The Beautiful Butcher, awaits the ultimate punishment on Death Row in a Texan prison after killing multiple men. Frankie makes her way there to learn Keahi wants her to find her much younger sister Lea who disappeared twelve years ago. Keahi tells a heartbreaking story, one that takes the sisters to safety in Hawaii where their mothers family is from, a story which is further complicated by Keahi’s involvement with tech mogul Sanders MacManus. Has MacManus got Lea? Has he had her under his control from her being a little girl of five? Although Frankie initially refuses to get involved and though she fully appreciates she could be way out of her depth going up against such a powerful man, she does agree to help. Has Frankie bitten off more than she can chew? Yes, probably but that’s Frankie for you!
First of all THAT setting. MacManus is developing the Hawaiian atoll of Pomaikai and Frankie is able to secure a job with the team. It’s truly an out of this world location for a cracking story. It’s beautifully described and used so effectively in the dramatic events that develop. The history of the islands, the stories of a marginalised native population, the flora and fauna and as for the wildlife- good grief. The manta rays (amazing), the birds such as boobies, I’m less keen to say the least of the wolf spider Frankie shares her accommodation with and yikes, yikes, yikes, the giant coconut crabs. Google them. I cannot believe my eyes and may not sleep tonight as they are nightmarish. All the above feature throughout this very exciting and twisty tale.
There are really good characters and a wide variety of them which I like with Ann and Trudy, the cooks, livening the pages. It’s clear that some are very untrustworthy (understatement) to say the least. The dialogue is smart as are Frankie’s reposts. What is so good about this latest instalment is that there are so many unpredictable and unexpected situations that catch you out and take you by surprise. The storytelling becomes increasingly gripping, it’s a novel that is hard to put down, it’s dramatic, unsettling, sometimes scary as well as horrifying and it’s all told at a fast pace. There are wolves on Pomaikai heavily disguised in sheep’s clothing and we only see their fangs towards the end. At times the island seems to be lit up like its Bonfire Night and there are shoot outs, OK Corral style. It builds to a good and very satisfying ending.
I thoroughly enjoyed the latest Frankie outing, in fact, I think this is my favourite so far. I can’t wait to see what adventures await her next.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House, UK, Cornerstone for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
May 30, 2024
3.75 stars
I've really become a fan of Lisa Gardner this year and have really enjoyed this Frankie Elkin series. The third book in the series, it can be read as a standalone but I recommend reading the other two books first. Frankie is contacted by the lawyer of a female serial killer on death row. The woman wants Frankie to find her missing sister, and after some convincing Frankie agrees and is flown to a remote island off the coast of Hawaii to search for her undercover at a resort.
I saw a lot of reviews not enjoying this latest installment in the series and I can see why. A lot of the plot near the end was a bit over the top, but I felt the same way about the second book in the series too. You kind of just need to go with the flow on these books and remember it's fiction and of course none of this would happen in real life. I like Frankie a lot as a main character, her snark and her need to find missing people. I also think Lisa Gardner is excellent at pacing, which not many authors are and I really appreciate that there aren't many lulls in her books. I'm excited for whenever the next book comes out, if there is one.
I've really become a fan of Lisa Gardner this year and have really enjoyed this Frankie Elkin series. The third book in the series, it can be read as a standalone but I recommend reading the other two books first. Frankie is contacted by the lawyer of a female serial killer on death row. The woman wants Frankie to find her missing sister, and after some convincing Frankie agrees and is flown to a remote island off the coast of Hawaii to search for her undercover at a resort.
I saw a lot of reviews not enjoying this latest installment in the series and I can see why. A lot of the plot near the end was a bit over the top, but I felt the same way about the second book in the series too. You kind of just need to go with the flow on these books and remember it's fiction and of course none of this would happen in real life. I like Frankie a lot as a main character, her snark and her need to find missing people. I also think Lisa Gardner is excellent at pacing, which not many authors are and I really appreciate that there aren't many lulls in her books. I'm excited for whenever the next book comes out, if there is one.
