Kiss Her Goodbye by Lisa Gardner – a Review

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Description:
A young mother haunted by war, determined to make a fresh start. But sometimes, the sins of the past aren’t so easy to escape.

Recent Afghan refugee Sabera Ahmadi was last seen exiting her place of work three weeks ago. The local police have yet to open a case, while her older, domineering husband seems unconcerned. Sabera’s closest friend, however, is convinced Sabera would never willingly leave her three‑year old daughter. At her insistence, missing persons expert Frankie Elkin agrees to take up the search through the broiling streets of Tucson. Just in time for a video of the young mother to surface—showing her walking away from the scene of a brutal double murder.

Frankie quickly realizes there’s much more to the Ahmadi family than meets the eye. The father Isaad is a brilliant mathematician, Sabera a gifted linguist, and their little girl Zahra—she has an uncanny ability to remember anything she sees. Which given everything that has happened during the girl’s short life, may be a terrible curse. When Isaad also disappears under mysterious circumstances and an attempt is made on Zahra’s life, Frankie realizes she must quickly crack the code of this family’s horrific past.

Someone is coming for the Ahmadis. And violence is clearly an option. When everything is on the line, how far would you go to protect the ones you love?

Frankie is about to find out.

Review:

Kiss Her Goodbye by Lisa Gardner is the 4^th book in her Frankie Elkin series. The story begins when an Afghan refugee Sabera Ahmadi was last seen exiting her place of work three weeks ago. Sabera’s closest friend, Allah is convinced that Sabera would never leave her three‑year old daughter, Zahra. She calls Frankie Elkin, to help find Sabera. Frankie Elkin works for the missing, seeking those that others can’t find often when the authorities have given up. She finds them. Frankie travels to Tucson to dig into the investigation of the missing Sabera.  Frankie is low on money, and she manages to get a job pet sitting for a video guru who will be out of the country. Frankie is needed to take care of his pets; enormous python, mini pythons, and Petunia the iguana.  

While Frankie investigates, she discovers a video showing Sabera at the scene of a brutal double murder. The more she digs, the dangerous things get. The Ahmadi family, having moved from Kabul, begin a good life, as the father is genius mathematician; Sabera is brilliant linguist and their daughter Zahra, even at a young age, has a photographic memory.  

Frankie does all she can to Sabera, as she has help from her best friend Allah, Daryl, and Rosemary.  They know that someone is trying to find Sabera or even Zahra; so they move into the mansion that Frankie is staying in. Danger is on the horizon.

Frankie is a fantastic, gusty, brave, resilient person, who always finds a way to save those missing.  You definitely want her on your side. As we get closer to the end, Sabera will show up, questioning Frankie. There were so many twists along the way.

Kiss Her Goodbye was a filled with tension, heartbreak, mystery, emotional and shocking reveals.  This was a rollercoaster story that was extremely tense. Kiss Her Goodbye was so very well written by Lisa Gardner. Frankie Elkin always finds the missing, and she is a fantastic heroine. I suggest you read Kiss Her Goodbye.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher