THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER“An utterly absorbing story about troubled families and twisted fates. You won’t be able to put it down—and it will haunt you long after you turn the final page.”—Shari Lapena“A complex crime scene, a missing girl, a ticking clock: no one writes a more page-turning, gut-wrenching thriller.”—Tess GerritsenIn #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Gardner’s latest … Times bestselling author Lisa Gardner’s latest twisty thrill ride, Detective D. D. Warren and Find Her’s Flora Dane return in a race against the clock to either save a young girl’s life…or bring her to justice.
The home of a family of five is now a crime scene: four of them savagely murdered, one—a sixteen-year-old girl—missing. Was she lucky to have escaped? Or is her absence evidence of something sinister? Detective D. D. Warren is on the case—but so is survivor-turned-avenger Flora Dane. Seeking different types of justice, they must make sense of the clues left behind by a young woman who, whether as victim or suspect, is silently pleading, Look for me.
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My fellow New England author Lisa Gardner has a new book out 2/6. It’s called LOOK FOR ME. I’m interviewing her for the LA Book Review shortly, and can’t wait to talk about this dark family crime featuring her signature homicide detective DD Warren. The story starts with a bang, literally, and we are shown a crime scene where a family has been wiped out. But wait, a teen-aged daughter is missing! What???? Is she victim or perp? I love Lisa’s edgy suspense!
When I am writing, I gravitate toward reading thrillers. I love the kind of book that sucks you in and sweeps you away. The stay-up-all-night reading kind of book. Lisa Gardner never disappoints. She is always one of my go-to authors. Her new book, Look For Me, is another winner. Give it a try. You won’t be disappointed!
This is the first book I’ve read by Lisa Gardner and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The characters were all realistic/believable and the plot kept me turning the pages. I thought I had it figured out but then a major, yet believable, plot twist blew my mind. The author did a great job of explaining police procedural elements that kept them realistic and understandable. I’ll definitely be reading more by this author.
Thanks to the First to Read program for supplying me with an advanced copy of Look for Me in digital format.
This book starts off with a powerful preface. A group of college roommates are attacked when one of them unknowingly brings home a savage killer. The details of the event pull the reader right in. When one shocking part of the scene plays out, what seems like an absolute absurdity becomes a telling reminder of how a person never truly knows how he or she will react in any given situation!
The story itself centers around Detective D.D. Warren investigating a homicide in which 4 family members have been shot and the one remaining teenage daughter is on the run. Is she the killer or is she running from the killer? What triggered the events that led up to an entire family being murdered?
Detective Warren has been assigned the grueling case. Seeing a child who has been murdered is troubling and she can’t help but think of her own young son at home. She is absolutely driven to find the perpetrator. Detective Warren could use some assistance and sometimes having someone who is not law enforcement is better. Like it or not, Detective Warren has outside help from a woman (Flora) who was once severely traumatized herself. Will Flora and her survivors group aid the investigation or seek vigilante justice?
All in all, I thought this was a really good story. The plot was strong and while I had suspicions as to whom the real killer was, I still had doubts now and again. This was definitely a enjoyable page turner for me.
I haven’t read any other books in the series prior to this one, but I have no doubt that I will now!
This was another winner for this author. Detective D. D. Warren is called to a crime scene where four members of one family have been murdered. Another family member, teenager, Roxanna Baez, was last seen leaving the house with the family’s two dogs. When she doesn’t return from walking them, the hunt is on. Was she a victim as well, possibly kidnapped by whoever killed her family? Did she return, see all the police presence and run? Or was she the actual killer? Did she have means and motive? D. D. is determined to find out. And so is Flora Dane. She once survived being held captive for over a year by a madman. Now she helps other similar victims deal with trauma with a support group, a group Roxanna just joined.
All of her mysteries have a plot twist which I love. Great writer!
Gardner has yet again put together a frightening thriller that offers a web of plots that tie together perfectly in the end.
Beginning the tale with a hideous murder, a young girl by the name of Sarah escapes a brutal killer who has come into the home she shares with her roommates. This killer ends up taking out everyone there in front of Sarah’s eyes, leaving her with a rough time ahead as she tries to put the nightmares of the evening behind her and move on.
Time has passed and now Sergeant Detective D.D. Warren receives a call about a crime scene she must report to. Upset that she can’t spend the day with her son, helping him pick out a dog that will be added to the family, D.D. heads to work and enters a house where an entire family has been killed. One girl, however, the oldest daughter, is not there. As far as people know, she went out to walk the dogs and apparently has not returned. So, did the killer kidnap this girl after killing her family or was she, herself, the murderer and has somehow escaped?
The case becomes intricate for the Detective when the dogs are found tied to a tree with a note attached to their collars asking for them to be taken care of. As the search for this girl grows wider in scope, a rebel from D.D.’s past joins the search. She, too, is a survivor and helps others (like Sarah) get through the agony they’ve been exposed to. Although she’s a bit gritty and basically does her own investigation, she and D.D. combine forces in order to find the teenager, and figure out who on earth committed this brutality.
Readers will never be able to put this one down. The plot keeps you guessing by adding various red herrings into the mix, and characters that seem “friendly” are hiding some pretty frightening secrets. Another bestseller by Lisa Gardner.