March 9, 2024
This was a travel day book for me. Quite appropriate since Lisa Gardner took 2023 off to travel the world and this latest Frankie Elkin book is set on one of the places Gardner visited --the Pacific atoll, Palmyra. When you read this locked room thriller, you will feel the heat and humidity as you view the lush and vibrant setting through Frankie's eyes. Here are five things I liked about it:
🦀 The setting outside the continental US is a first for Gardner. Reminded me of another thriller I enjoyed earlier this year: The Resort.
🦀 Lots of flora and fauna. A few too many crabs for my taste, but I learned some new crab facts like the size of the coconut crab and its crushing hydraulic claws.
🦀 Frankie is continuing to grow on me as a character. And she is becoming less of a loner. There is healing despite her traumatic experiences.
🦀 Trudy and Ann, the cooks on the island, are a delightful duo. And they makes some really delicious food for the staff there.
🦀 The twists and turns of the plot were outstanding. While I miss the police procedurals Gardner used to write, this new release is an excellent example of her storytelling gifts.
Many thanks to Grand Central Publishing and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
🦀 The setting outside the continental US is a first for Gardner. Reminded me of another thriller I enjoyed earlier this year: The Resort.
🦀 Lots of flora and fauna. A few too many crabs for my taste, but I learned some new crab facts like the size of the coconut crab and its crushing hydraulic claws.
🦀 Frankie is continuing to grow on me as a character. And she is becoming less of a loner. There is healing despite her traumatic experiences.
🦀 Trudy and Ann, the cooks on the island, are a delightful duo. And they makes some really delicious food for the staff there.
🦀 The twists and turns of the plot were outstanding. While I miss the police procedurals Gardner used to write, this new release is an excellent example of her storytelling gifts.
Many thanks to Grand Central Publishing and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
March 8, 2024
This is book 3 in the Frankie Elkin series but it works as a standalone (and now I need to read books 1 and 2). I really like the main protagonist Frankie. I can see how she became the center of a series and I would like to read more of her adventures. Overall I gave this one 4.5 stars which I rounded up for star selection purposes. Frankie has a weird hobby, she searches for the missing. Not the typical missing person but the one no one is looking for anymore. She doesn’t do it for money and typically works as a bartender despite being a recovering alcoholic. When she is summoned to death row in Texas to visit a woman who murdered 18 men on her farm she doesn’t know what to think. But somehow afterwards she is on mission to find a serial killer’s sister. I liked the level of gruesome this book got to. The ending was a little rushed and over the top, but overall it was a fun book.
February 15, 2024
Have you ever accidentally chosen a book to read? I saw Still See You Everywhere on NetGalley and remembered that I wanted to read a Lisa Gardner novel. I clicked request and soon after, I was awarded the books. When I looked it up on Goodreads, I kicked myself because it's the third in the Frankie Elkin series and I was not ready to read two other books before it. So, I did what I rarely do and read this one out of order. I kept putting it off, but it will be released in 6 weeks, so I had to get on it! What do you know... twenty pages in and I was hooked! I kept turning and turning the pages and by fifty percent in, I had to know what was going on. Sometimes readers get a lovely surprise, and that's exactly what happened here. Loved the dangerous tropical island setting. Enjoyed the character of Frankie, all her flaws and issues, and how she was compelled to help solve this mystery. Recommended for those who like not knowing what they're getting themselves into but intrigued to give something new a chance. I will go back and read the earlier ones this year now too.
March 12, 2024
Lisa what the hell happened to you!!!???
I cannot believe you are the same author who wrote the FBI Profiler and DD Warren series.
Please, please come back.
I cannot believe you are the same author who wrote the FBI Profiler and DD Warren series.
Please, please come back.
May 2, 2024
Why do these books have to end so quickly? Review to follow.
April 14, 2024
Still See You Everywhere by Lisa Gardner
Frankie Elkin series #3. Thriller, mystery. Can be read as a stand-alone bit better as part of the series to get to know Frankie.
Frankie Elkin has made her life all about finding missing people. In particular, those that have been gone for a long time, or that the world simply doesn’t care about anymore. She has worked in urban jungles, small towns, national forests, and more. She moves from place to place deciding on which case to take next.
