Before She Disappeared

A Novel (A Frankie Elkin Novel, Book 1)

By: Lisa Gardner

Narrated by: Hillary Huber

Length: 12 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

2022 Audie Award Finalist for Best Female Narrator

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Gardner, a propulsive thriller featuring an ordinary woman who will stop at nothing to find the missing people that the rest of the world has forgotten

Frankie Elkin is an average middle-aged woman, a recovering alcoholic with more regrets than belongings. But she spends her life doing what no one else will--searching for missing people the world has stopped looking for. When the police have given up, when the public no longer remembers, when the media has never paid attention, Frankie starts looking.

A new case brings her to Mattapan, a Boston neighborhood with a rough reputation. She is searching for Angelique Badeau, a Haitian teenager who vanished from her high school months earlier. Resistance from the Boston PD and the victim's wary family tells Frankie she's on her own--and she soon learns she's asking questions someone doesn't want answered. But Frankie will stop at nothing to discover the truth, even if it means the next person to go missing could be her.

©2021 Lisa Gardner. (P)2020 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"Prolific, award-winning narrator [Hillary] Huber delivers a gripping performance that draws listeners in quickly and holds on tightly in the first standalone from Gardner in nearly two decades.… Huber’s sardonic tones bring Frankie’s sarcastic and sharp character to life in an engaging way, setting this crime novel apart from similar titles in the genre." (Booklist)

“Narrator Hillary Huber's wry intonation perfectly matches the personality of loner amateur detective Frankie Elkin.… Huber's pace quickens as Frankie races to make Angelique the fifteenth girl she recovers, and, she hopes, the first one to be found alive.” (AudioFile Magazine)

“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.” (Library Journal, starred review)

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This was a perfect book for me!

After watching The Keepers on Netflix, I wanted to attempt solving a cold case. I lived vicariously through Frankie. She is recovering alcoholic and her honesty admitting her weaknesses is refreshing. She does not think she is a savior.

The talented narrator was perfect..

Hopefully this is going to continue as a series.

Loved it!

I loved the main character. There's a little bit of Frankie in all of us.

Great book but too much cussing

Cussing was over the top, storyline was very good. Why use so much bad language?

Good listen

I really enjoyed both books in this series. the story was very good and the I enjoyed listening to the narration.

Very slow starter …

I almost gave up on this book. Hours in before the storyline seemed to progressed into a really good story.

Probably my favorite Lisa Gardner

I've read all of Lisa Gardner's books and I think this one may be my favorite. Frankie is her new key character. Boston sets the scene. My one oh so minor gripe, as a Bostonian, is when the narrator pronounces a frappe as a frappé. Anyway, can't wait for Gardner's next!

Excellent. I couldn't stop listening.

WOW, what a compelling and well thought out thriller. The characters are realistic, flawed, and loveable. I listen to tons of thrillers/mysteries and can usually predict the end by the first chapter, not so with this one. It's a must-listen.

Loved this character!!!!

Loved this book! Amazing new character I hope to see again in a storyline. A top 10 all time favorite!

A great book

This book was awesome. I could barely sleep because I kept listening. It is well written. A great storyline. I sincerely hope there are other books featuring this character searching for other missing people. I honestly want her to stay there and look for others. Frankie is in all of us to some extent. People with baggage, life lessons that have shaped us.

Entertaining read with likable characters

Researching now to see if Frankie Elkins in a reoccurring character in a series because she’s very likable and the story was compelling. Great narration although I did enjoy it more when sped up to 1.2 speed.