Member Reviews

I've never read Lisa gardener before and this book started off a bit slow but as you get know kimberley, d. D,flora it soon become a page tuner.

It took me a while to get used certain wordings in the book as it's based in America.

Was this review helpful?

Fantastic. I enjoyed this book a lot. The setting and general atmosphere were very well described and the combination of characters worked excellently together. I won’t give away any of the plot, but if you like fast paced thrillers you should read this.

Was this review helpful?

Feisty females combatting evil in a deadly southern town - with twists and turns to keep you guessing till the very end.

Was this review helpful?

Intriguing storyline. Very well written. Strong characterisations. Plenty of suspense to keep me enthralled. Would definitely read her next novel. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

Was this review helpful?

When You See Me by Lisa Gardner is a crime novel, set in the US, and is the 20th book in the Gardner Universe, and by this it means that there are characters from different series who cross paths.  

This is my first Lisa Gardner book, but she explains who everyone is, and you get a feel for what's going on very quickly.

Flora Dane was held for just over a year by Jacob Ness, a serial kidnapper linked to a number of disappearances.  When skeletal remains of one of his possible victims are found in the woods, then Flora is a natural person to include in the investigation as she knew Ness best.

This was a well paced crime novel, and one that I really enjoyed.  I was swept along by the story, and wanted to know what would happen next. I didn't feel like I was missing out on much by not having read the previous books, other than the connection to the characters that you get from having read a lot of books in a series!

 When You See Me  is to be published on 20th February 2020,  and is available to pre-order on  Amazon   and on  Waterstones .  I've found a  link  to where you can search for local bookshops, including independent!

You can follow Lisa Gardner on  Twitter ,  Facebook ,  Instagram  (it looks like she uses all three!) or through her  website 

If you're interested in crime novels, then here's some others I've reviewed:

 Run Away by Harlan Coben 

 Scrublands by Chris Hammer 

 The Wedding Guest by Jonathan Kellerman 

I was given this book for free in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to  Random House UK, Cornerstone (the publishers) for this book.

Check out my  GoodReads profile  to see more reviews!

Was this review helpful?

This is Lisa Gardner on top form. As ever strong characters who step off the page, especially the monsters and there are a few. Completely engrossed in the concluding chapters that I missed my stop on the train. Worth it though.

Was this review helpful?

I have to admit to being slightly confused by Lisa Gardner's series' (**though not in a bad way!**).

I actually think perhaps there were more series' and some merged when I wasn't looking? I'm not sure. But although this is the 11th in the DD Warren series, I note it's also labelled 20th in the Gardner Universe. Which entirely makes sense given the crossovers. (And makes me feel less as if I'm losing my mind.)

I believe this is the third book in the series to feature Flora Dane. I first met her in Find Her (her second appearance) in which she was taking justice into her own hands as a wannabe vigilante. She'd been held captive herself for over a year so had insight into both the victim and perpetrator mindsets. That book, and last year's Never Tell, were actually as much about Flora as they were about DD Warren and I'm wondering if she'll continue to be part of Warren's future.

In Never Tell Flora and Warren (along with Kimberley Quincy) learn that Flora's captor (the very dead Jacob Ness) could potentially have been part of a larger consortium of baddies with a sadistic streak and penchant for young girls and women.

That book also introduced Keith, a computer guru with a true crime fetish. There's an obvious attraction between Keith and Flora but she's still unsure as this book opens.

"My current theory is that he's either the first good thing to happen in my life in a very long time. Or he's a serial killer." p 20

And... 

"I still don't know what to do with a man like Keith. Who's obviously interested in me, but also patient and understanding. Sometimes, he even says exactly the right thing, except instead of making me feel better, it makes me suspicious. He's too knowledgeable, too understanding. 

They say Ted Bundy was very persuasive as well." p 21

The civilians are invited onto the taskforce, along with Warren by Quincy as - following the discovery of a young woman's bones - there's a possibility there are links to Jacob Ness (and his messed-up world).

As DD and Kimberley are both away from home and their families, Keith is really the only male character featured to any extent, so it's very much the women's show.

In addition to our very strong three female leads, DD, Kimberley and Flora, we meet a young girl. She's only five years old when the book opens but we come across her again about a decade later and part of the story unfolds from her point of view. She's unable to speak but incredibly insightful and intuitive.

Gardner keeps the action coming in this latest book. Her writing's smart and tight, her characters all likeable, the plot's well-paced and the case(s) at hand complex.