Frankie travels to a remote Hawaiian island, isolated and sparse, to find a long-lost sister of a female serial killer. Not many people would be willing to help, but Frankie finds something intriguing in case of the then five-year old Leilani. No phone service. An incoming storm. And then the first body is found.
Yikes. Wasn’t sure Frankie was going to make it out alive. I thought the national forest case was intense. You can’t walk off an island in the middle of the pacific.
Frankie Elkin series #3. Thriller, mystery. Can be read as a stand-alone bit better as part of the series to get to know Frankie.
Frankie Elkin has made her life all about finding missing people. In particular, those that have been gone for a long time, or that the world simply doesn’t care about anymore. She has worked in urban jungles, small towns, national forests, and more. She moves from place to place deciding on which case to take next.
Frankie travels to a remote Hawaiian island, isolated and sparse, to find a long-lost sister of a female serial killer. Not many people would be willing to help, but Frankie finds something intriguing in case of the then five-year old Leilani. No phone service. An incoming storm. And then the first body is found.
Yikes. Wasn’t sure Frankie was going to make it out alive. I thought the national forest case was intense. You can’t walk off an island in the middle of the pacific.
July 16, 2024
Love the character of Frankie Elkin, a woman who has an interest in looking for missing people. Her interest is in helping those who cannot usually help themselves, and often do not have a happy ending. She’s an alcoholic, sober for years who’s ballsy, tough, and unafraid. She is written flawlessly, the alcoholic slant and her internal dialogue is all very real. I wonder how the author undertook her research; she’s different to Marian Keyes, I don’t imagine she has lived experience. But whatever she’s done, she’s captured it, it is real.
This time Frankie isn’t only looking for a missing younger sister, this has twisted violently into a rampage for life and death with a very unexpected escaped serial killer, who just happens to be the big sister, and the woman who Frankie thought she was working for. The storyline is hectic, you will need to suspend belief which is fine by me. Though I have to say I do love Frankie and her journey more than the story arc. It’s all appealing and fun and fast moving, it’s just the study of the person, the faults and justifications are what I love the best. So fun.
She’s a drifter, will not lay down roots, freely admitting her need to be moving constantly and her refusal to commit to a place, time, or person. I love a scene which she plays over in her mind, where she lost the love of her life, coming back to haunt her at her own very dangerous near misses.
Frankie must use her unknown team of fellow stranded island dwellers (I note this theme of being able in necessity to rely on strangers in this series) to find a missing girl, to end the saga with their lives intact, it really is quite gruesome and nail biting. Never a wasted word, this author is good at what she does.
I don’t love this series as much as Detective DD Warren, even still Frankie makes it excellent, and I CANNOT wait to see what is next for her.
I listened to this via the BorrowBox app and my public library. Fans of Lisa Gardner won’t be disappointed.
This time Frankie isn’t only looking for a missing younger sister, this has twisted violently into a rampage for life and death with a very unexpected escaped serial killer, who just happens to be the big sister, and the woman who Frankie thought she was working for. The storyline is hectic, you will need to suspend belief which is fine by me. Though I have to say I do love Frankie and her journey more than the story arc. It’s all appealing and fun and fast moving, it’s just the study of the person, the faults and justifications are what I love the best. So fun.
She’s a drifter, will not lay down roots, freely admitting her need to be moving constantly and her refusal to commit to a place, time, or person. I love a scene which she plays over in her mind, where she lost the love of her life, coming back to haunt her at her own very dangerous near misses.
Frankie must use her unknown team of fellow stranded island dwellers (I note this theme of being able in necessity to rely on strangers in this series) to find a missing girl, to end the saga with their lives intact, it really is quite gruesome and nail biting. Never a wasted word, this author is good at what she does.
I don’t love this series as much as Detective DD Warren, even still Frankie makes it excellent, and I CANNOT wait to see what is next for her.
I listened to this via the BorrowBox app and my public library. Fans of Lisa Gardner won’t be disappointed.
March 10, 2024
Lisa Gardner is one of my favorite thriller writers. I think this is the fourth or fifth book I've read by her. Her books never disappoint and this was no exception.
