Does Frankie Elkin take one step too far out of her comfort zone?

Five years ago, a group of best mates, head out into the wilderness for a stag weekend but one of them never returns. Since the disappearance, the father of the man who disappeared has been organising yearly searches to find his son. In this particular year, the search party are joined by Frankie Elikin, a self-certified missing person specialist. Frankie has made searching for missing people her life. She is a recovering alcoholic nomad and searching for missing people from cold cases is her way of searching for herself, or maybe running away from herself, away from her past. Nevertheless, she knows how to find people, however, in this particular case, she is lacking hiking skills and experience.

As the group embark up into the wilderness, in the hope to be their final year of searching, none of them would suspect that this trip could also be the end of their lives.

I found Frankie difficult to warm up to, but this could be due to not having read book one in this series, but as the story got going, I began to get to grips with her personality, so I feel this still can be read as a standalone. This story is a well-paced thriller where secrets and lies trickle out in perfect timing and from the start, there is definitely a sense of impending doom and I was questioning everyone in the group. I did not know who to trust. In the end, my instincts were right, but that didn't detract from my enjoyment of this book as my adrenaline was pumping at crazy speeds as the book came to a terrifying climax in the last quarter. I found it difficult not to let my eyes skip over words out of eagerness to learn more!

If you are looking for a quick, pulse racing, uneasy, terrifying, anxiety building read, then pick this one up. I'm not sure if all the events which took place would be feasible, but then I am only a novice hiker, so not really for me to say. I will say that I will be adding book one to my tbr list!

Frankie is a woman who likes to help people find their relatives that have been missing presumed dead.
She joins a group of people looking for Tim who went missing five years ago on a camping trip with his friends.
Tim’s father is in charge of this search party and has decided that he will stop at nothing to find his son.
When strange things start to happen, Frankie is convinced that they have just become prey to someone hunting them.
This book was slow to start but I’m glad I persevered as it did get better.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone. for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

I found this book really hard work which was surprising as I’ve read some good books previously by this author. I found it very slow and I gave up 40% in , it didn’t keep me interested and I was just speed reading hoping I’d get into it . I’m sure it’ll appeal to a lot of people but not for me , sorry

Wow. It's been a while since I've read a book that has kept me gripped like this one. I really enjoyed the first Frankie Elkin novel although I have to say that I think this one was even better. I wasn't sure how the premise of Frankie being a lone wanderer would work, it's hard not to get attached to the characters in a book and I thought I might miss the characters that were introduced in the first story but Lisa writes characters so well that I was too busy getting to know these characters to really notice. I liked how the book managed to blend great characters with some really great action and it was interesting to see Frankie out of her comfort zone compared to the first book and I suppose out of the comfort zone of most thrillers, it's not often that an investigation happens on a mountain. I'm already waiting with baited breath for the next Frankie installment, I'm quietly hoping for a reunion with past characters but I'm also excited to see what new characters she might come across in a whole new place.

One Step Too Far got me hooked at the beginning as eight people set out to hike to a remote canyon to search for Tim O’Day who disappeared during his stag weekend five years ago.

However I ended up skim reading much of the middle 80% as it got very repetitive with lots of information about how to survive in the wilderness and how to pay attention to tiny details when searching for a missing person. There was a lot of description of densely forested areas, massive boulders, rocks, caves and cliff which didn’t really help me visualise the terrain other than a sense that it was very challenging to hike or climb in.

I found many things unbelievable but they are hard to explain without giving major spoilers. There was some strange use of humour in the middle of life threatening situations. The book was okay in terms of the general plot but not one for me in general.

With thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love Lisa Gardner and this latest offering did not disappoint, I picked it up yesterday afternoon and it sucked me in and kept me up all night until I finished it.
I really like Frankie and she had me rooting for her throughout and I enjoyed how the story kept me guessing and the pacing and build up was great, I really felt like I was there with them, dreading what would happen next and just hoping someone would survive.
I guessed part of the reveal, my only complaint is that I felt the ending was a bit rushed after such a big build up so it didn't make a lot of sense.
Overall a great thrilling read and a fab first book of 2022 for me.
My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for my eARC in return for my honest review.

Lisa Gardner is a firm favourite of mine with the stories on Frankie and this one has well and truly lived up to expectation! This was impossible to put down and had a truly gripping thread running throughout!

