Touch & Go

A Novel

By: Lisa Gardner

Narrated by: Elisabeth Rodgers

Length: 14 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

This is my family: Vanished without a trace....

Justin and Libby Denbe have the kind of life you’d find in the pages of a glossy magazine: A beautiful 14-year-old daughter. A gorgeous brownstone on a tree-lined street in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood. A great marriage, admired by all. A perfect life.

This is what I know: Pain has a flavor....

When investigator Tessa Leone arrives at the crime scene in the foyer of the Denbes’ home, she finds scuff marks on the floor and a million tiny pieces of bright green Taser confetti. The family appears to have been abducted, with only a pile of their cell phones and electronic devices remaining. No witnesses, no ransom demands, no motive. Just a perfect little family, gone.

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

Tessa knows better than anyone that flawless fronts 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’s all touch and go.

©2012 Lisa Gardner (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Not Gardner's Best

I am a huge fan of Lisa Gardner, particularly the DD Warren series. This was not, however, one of her better works. I think the story was well-outlined, but some of the details missed the mark and it seemed to drag for several chapters. The main character is a bit too privileged for my sympathy. Can we just throw put all the "damsel on distress" storyline in all books. She was always being saved by men.

As forr the narration, the narrator performed the male voices believably, but the female voices, not so much. Maybe that's why DD's sarcasm didn't hit the mark and Tessa sounded so insecure. I'm not sure that was the intent.

Like I said, I enjoy many of Gardner's books and would suggest the DD Warren series or the Quincy Profer series.

Don’t miss this one!

If you’d like Lisa Gardner, you will really like this book. Well written and kept me guessing until the very end. I had my suspicions, but I was very surprised by some of the little twists that it took in the end.

The kidnapping

It’s kept me on the edge of my seat!! Awesome work loved it on to next book in series.

Interesting story line...

DD Warren was not a main character. That being said, the law enforcement characters were all interesting and likable. Even some of the villains were likable. I enjoyed the book. I reserve 4 stars and 5 stars for what I think are in my humble opinion excellent, top notch, edge of my seat, can't put them down books. This was not in that category, but it was entertaining.

FABULOUS! Buy and listen now

This one was one of those books that made me want to listen instead of doing anything else! I started it just before a 4-day trip and was happy to stand in lines at airports because it gave me time to listen. Very intriguing and cleverly plotted. Original in so many ways. Loved the characters and am looking forward to Lisa Gardner's next book. The narrator was outstanding! SO many different voices and she made the story that much more interesting.

Predicable, Yet Entertaining...Secrets and Lies!!

This is a good story even though some of its secrets and lies were easily predicable early on....Betrayal is the overarching theme of this story with fraud, pediophilia, drug abuse, kidnapping, and teen pregnancy in its subplots. There are three threads that the author weaves together in an easy to follow way. It's a mystery within a mystery within a mystery.....

Overall, I enjoyed the story.... It held my attention and I was entertained. However, it is not a page turner or hard to put down listen. As one reviewer noted, it's a story "that's easy to pick up, get lost in but just as easy to put down." Too many of the characters were not developed enough even though they played key roles in the plot.

I did not like parts if the ending because it was too contrived.... and it showed just how underdeveloped the characters were. The contrivance did not suit the story in any way. It made no sense to me that a man would risk getting caught after receiving his cut of ill-gotten dollars... why take the risk? the author did not set-up this "plot twist" well enough so that the man's actions flowed naturally with the storyline.

The narrator, Elizabeth Rodgers was good. Some of her "gruffier" male voices was less than stellar but doable.

Good but predictable

I enjoyed the book, but I correctly predicted the basic outcome well before I was halfway through. Still, I continued to listen to see how Ms. Gardner made everything play out. Nice hints to previous books and recurring characters. Not a bad story - but not the strongest for me this time.

Different...........but in a good way

The character development was quick and good. As things move along you can kinda see what was coming. At the point of epic development I felt that it was a little unbelievable, but I can see why that was by the end of the book. The ending did wrap things up nice and tighty.

Moved along quickly and somewhat entertaining - I enjoyed Lisa Gardners book "Gone Girl" so I had hoped this one would be as fun.

Worthwhile Listen

This is not a genre I pick often. Lisa Gardner is one of my favorites. This book kept my attention, great storyline, set, etc. Excellent narration. Really there were no negatives if you take a book in the segments we choose to review on. Totally worth the credit.

Pain does have a flavor!

Touch and go starts off as a husband and wife settled in their marriage. They are just going through the motions every day. So much so that they have to plan a date night so they can try to rekindle that old fire. Everybody's excited about date night that is until they come home and find that their world has been turned upside down. Intruders are here to take what they want but what is it exactly that they want. And even more who would send these people here. I guess you why have to listen to this classic whodunit to find out what happens. I would definitely recommend this book. It was a wild ride ups and downs. Everyone's a suspect.