Description:
Frankie Elkin is an expert at finding the missing persons that the rest of the world has forgotten, but even she couldn’t have anticipated this latest request—to locate the long-lost sister of a female serial killer facing execution in three weeks’ time.
She has called herself "death," but people called her the devil.
The case was sensational. Kaylee Pierson had confessed from the very beginning, waived all appeals. Despite the media’s chronicling of her tragic circumstances—the childhood spent with a violent father—no one could find sympathy for “the Beautiful Butcher” who had led eighteen men home from bars before viciously slitting their throats.
Now, with only twenty-one days left to live, Pierson has finally received a lead on the whereabouts of the sister who was kidnapped over a decade ago, and she needs Frankie’s help to find her. The Beautiful Butcher’s offer:
When was the last time your search ended with finding the living?
Unable to resist the chance for a rescue, Frankie takes on Pierson’s request. Twelve years ago, five-year-old Leilani went missing in Hawaii. The main suspect? Pierson’s tech mogul ex-boyfriend, Sanders MacManus. Now, on a remote island in the middle of the Pacific—the site of MacManus’s latest vanity project—fresh evidence has appeared. In order to learn the truth and possibly save a young woman’s life, Frankie must go undercover at the isolated base camp. Her challenge: A dozen strangers. Countless dangerous secrets. Zero means of calling for help. And then the storm rolls in…
My Thoughts:
The serial killer who was on death row was there for horrifying crimes. I'm not sure anyone would sympathize with her enough to search for someone. It looks like Frankie took the case not for the "Beautiful Butcher" but to help the missing sister. The setting on the island was tense and the tension grew as things unfolded. It kept my attention and kept me turning pages to find out what would happen. There was a surprising twist and a turbulent situation ensued. A gripping, fast-paced plot. I would recommend to anyone who likes a good thriller.
Thanks to Grand Central Publishing through Netgalley for an advance copy. Expected publication March 12, 2024.
Description:
Frankie Elkin is an expert at finding the missing persons that the rest of the world has forgotten, but even she couldn’t have anticipated this latest request—to locate the long-lost sister of a female serial killer facing execution in three weeks’ time.
She has called herself "death," but people called her the devil.
The case was sensational. Kaylee Pierson had confessed from the very beginning, waived all appeals. Despite the media’s chronicling of her tragic circumstances—the childhood spent with a violent father—no one could find sympathy for “the Beautiful Butcher” who had led eighteen men home from bars before viciously slitting their throats.
Now, with only twenty-one days left to live, Pierson has finally received a lead on the whereabouts of the sister who was kidnapped over a decade ago, and she needs Frankie’s help to find her. The Beautiful Butcher’s offer:
When was the last time your search ended with finding the living?
Unable to resist the chance for a rescue, Frankie takes on Pierson’s request. Twelve years ago, five-year-old Leilani went missing in Hawaii. The main suspect? Pierson’s tech mogul ex-boyfriend, Sanders MacManus. Now, on a remote island in the middle of the Pacific—the site of MacManus’s latest vanity project—fresh evidence has appeared. In order to learn the truth and possibly save a young woman’s life, Frankie must go undercover at the isolated base camp. Her challenge: A dozen strangers. Countless dangerous secrets. Zero means of calling for help. And then the storm rolls in…
My Thoughts:
The serial killer who was on death row was there for horrifying crimes. I'm not sure anyone would sympathize with her enough to search for someone. It looks like Frankie took the case not for the "Beautiful Butcher" but to help the missing sister. The setting on the island was tense and the tension grew as things unfolded. It kept my attention and kept me turning pages to find out what would happen. There was a surprising twist and a turbulent situation ensued. A gripping, fast-paced plot. I would recommend to anyone who likes a good thriller.
Thanks to Grand Central Publishing through Netgalley for an advance copy. Expected publication March 12, 2024.
December 28, 2023
This might be the third book in the Frankie Elkin series but it was my favorite so far. Frankie is in Honolulu too track down a serial killers missing sister. Once this mission starts, she realizes there's more to it than just s missing persons case, and it's likely part of a crime ring. Throughout this journey, Frankie had to come to terms with some of her own issues and forgiving herself.