After loving book one (Before She Disappeared) I was excited to return to Frankie. This did not disappoint. I was captivated from the beginning. I couldn't put this down. I just needed to know the truth.
This felt more intense and suspenseful than book one. Kept me on the edge of my seat, especially the latter half of the book.
The "twist" that came at around 60% I didn't see coming. It threw off my theories while also adding another layer of intensity and darkness to the story.
Everytime I tried to theorise what could have happened or was currently happening Gardner would throw a curveball.
By the end I was holding my breath just hoping people would survive. All of this happening over just a few days.
The epilogue had me close to tears.

Thanks to Net Galley and Random House UK for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
I am a big fan of this author, the book started really well - & then dragged on & on in the middle - I got totally bored of these people in the woods - searching for Tim O’Day who disappeared 5 years ago. I found the story a little unbelievable that year after year his father would lead another extensive search. A tense atmosphere does build but I felt the ending was really rushed..
For me a disappointing read in book two with the new lead female character Frankie Elkin, who is a strong kick ass woman who I like.

My first read and review of 2022 and what a way to start! This sets the bar really high for the rest of the year. It’s the first time I’ve read anything by Lisa Gardner and I’ll certainly be checking out her back catalogue.
Five years ago Tim O’Day and four friends trekked into the mountains to spend a few days there for his bachelor party. For Tim, hiking and outdoor pursuits were a major part of his life and this was his choice. It would also be the last time anyone saw him alive. Five friends went into the forest but only four returned, traumatised by their experience. Every year since, Tim’s father Martin has organised an expedition to try and find his son. Frankie Elkin, who now spends her time tracking down missing people, has been drawn to this search. She knows it is the last time Martin will carry out his quest. His wife is dying of cancer, and it is her last wish to have her son’s remains returned so they can be buried together.
Frankie travels to Ramsey in Wyoming to ask if she can join them. At first Martin refuses, but eventually she is allowed to accompany them.
Written from Frankie’s POV, it’s a chilling account of the small group’s trek into the mountains and the challenges they face. From the first night, it is clear someone is trying to sabotage their progress and eventually it becomes a game of cat and mouse between the unseen enemy and the group. At first, they think it is some sort of animal; later it’s clear what is stalking them is human.
Right from the beginning, this story grips. The fact the group are being trailed by something right from the first night, brings an element of fear about what its intentions are and what is going to happen next. But is there something following them? Or is the danger coming from someone within the group? As the search proceeds, through conversing with each of them, Frankie begins to realise several members of the party are keeping secrets.
A fast paced, gripping story, with hold your breath moments and an conclusion I didn’t see coming. Worth every one of the five stars I have awarded it.
My thanks to Lisa Gardner, Penguin and Netgalley for an ARC of One Step Too Far in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fairly engrossing read and I liked the central character Frankie whose mission is to help solve cold cases where no one else cares. But I felt it was a little written to order and some of the scenarios were not that plausible.

This book grabbed me from the very beginning. It held my attention throughout and kept me on the edge of my seat trying to guess what would happen next. A tense and chilling read.
A must read for thriller fans.

Book 2 in the Frankie Elkin series finds her in Wyoming searching for a man who has been missing for 5 years. It starts slow but what follows is a rollercoaster of a ride in this well written thriller, filled with so many interesting characters and a fascinating plot. I read this over two days and it's filled with betrayal, friendship, tension and a twist I really never saw coming. It works well as a standalone and I would definitely recommend the read. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Wow! I really enjoyed this book. From the beginning it grabbed me and I couldn't put it down.
Each person's story unfolding along a trip to find out what happened to someone that went missing 5 years ago.
Would highly recommend this book and I will be catching up on some of Lisa Gardner's previous books.

Thank you to Netgalley, Random House UK, Cornerstone and the author for an ARC in return for an honest review,

Frankie Elkin finds missing people when searches die down. She leads a nomadic lifestyle, with only her memories for company. When she hears of a five-year old case involving a man who went missing on a Stag weekend in the woods, and a search party of family and friends that team up every year to try and find him, she joins the search. But somebody doesn't want Frankie - or anyone else - digging around. As the team get deeper into the woods, it becomes evident that if they don't turn around, they might not make it out.

Frankie is an instantly likeable character. This is the second novel to feature her, I hadn't read the first (I will be rectifying that at my earliest opportunity). She's a recovering alcoholic, she's a nomad, she's hard on the outside - but at her core, she wants to help people.