This is my first read in Lisa Gardner’s D.D. Warren series, and from the opening scene, I expected a gripping, edge of your seat thriller. The story is quite dark, and parts were both disturbing and heart-wrenching, including Roxy’s poignant personal narrative. Unfortunately, the bulk of this one didn’t quite live up to my expectations. The story is lengthy, which wouldn’t be a problem if the pace and flow had held my attention, but in this case, it’s just long-winded and repetitive. Much of the book bounces back and forth between D.D. Warren and Flora, and often times things we learn from one are reiterated by the other. There’s a large amount of dialogue and when there is actually some real action, it feels rushed through, and then on to the next conversation. I gathered from this story that Flora was a victim in an earlier book, and while I appreciate some back story, I got enough from this one that I don’t feel the need to read Flora’s tale. The repetitiveness of this one became tedious to the point that I set it aside several times and finally pushed through just to see who the killer would be. We do get that answer, but there are so many villains here that it all becomes a bit convoluted. In the end, I didn’t hate it, but with so much talk and so little action, I was left with more of a ‘meh’ feeling than anything else.
LOOK FOR ME by Lisa Gardner grabs you by the short hairs and takes you for one heckofa psychotic ride. I thought—I really thought—I had it figured out, but a clever plot twist blew my theory to smithereens. Looking for a thriller? Look no further. LOOK FOR ME’s storyline hits it outta the park.
I love a good suspense story. You know when you read the first page and are instantly hooked that you are going to be in for a wild ride. Look for Me is one of those stories that you think you have figured out and then there is a sudden twist that has you second guessing yourself. Then another twist. And another. By the time you reach the end you close the book and mutter, “Wow.”
Roxy, a sixteen-year-old girl, is missing. Her family is brutally murdered in their home and no one knows if the missing girl is the murderer or running for her life. Detective D.D. Warren is on the case, carefully putting the pieces of the puzzle together. From what she is being told Roxy is the most level-headed person in her family, having to raise her younger brother and sister, protecting them every way she knows how, especially when they are taken away by child protective services and placed in foster care due to their mothers negligence due to alcoholism. This is the wakeup call that their mother needs and see fights to get clean and get her children back. Against all odds she accomplishes her goal and the little family is reunited. Everything seems to be going good and now almost the entire family is gunned down in cold blood and Roxy is nowhere to be found.
The deeper D.D. digs into the family’s backstory the darker the secrets that are unearthed which makes the situation that much more confusing. D.D. is approached by Flora Dane soon after news of the murders are out and requests that she be a CI in the investigation. Flora is a victim herself, and an advocate and leader of others who have been through traumatic experiences. She tells D.D. that she has been in contact with Roxy prior to the murders that adds another twist in the already confusing narrative.
The attitudes and sarcasm between D.D. and Flora is great. They both have very different tactics but they both have the same goal: to find Roxy and find the truth. The conflict between these two characters helps lighten the very dark subject matter. Look for Me delves into alcoholism, the dark side of the foster care system, the effects of a family being torn apart, and the consequences of the choices of others.
Look for Me is the ninth book in The Detective D.D. Warren Series and since this is my first book in the series to read I can honestly say it is perfectly fine to read as a standalone book. I do not post spoilers but I do have to comment that the ending, though slightly predictable, is incredibly sad. The pace of the book is even and constant and makes the book hard to put down once you stop. This is my first book by Lisa Gardner and have to say that it is well written, the story multifaceted, and will not be my last book to read by this author or in this series. Five stars!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. All opinions are my own.
A page Turner.
Love Ever single book in the DD WARREN series
As usual Lisa writes a good book.
Lisa is fantastic as always
The crime scene is distressing as Detective D. D. Warren is investigating the massacre of a family, two adults and two children. However, another child is missing and the team isn’t certain if she’s at risk or the perpetrator. And, Flora Dane is back, shadowing the case as she’s created and leading her own support group for survivors like her, teaching them to go beyond just coping. She’s got a special interest in finding Roxy Baez, the missing daughter, and D. D. isn’t sure whether she’s helping or a nuisance.
This was a challenging story but one that was excellent in how it illustrated the effects on children placed in the foster care system when the wrong caretakers aren’t properly supervised and monitored. The device Gardner used to give us that insight was extremely effective and compelling without having to devote a lot of time to backstories. Peeling back the chapters of this family’s lives and circumstances was at times complicated as it often went in surprising directions. It was also great to see Flora again and watch her evolution.
I liked the story but near the end I tired of the mystery and just wanted it solved. Listening to these stories is always an added benefit as Kirsten Potter wears the characters with ease and is a natural. There’s a change in D. D.’s household that provided lots of levity to a really tragic and weighty story. While it’s not my favorite, it was insightful and relevant. 3.5 stars
Detective D D Warren can relate to Flora, so they made a deal to work together, but I must warn you…have tissues handy because the highs and lows, the love and hate, had my emotions roiling, making this intense thriller impossible to put down, keeping the waters muddy and I was unable to see the end until I got there…the epilogue…a real tear jerker.
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I have enjoyed all of Lisa’s books that I’ve read. Good plots, keeps you guessing
I could not put this book down!! I’ve read a few of Lisa Gardner’s books but this one is by far my favorite!! Did not see that ending coming, still trying to process it.
Gardner is one of my favorites!
I like some books by this author yet find some are slow and predictable. This is one of her better novels.