In true Lisa Gardner fashion this book will chew you up and spit you out and leaving you feeling wrecked, torn, jumpy, and happy throughout this book and her others.
Thanks to Netgalley and the Grand Central Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
In true Lisa Gardner fashion this book will chew you up and spit you out and leaving you feeling wrecked, torn, jumpy, and happy throughout this book and her others.
Thanks to Netgalley and the Grand Central Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 27, 2024
Lisa, this was awesome!
So this is the 3rd back so far of the Frankie series; ill probably need to go back and catch up!
I like this story about Frankie hired by a serial killer on death row, to locate her long lost sister; only to get herself involved in a bigger plot and unravel a secret that had my jaw drop open.
Solid 4 stars!!!!
So this is the 3rd back so far of the Frankie series; ill probably need to go back and catch up!
I like this story about Frankie hired by a serial killer on death row, to locate her long lost sister; only to get herself involved in a bigger plot and unravel a secret that had my jaw drop open.
Solid 4 stars!!!!
February 14, 2024
This book is #3 in the Frankie Elkin series and the expected publication date is March 12, 2024.
I really like the Frankie Elkin series. D.D. Warren is still my favorite but I can never resist one of the Frankie books. I love that she searches for the missing persons that the rest of the world has forgotten. Still See You Everywhere is a "locked island" or "locked atoll" mystery with 12 strangers, MANY secrets, and no way to call for help. Different and oh so interesting!
I'm the first to admit that not all of the book was believable but I was so entertained; I didn't care!
Many thanks to both #GrandCentralPublishing and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Still See You Everywhere.
I really like the Frankie Elkin series. D.D. Warren is still my favorite but I can never resist one of the Frankie books. I love that she searches for the missing persons that the rest of the world has forgotten. Still See You Everywhere is a "locked island" or "locked atoll" mystery with 12 strangers, MANY secrets, and no way to call for help. Different and oh so interesting!
I'm the first to admit that not all of the book was believable but I was so entertained; I didn't care!
Many thanks to both #GrandCentralPublishing and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Still See You Everywhere.
January 23, 2024
Frankie Elkin is is a recovering alcoholic who has lost her one great love and abandoned a settled life to devote herself to tracking down cold case missing people, often putting herself in danger. All of her possessions fit into one small suitcase as she travels around the country, seeking those whom others have forgotten.
She is contacted by Kaylee,“The Beautiful Butcher”, a brutal serial killer on death row about to have her sentence carried out in three weeks to find the Butcher’s minority age sister, Lea, who was abducted twelve years ago by Kaylee’s former abusive lover, a wealthy mogul. Her search takes her undercover to a remote tropical island on which he is to build an eco resort. There she meets a cast of characters, some of whom may be a danger to her. When the mogul and Lea show up, everyone’s life may be in peril.
This is the third in the Frankie Elkin series; I have read one other. this would work well as a standalone.
Lisa Gardner is a successful, prolific writer, and this is another good addition to her body of work. Although I found the plot more than a bit unbelievable, it was a fast paced, engrossing, suspenseful read. I loved the description of the flora and fauna of the island, which is based on Gardner’s trip to the real life Palmyra Atoll in the Pacific. Read this if nothing else to learn and have nightmares about the omnivorous coconut crab!
Thanks to #netgalley and @grandcentralpub for the ARC.
She is contacted by Kaylee,“The Beautiful Butcher”, a brutal serial killer on death row about to have her sentence carried out in three weeks to find the Butcher’s minority age sister, Lea, who was abducted twelve years ago by Kaylee’s former abusive lover, a wealthy mogul. Her search takes her undercover to a remote tropical island on which he is to build an eco resort. There she meets a cast of characters, some of whom may be a danger to her. When the mogul and Lea show up, everyone’s life may be in peril.
This is the third in the Frankie Elkin series; I have read one other. this would work well as a standalone.
Lisa Gardner is a successful, prolific writer, and this is another good addition to her body of work. Although I found the plot more than a bit unbelievable, it was a fast paced, engrossing, suspenseful read. I loved the description of the flora and fauna of the island, which is based on Gardner’s trip to the real life Palmyra Atoll in the Pacific. Read this if nothing else to learn and have nightmares about the omnivorous coconut crab!