Of course, things are never as they seem and though there are links to past cases here, there are also new heinous crimes to uncover.

I often dislike over-arching story arcs that span several books but realise that's only when they don't (ever) form integral parts of a novel's plot. (I was relieved, for example, when Candice Fox ensured that her Crimson Lake series lead, Ted Conkaffey's backstory became the plot, rather than something distracting in the background. She (along with co-author) James Patterson, did the same in their Harriet Blue series.) 

Gardner includes a few twists and though we know who the baddies are going into the final scenes there's still a sense of frustration and surprise at their guile and complete lack of contrition. And I should mention the senseless loss of life and its repercussions had me shedding a few tears at the end.

Was this review helpful?

Lisa Gardner is one of those authors that when a new book is released you know you have to rush straight out to buy it, and what a book this is!

When You See Me is the 11th installment from the D.D. Warren series, and the beauty with this book is that it can be read as a standalone if you haven't read the previous novels as you really don't need to be acquainted with the names of the characters to jump in to.

Then. A young girl is kidnapped and her mother murdered.  Known only as Girl, she is scarred both physically and mentally causing her loss of the ability to speak. Her captor is a monster and there is no escape.

Now. When two hikers stumble across a human bone found off path on a mountain trail in Niche, Georgia, it is believed to belong to that of Lilah Abenido who disappeared 15 years ago, and could potentially be one of serial killer Jacob Ness' first victims.  FBI agent Kimberly Quincy brings in detective D.D. Warren, computer analyst Keith, and Flora Dane, kidnapped survivor of the late Ness.  However, all is not as it seems as more skeletal remains are uncovered and with the trail leading cold towards Ness the team have to wonder if there's a more sinister role at play in this quiet Georgian town.


Told by four narratives, D.D, Kimberly, Flora and Girl, you really get to see a lot of their backgrounds info and what their lives entail. Again, this is great for readers who haven't followed the series. The characters are strong and more importantly they are believable. My favourite character in this crime read is Girl, she has been through so much at a young age but her strength is deeply admirable.
Kidnapping stories always pull on my heartstrings, so it's no surprise that I found a few tears rolling down my cheeks. As always, Lisa handles these crime situations with such delicacy and care.
With such a well-devised plot this will have you in a spin trying to figure it all out, so get comfy, pour a drink or two (you'll need to as once you've started reading you won't be able to stop) and get ready for this page turning gem of a read with an ending you won't see coming.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book so that I could give an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This is a really good read. I read it in 1 sitting. There are plenty of interesting characters and a really good plot.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Was this review helpful?

When two hikers discover human bones in the Appalachian mountains, the police believe that they might belong to one of many undiscovered victims of the long-deceased Jacob Ness.
FBI Special Agent, Kimberly Quincy, and Sergeant Detective D.D. Warren along with Flora Dane, the only kidnapping survivor, and Keith, a computer analyst, arrive at Niche, a little town in the hills of Georgia to investigate and soon enough more human remains are unearthed.
Were they all Ness' victims or is there something more sinister going on in the little town?

I really enjoyed this book - a fast paced thriller which was easy to read. Just realised that this is the 11th book in the series when I went to write a review but it’s good as a stand-alone book. I will check out some of the earlier books in the series and will definitely look out for this author going forward, particularly as I liked the characters.

I’d like to thank NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for a review.

Was this review helpful?

Sorry, I can't read this it is full of numbers on almost every line, since I listen to books it makes it impossible to make sense of what is actually being said.

Was this review helpful?

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this amazing book

another amazing book by lisa gardner and it doesnt fail to deliver...with our favourite characters d.d and kimberley and flora in a race against time to uncover what has been found in the mountains and how does it come back to the man that held flora captive for a year

its is fast paced and brilliantly written that keeps you on the edge of your seat as you read

cant fault it and this one adds to the series in more ways than one...brilliant and answers quite a few questions

Was this review helpful?

Enjoyed this book very much, easy reading managed to read in two sittings. good characters and good plot. Would highly recommend and would definitely read other books by the author.

Was this review helpful?

Lisa Gardner remains in top form in her latest thriller When You See Me. Detective DD Warren, FBI Special Agent Kimberly Quincy and survivor/vigilante Flora Dane are called together to help solve a murder in the hills of Georgia. This is a top notch thrill ride though so be aware of that before you start reading. Many of Lisa Gardner’s books grab you and make you want to eat up every word, this book adds a lot more hair-raising angst that will grab you by the throat. Unputdownable! Best book so far this year.

Was this review helpful?