The supporting cast are wonderful - all I really need to tell you is that there's an adorable dog, but the humans are equally as engaging to read about. Parts of this story were genuinely incredibly tense, I found myself getting really invested in each person's story and found myself holding my breath more than once.

I chose this as one of my top six reads of 2021, and I stand by that. It's rare for me to find a thriller that grabs me as much as this one did. Loved it, and I really hope that we get more Frankie Elkin books.

Wow! What can I say? This is the best book I have read in ages!
It really is a page turner, and I found myself sitting up in bed until the early hours so that I could finish it!
Frankie Elkin is a loner who travels around the country to help search for missing persons.
She finds herself volunteering to help in a search for bridegroom Tim, who went missing whilst out hiking in the wilderness with his lifelong friends, to celebrate his 'stag do'.
After they made camp, they enjoyed an evening of food and drink (lots of it). First of all, Scott disappears so Tim, an experienced hiker, decides to look for him. Scott finally emerges, but has no recollection of where he has been, or why. After a while the other friends realised that Tim is not coming back.
The group hunt for him, but to no avail. They decide to head back down the trail to get more help. A thorough search reveals nothing , and days merge into weeks, then into months and finally into years. Tim's dad Martin organises a search each year, on the anniversary of his disappearance. They search in a different location each time.
Five years on, and Frankie joins in with this annual search. Obviously, they know that they are hunting for human remains ,or just for any signs of Tim. Will they find anything this time around?
The hunters soon become the hunted, in this cat & mouse story. Who will survive?
I wholeheartedly recommend this book, and have already ordered the first book in the Frankie Elkin series.

A stag do going wrong and the groom disappearing during the camping trip seems to be a usual setting for a thriller but do not be mistaken this book is anything but usual. The writing is really enticing and made me crave a walk in the woods, you can almost smell the trees while following the search for the missing groom 5 years later. The main character starts as just a nobody with no real reason to be part of the search party but an interest in finding missing persons, she quickly becomes the centre of the party and ends up being pivotal in the story. There is no clear assumption you can make when reading this book, i genuinely had no idea about what happened to the groom and suspected everybody but changed my mind every 3-4 pages. This book is a real tour de force, the diversity of the characters coupled with a writing so meticulous it makes you feel you are there really establish Gardner as a master of her craft.

Frankie Elkin is a loner. A recovering alcoholic, she has a deep and troubled past. She has no roots, no belongings, no family. What she does have is a deep abiding commitment to finding lost souls. Be they dead or alive, she is on a mission to discover the truth and why they disappeared.

This is the second in the Frankie Elkin series and runs true to form in that the narrative is very like the first, though the scenery is far more spectacular. It is an ok story, with the ending tying things up nicely, but terribly far fetched. As it is a sequel, there are lots of references to the previous story and to Frankie’s background which are taxing, a brief throwback just the once is enough for readers to catch up. If there are to be more books in the series perhaps this can be considered.

I also hope that all the errors in the book are resolved before publication day.

A good read to take on holiday.

Thank you NetGalley.

A mystery where nearly all of the characters seem to have something to hide. After the disappearance of the groom on his stag camping holiday, his four friends, his father and a group of rescue specialists, each with their own skill set and agenda, return many years later to try and find him. The story has an Arthurian legend feel to it - a quest, a group of individuals with something to prove, an unknown “monster” who is stalking and terrorising them and a vast wilderness which might be concealing all sorts of hidden dangers. A well-plotted and competent thriller, but not especially original or memorable. A good holiday read.

With thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an advance copy to review.

Book free with Netgalley

Frankie Elkin is a loner, she moves from place to place finding lost people, who everyone else has given up searching for.

5 Young men go into the wilderness, camping for a Stag weekend, and only 4 return. What happened to the groom??

5 years later and Tim's dad has gathered everyone together to do the yearly search for Tim's body. This time he has recruited the help of a cadaver dog and his handler, a big foot hunter, The local survival expert and the 4 friends that was in the original trip. Frankie has seen reports in the news, finding out that Tim's mam is dying of Cancer, so she makes her way to the area so she can join the search. With no experience in the wilderness, they are reluctant to let her go but she talks her way into the group.

Once they get to the location to start searching, then things are starting to wrong, and people start getting hurt. What is going on and why ?? Is there a hunter stalking them and how will this random group, work together to get out of the mountains alive ??

Absolutely fantastic book, really scary and exciting, half guessed at what was going on. Definitely recommend reading this book, if your into thrillers.