Thanks to #netgalley and @grandcentralpub for the ARC.
December 10, 2023
Admittedly, I hadn’t read the first two books of the Frankie Elkin series before reading this one. You don’t need to in order to understand this story, but I wonder if I wouldn’t have found Frankie so insufferable if I had gotten to know her in the previous novels. Frankie’s “weird hobby” is finding missing people and she is summoned to a prison to help a serial killer, the Beautiful Butcher, find her long-lost sister. The plot seems unique enough and I was interested, but this book was not it for me.
~spoilers below~
The story moved very slowly. For twenty-two chapters we learn about atolls, coconut crabs, wolf spiders, and jungle foliage. I wouldn’t say I liked AP Environmental Science when I was in school and now I’m learning how to be a conservationist from a thriller. Things don’t pick up until chapter 23 where Frankie doesn’t lift a finger to do her actualjob, I mean hobby, and find the missing sister. Instead, "Missing" Sister is dropped off on a private plane right at Frankie's fingertips. Very convenient!
Then all hell breaks loose because Serial Killer was smuggled onto the private plane (how big was this Cessna?) and Frankie really tried to lure out a deadly serial killer who just decapitated a man and placed his head on a stake with a plate of spaghetti. Lmaoooooo no ma’am. She don’t want your plate of SPAGHETTI. Then it is revealed that Missing Sister and Serial Killer are actually… *drum roll* working together! Wait, what? So you’re telling me that Frankie could have been eliminated from this entire story and it would have ended exactly the same?
The answer is a resounding YES because it ends with a MURDER SUICIDE where Missing Sister kills her serial killer sister who is also her mom. That’s right! We also got an incest revelation wedged in at the very end in case you needed something else unnecessary. I won’t give up on Lisa Gardner, but unfortunately, I’m giving up on Frankie.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Expected publication date of March 12, 2024.
~spoilers below~
The story moved very slowly. For twenty-two chapters we learn about atolls, coconut crabs, wolf spiders, and jungle foliage. I wouldn’t say I liked AP Environmental Science when I was in school and now I’m learning how to be a conservationist from a thriller. Things don’t pick up until chapter 23 where Frankie doesn’t lift a finger to do her actual
Then all hell breaks loose because Serial Killer was smuggled onto the private plane (how big was this Cessna?) and Frankie really tried to lure out a deadly serial killer who just decapitated a man and placed his head on a stake with a plate of spaghetti. Lmaoooooo no ma’am. She don’t want your plate of SPAGHETTI. Then it is revealed that Missing Sister and Serial Killer are actually… *drum roll* working together! Wait, what? So you’re telling me that Frankie could have been eliminated from this entire story and it would have ended exactly the same?
The answer is a resounding YES because it ends with a MURDER SUICIDE where Missing Sister kills her serial killer sister who is also her mom. That’s right! We also got an incest revelation wedged in at the very end in case you needed something else unnecessary. I won’t give up on Lisa Gardner, but unfortunately, I’m giving up on Frankie.
Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Expected publication date of March 12, 2024.
March 11, 2024
Welp, this took a turn. I kinda thought this series would keep building in an upwards direction (books one and two were three and four stars respectively) and yet we've taken a few steps back here and I wish I knew why. All I can say is that this book a) didn't feel much like Gardner and b) wasn't it.
I don't know if it was the year-long sabbatical she mentioned taking before writing this or just coincidence that this bonkers plot was the first thing she picked up after said break but.. yeah. This didn't work.
This really went beyond the realm of both possibility and belief and yet was simultaneously slow and boring and then to have that ending.. I just.. what?
We had something of a missing person's situation (because of course we do, that's the point of the series) but unlike previous cases this time there's a really good chance the missing is actually alive. And can be found. The catch? Frankie has to travel to a remote atoll in Hawaii to determine the validity of the claim and the person who petitions her to do so? Is a serial killer on death-row.
So things start off well. But from the moment we get to the island? Chores. Crabs. Cooking. And it doesn't get any better once the action starts. There's death and mayhem and it's all so unhinged and unbelievable that I honestly felt like I was hallucinating and then it was over and we have to watch Frankie make a weird romantic connection (again, one for each book, so unnecessary, let the girl live) and the end.
