In this rare standalone, the prolific Gardner has come up with one of the most original characters in recent crime fiction, a woman readers can care about even while not being entirely sure of what to make of her

It's hard to tag just one stand-out element here, between the multidimensional portrayal of Mattapan's Haitian expat community, Frankie's humanizing demons and straightforward investigative technique, and a page-turning plot with all its ends tucked in unpredictably tight. Tense and immersive, Gardner's latest...is a sure bet both for readers drawn to gritty gumshoe fiction and for the growing legion of true- crime podcast fans.

Fans of this incredible author, police procedurals, timely immigrant stories, strong determined women, and tales that are not tied up with a pretty bow at the end will not be able to get enough of this intense page-turner.

This book, the best-selling author's first stand-alone novel in 20-years, is a sharply-written, tension-filled yarn full of twists readers are unlikely to see coming. The most compelling element, however, is the character of Frankie, a recovering alcoholic whose obsession with the missing is a penance of sorts for the burden of guilt and grief she carries over a past trauma that took the life of a man she loves.

With a stunning sense of place, a complex mystery, and a well-rounded cast of supporting characters, Before She Disappeared is the definition of a page-turner.

Before She Disappeared introduces what may be the most powerful sleuth of the decade, an "ordinary" woman driven to uncover the truth at any personal cost. There's only one thing to ask for by the time the book ends: please, please, a sequel and a series.

The plot itself is intricate, beautifully sad, and totally outraging.
Lisa Gardner outdid herself with this superb piece of fiction that feels real enough to leave a lasting impact on you.?????

Wow-what a story, what a book! I knew that I would love it, I mean it is a Lisa Gardner book for starters, but she is prolific in sucking you into her world and feeling everything your characters feel

This story gripped me from the start with its rather intense opening. The ending was very clever and took me completely by surprise. I can't wait to read more from this author in the future

Before She Disappeared' is a well-paced mystery that really packs an emotional punch. This may have been the first Lisa Gardner book that I've read but it won't be my last

Before She Disappeared is another sophisticated, gritty, unnerving read by Gardner that may be the first standalone novel she's written in a while but still has all the twists, turns, suspense, in-depth character development, and forensic analysis we've come to expect and love from all her previous novels

Frankie is one strong, independent and determined lady and she does not give up. Got to praise her for that. Can she find the girl before it's too late? A very clever story one that I didn't know much about to be honest. Very clever. Highly recommend. A huge five stars from me. Brilliant read!

This is action-packed, fast paced with an underlying humour. I absolutely loved it. Frankie Elkin is a character that I want to see more of. 5 Stars

Before She Disappeared is a fantastic novel and one that had me hooked from the beginning. It's a great concept, and I liked the approach to solving a missing persons cases as Frankie's role gives a different perspective to the more common police procedural and journo angles. Highly recommended

This is a truly gripping novel, full of tension and a surprisingly emotional core, with characters and story which kept be completely gripped from the off. I know I'd be happy to meet up with Frankie again in the future, but for now I'll settle for heading back to the Lisa Gardner back catalogue, see what other treats there are waiting for me

While other writers come across as formulaic, Sveistrup's plot develops naturally, and he finds space amid the child abuse and harassment for enough injections of humanity that The Chestnut Man never turns into violence porn, a stumbling block for several of his Danish colleagues. The key is Thulin and Hess, the most promising pair of investigators in Nordic crime since Saga and Martin first met over a corpse on a bridge in 2011

Individual scenes in the narrative stand out knife-sharp in all their calculated evil. Their encounter with brutal reality nearly overwhelms those involved, and the reader is profoundly challenged by the novel's material. But you survive because you retain a clear sense that there must be a deep well of sorrow behind the crimes, and because the author depicts his cast of characters in such a nuanced way that you sympathise with the hard-pressed investigative team, the victims, and the person behind the terrible murders. Sveistrup keeps the reader gripped until the very end. This is professional writing in the very best sense, and I'm looking forward to more.

The Chestnut Man is an intensely gripping first novel that feels anything but debut-like. Seasoned crime fans with feel as though they're in very safe hands ... [Sveistrup] throws his hat into the ring with extreme professionalism and a talent for deploying his special tricks in precisely calibrated doses.

Praise for The Killing

Excellent . . . A shrewd mix of police procedural, political thriller and domestic drama

TV of the absolute finest quality . . . the writing shines