Kill a friend??? Touch & Go by Lisa Gardner #amreading #bookreview

You all know how much I love Indie Authors and their books. I'd say probably 85% to 90% of what I read is Indies. But now and then I venture into the realm of traditionally published authors and this is one of those times.

Lisa Gardner is, in my humble opinion, one of the best mystery/crime writers around and with every book she gets that much better. And one thing I learned about her when I finished this book - and that I absoluetly LOVE - is that she has an annual "Kill a Friend, Maim a Mate" contest for her fans where they can enter the name of a friend or loved one in the contest. The chosen name will become a character which will be killed off in one of Lisa's novels. How fun is that?

I've previously read four of her books - one of which I only rated three stars and the other three got four stars. Pretty good marks in my opinion.

So Touch & Go is my fifth foray into Lisa Gardner's extensive body of work. I must say - I think this one gets five stars from me. 


It is the story of a family in crisis, for a variety of reasons - who in thie midst of their personal chaos just happen to be kidnapped. Unsure of their survival, this family implodes under the stress during captivity. It is written from the perspective of Libby - the wife/mother, and also from the perspective of two of the investigators desperately searching for the family before the worst case scenario happens.

I felt Lisa did an excellent job of getting inside Libby's head and all the emotions she went through. I empathisized with her greatly. I will admit I figured out who the mastermind was long before the end. I can't say if that is because I read a lot of mysteries, or maybe even Lisa and I have the same twisted type of logic.

I will say this - this book kept me up until 4:30 am in my desperate need to not put it down. It's a little bit pricey for a Kindle book - you can get the paperback cheaper. If you are interested in getting a copy for yourself - just click here to go to Amazon and look at all the book options - including that cheaper paperback.

Who is your favorite crime/mystery author and what is your favorite of their books?

Book blurb:
#1 New York Times bestseller Lisa Gardner, author of Catch Me and Love You More, returns with a heart-thumping thriller about what lurks behind the facade of a perfect family.

This is my family:  Vanished without a trace…

Justin and Libby Denbe have the kind of life that looks good in the pages of a glossy magazine. A beautiful fifteen-year old daughter, Ashlyn. A gorgeous brownstone on a tree-lined street in Boston’s elite Back Bay neighborhood. A great marriage, admired by friends and family.  A perfect life.

This is what I know:  Pain has a flavor…

When investigator Tessa Leoni arrives at the crime scene in the Denbes’ home, she finds scuff marks on the floor and Taser confetti in the foyer.  The family appears to have been abducted, with only a pile of their most personal possessions remaining behind.  No witnesses, no ransom demands, no motive.  Just an entire family, vanished without a trace.

This is what I fear:  The worst is yet to come…

Tessa knows better than anyone that even the most perfect façades can hide the darkest secrets.  Now she must race against the clock to uncover the Denbes’ innermost dealings, a complex tangle of friendships and betrayal, big business and small sacrifices.  Who would want to kidnap such a perfect little family?  And how far would such a person be willing to go?

This is the truth:  Love, safety, family… - it is all touch and go.

About the author:
New York Times bestselling crime novelist 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 parlayed her interest in police procedure, cutting edge forensics and twisted plots into a streak of eleven bestselling suspense novels.

Readers are invited to get in on the fun by entering the annual "Kill a Friend, Maim a Mate" Sweepstakes, where they can nominate the person of their choice to die in Lisa's latest novel. Every year, one lucky stiff is selected for literary immortality. It's cheaper than therapy, and you get a great book besides. For more details, simply visit Lisa's website.

Lisa lives in the White Mountains of New Hampshire with her family, as well as two highly spoiled dogs and one extremely neurotic three-legged cat. Lisa graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in international relations.