For what felt like such a strong start to another in a pretty solid series, this was incredibly disappointing and there's not much left to say. I will of course read on because Gardner is one of my top favourites in this genre but maybe I'll temper some of my expectations for the next one. Just incase.
** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
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This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
I don't know if it was the year-long sabbatical she mentioned taking before writing this or just coincidence that this bonkers plot was the first thing she picked up after said break but.. yeah. This didn't work.
This really went beyond the realm of both possibility and belief and yet was simultaneously slow and boring and then to have that ending.. I just.. what?
We had something of a missing person's situation (because of course we do, that's the point of the series) but unlike previous cases this time there's a really good chance the missing is actually alive. And can be found. The catch? Frankie has to travel to a remote atoll in Hawaii to determine the validity of the claim and the person who petitions her to do so? Is a serial killer on death-row.
So things start off well. But from the moment we get to the island? Chores. Crabs. Cooking. And it doesn't get any better once the action starts. There's death and mayhem and it's all so unhinged and unbelievable that I honestly felt like I was hallucinating and then it was over and we have to watch Frankie make a weird romantic connection (again, one for each book, so unnecessary, let the girl live) and the end.
For what felt like such a strong start to another in a pretty solid series, this was incredibly disappointing and there's not much left to say. I will of course read on because Gardner is one of my top favourites in this genre but maybe I'll temper some of my expectations for the next one. Just incase.
** I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
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This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
January 5, 2024
Quick Synopsis: Frankie, skilled in finding missing people, is asked to find the missing sister of "The Beautiful Butcher" who's a convicted serial killer on the eve of her execution. This leads Frankie to a remote atoll off of Hawaii, completely isolated to find Lea.
This is a hard one to review as I didn't find there was much depth to it. Frankie arrives on the remote island as a worker replacing another worker who was injured. Her job is to support the current staff by cooking, cleaning and rationing alcohol(mindful she is a recovering alcoholic) while the resort is being built, non-other by the person who may or may not have kidnapped Lea. I don't recall we ever find out what happened to that employee, only to be used as a plot device to get Frankie to the island.
Upon arrival, Frankie is introduced to a number of characters and crabs. Yes, crabs. Those that could crunch you with hydraulic arms.
This is where I lost interest, there is not much investigation, just more dialogue with the team that is working there along with said crabs and one spider that lives in her cabin that she is only in for a day or so.
Nothing really happened until the last 30% of the book and then it ramped up, but at this point I was kind of in disbelief on the why and how, and also how a coconut crab with hydraulic arms wasn't more utilized.
While thrilled I received an advanced copy of this, I found Gardner's earlier books way better. I did realize this was book 3 in a series so made sure to read book 2 and felt the remote setting was redundant in both books. I wanted more investigation from Frankie and not the quick ending that came out of left field.
I would recommend starting more with Gardner's earlier series then this one, as they were much different and more gritty.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest revie.
This is a hard one to review as I didn't find there was much depth to it. Frankie arrives on the remote island as a worker replacing another worker who was injured. Her job is to support the current staff by cooking, cleaning and rationing alcohol(mindful she is a recovering alcoholic) while the resort is being built, non-other by the person who may or may not have kidnapped Lea. I don't recall we ever find out what happened to that employee, only to be used as a plot device to get Frankie to the island.
Upon arrival, Frankie is introduced to a number of characters and crabs. Yes, crabs. Those that could crunch you with hydraulic arms.
This is where I lost interest, there is not much investigation, just more dialogue with the team that is working there along with said crabs and one spider that lives in her cabin that she is only in for a day or so.
Nothing really happened until the last 30% of the book and then it ramped up, but at this point I was kind of in disbelief on the why and how, and also how a coconut crab with hydraulic arms wasn't more utilized.
While thrilled I received an advanced copy of this, I found Gardner's earlier books way better. I did realize this was book 3 in a series so made sure to read book 2 and felt the remote setting was redundant in both books. I wanted more investigation from Frankie and not the quick ending that came out of left field.