For me, this was a decent hospital read.
What do I mean by that? Perfect for those times when you are laid up, wanting some good quality escapism without having to think too hard.
It is a solid, decent thriller / police procedural with a number of different point of view characters all of whom are just a little bit two dimensional: Detective D.D. Warren, the driven police detective; Flora Dane, the survivor of an horrific kidnapping and imprisonment by Ness, the (now deceased) main suspect in the current case; and Kimberly Quincy, FBI Special Agent. Add to that mix, Keith, who is a (somewhat creepy) boyfriend of Dane's and also true crime enthusiast obsessed with Ness.
A body is discovered in the isolated community of Niche in Georgia, heading into the Appalachian Trail, it is linked with Ness and the group formed to investigate.- and a very solid and competent procedural continues.
This is one in a series of novels and the first that I had read, but I didn't feel that I missed out on anything: plenty of exposition and careful explaining.

Was this review helpful?

Lisa Gardiner is one of my favourite American crime authors, I always know when I pick up one of her books I’m in for a thrilling read, and When You See Me the authors latest offering was certainly worth the wait. Intricately plotted, with fascinating characters,and a shocking plot I think it’s one of her best books yet. For me a good crime thriller has to have a dark edge, check, it’s got to lean towards the gory side, check, and the plot has to be one that keeps me on the edge of my seat, check and guess what? this books fits the bill to a tee. When You See Me is the eleventh book in the Detective DD Warren series, it’s not crucial to have read the whole series, as the author gives you enough details about Flora’s background for you to be able to follow the story. Fans of well-plotted and researched mysteries, with complex, ever evolving characters will enjoy this read, it’s a well written killer thriller that features characters that are well rounded and unforgettable.

Was this review helpful?

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher, Randomhouse UK for providing me with a copy of this book. I don't know if it was the frame of mind I was in earlier on in the year but I started this book. Found that I wasn't too keen, put it down and then started reading it again recently and loved it.

I'll probably re-read at some point to see whether this was down to me or if the book really gets better about halfway, which was about the point when I put the book down. I will also buy the first book in the series and work my way through.

This is one of those books I would recommend sticking with because it does get better in the second half. Although changes direction a little and I liked the ending.

Was this review helpful?

I'm gutted. I've read a few books by this author and usually love them. This book needed formatting as it was distracting when trying to get into the book. The parts where it was written in the first person were too vague and oddly written for me to understand what was being said. When the remains were found, it held my interest but I was too frustrated by the rest to enjoy it.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to Netgalley, Lisa Gardner and Random House, Cornerstone for my ARC of Now You See Me in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: Book 11 in the DD Warren series brings three of Lisa Gardner's best known characters together in one book. When the skeletal remains of a young woman are found in the woods of a small Georgian town, Special Agent Kimberley Quincy brings Detective DD Warren and vigilante Flora Dane onto her task force when the serial killer Jacob Ness is suspected of involvement. Kimberley and DD must bring together their experience and skill set to get to the bottom of what is really going on in that town and Flora must finally face her past head on if she'd like to finally get on with her future.

This was another enjoyable read in this series. I love the Quincy series and the DD Warren one and both characters are excellent. I'm still really struggling to cope with Flora being such a central character especially as she is super annoying! The story was interesting with many layers and the usual wonderful complexity bringing it to a race to the end!

Was this review helpful?

When two hikers discover human bones in the Appalachian mountains, the police believe that they might belong to one of many undiscovered victims of the long-deceased Jacob Ness.
FBI Special Agent, Kimberly Quincy, and Sergeant Detective D.D. Warren along with Flora Dane, the only kidnapping survivor, and Keith, a computer analyst, arrive at Niche, a little town in the hills of Georgia to investigate and soon enough more human remains are unearthed.
Were they all Ness' victims or is there something more sinister going on in the little town?

It was an utterly gripping read that kept me turning the pages in a mad dash to find out who the Bad Man was.
I didn't realise it was the 11th book in a series but nonetheless, it read perfectly fine as a stand-alone novel. Moreover, I am very keen to go back and read the previous books in the series.
The story is fast-paced, and the different perspectives build the tension perfectly. I especially loved Bonita's narration.
I'd give it 5 stars, but the story was slow to start with and didn't hook me instantly.
Either way, it is a highly recommendable read and not only for fans of the series. If you pick it up, you are very unlikely to be disappointed.
The book ticks all of the important boxes; it's captivating, unputdownable, sinister, suspenseful. Simply READ IT.

Was this review helpful?