I would recommend starting more with Gardner's earlier series then this one, as they were much different and more gritty.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest revie.
February 9, 2024
The 3rd book in the Frankie Elkin series is an absolute winner! So darker and very messed up, just the way that I like them.
Frankie goes to see a convicted serial killer on death row, a woman known as The Beautiful Butcher. She is being executed in 3 weeks and wants Frankie to find her little sister, who she believes is on a remote atoll of the coast of Hawaii, owned by a billionaire businessman. The island is full of people who have no fixed address and Frankie soon begins to feel at home. And then the storm hits…
This book was so addictive. Each chapter ended and you just needed to know what would happen next. Full of action and suspense, it is a dramatic story that will keep you guessing.
Thanks so much to Random House UK, Cornerstone, Century and NetGalley for my advanced copy to read. Published on March 14th.
Frankie goes to see a convicted serial killer on death row, a woman known as The Beautiful Butcher. She is being executed in 3 weeks and wants Frankie to find her little sister, who she believes is on a remote atoll of the coast of Hawaii, owned by a billionaire businessman. The island is full of people who have no fixed address and Frankie soon begins to feel at home. And then the storm hits…
This book was so addictive. Each chapter ended and you just needed to know what would happen next. Full of action and suspense, it is a dramatic story that will keep you guessing.
Thanks so much to Random House UK, Cornerstone, Century and NetGalley for my advanced copy to read. Published on March 14th.
March 20, 2024
I really enjoy Lisa Gardner’s books. I especially like the Frankie Elkin series. These books are mystery/detective plus a good dose of thriller.
Once a book has moved into thriller territory I need it to have strong believable characters, and enough solid writing and sense of place that I happily pack up my belief and throw away the key. This book did that.
The settings in each Frankie Elkin book are all different and all very fun to be immersed in. This book took place on a Hawaiian atoll. There are a bunch of fascinating crabs running around. Oh! And a female serial killer dubbed “The Beautiful Butcher.”
Once a book has moved into thriller territory I need it to have strong believable characters, and enough solid writing and sense of place that I happily pack up my belief and throw away the key. This book did that.
The settings in each Frankie Elkin book are all different and all very fun to be immersed in. This book took place on a Hawaiian atoll. There are a bunch of fascinating crabs running around. Oh! And a female serial killer dubbed “The Beautiful Butcher.”
March 31, 2024
3.5 stars
February 2, 2024
4.5/5
This is the third book in the Frankie Elkin series and it is best if you read them in order because there are some minor spoilers here. Frankie is still dealing with the repercussions from the last book and she references previous events a few times so definitely go back to the first two books, they’re SO good! Frankie is exactly the type of character who can truly carry a thriller series, she’s highly complex and very interesting and with every book a new piece of the puzzle of Frankie is revealed making me only want to know more.
Although I was interested in the story right away it does take some time for things to really get going but the journey to get to the true action was still entertaining for me. Frankie is undercover for this case posing as an employee and she’s as out of her element as she was in the last book. The location of the island and how very isolated everyone is added so much tension and unsettling feelings to the story, I always love when a beautiful locale is the setting for something creepy and this definitely had that. The twists were really good and I definitely didn’t see them coming and the last quarter was really gripping. LG is such a trusted author for me, she always delivers and this one was fantastic.
This is the third book in the Frankie Elkin series and it is best if you read them in order because there are some minor spoilers here. Frankie is still dealing with the repercussions from the last book and she references previous events a few times so definitely go back to the first two books, they’re SO good! Frankie is exactly the type of character who can truly carry a thriller series, she’s highly complex and very interesting and with every book a new piece of the puzzle of Frankie is revealed making me only want to know more.
Although I was interested in the story right away it does take some time for things to really get going but the journey to get to the true action was still entertaining for me. Frankie is undercover for this case posing as an employee and she’s as out of her element as she was in the last book. The location of the island and how very isolated everyone is added so much tension and unsettling feelings to the story, I always love when a beautiful locale is the setting for something creepy and this definitely had that. The twists were really good and I definitely didn’t see them coming and the last quarter was really gripping. LG is such a trusted author for me, she always delivers and this one was fantastic.
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