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.

Just ok

It was a bit on the cheesy side for me. Felt like a lifetime or made-for-TV movie type book. Ultimately I was only half interested while listening.

Great plot

intriguing plot & characters. Narrator 's voice often hard to distinguish between Libby & Tessa. would order more Gardner books but prefer a different narrator.

booksmp3

Kept me listening well after I should have gone to bed. Loved the whole concept of the story. I can relate.

Mystery, suspense, drama

This book kept me guessing and wondering throughout. The narrator was especially good, in that she didn't interfere in any way that took away from the story. I listened for over 14 hours, and it kept me wanting more all the way. Even though the premise was a stretch of the imagination, it was an exciting story. Only the ending was a bit more far-fetched. But I guess it was in keeping with the story itself. Overall, I would definitely recommend this to all lovers of mystery and suspense.

Solid story

captured the real life angst of troubled marriage as told in first person from wife.

very good read

Would you listen to Touch & Go again? Why?

yes, lots going on and I felt the need to listen to it again to see what I could have missed

What was one of the most memorable moments of Touch & Go?

unpredicted ending

Any additional comments?

One of the most catching books I have ever read

An "Okay" read

What did you like best about Touch & Go? What did you like least?

The non-main characters in the story were interesting and held my attention; however the predictability of the conclusion was disappointing.

If you’ve listened to books by Lisa Gardner before, how does this one compare?

I have not listened to other books by Lisa Gardner

What about Elisabeth Rodgers’s performance did you like?

She did a great job of grasping the accents of the characters and her narration was believable.

Do you think Touch & Go needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

I believe this is book 2 of a series, but I have not personally read any others.

Any additional comments?

“Pain has a flavor” and that flavor is oranges, at least it is for Libby Denbe. But not so long ago when Libby’s life was without pain, a time when her “picture perfect” life really was perfect, the taste of oranges was bliss. She was married to the perfect man, and they had a beautiful daughter they both loved and cherished, their life together was their dream fused into reality, or at least, so she believed.

Now, that time is over. She and her family have been ripped away from their beautiful home into a nightmare that they fear and do not understand. Their perfect life melts away as the dark secrets each of them holds begins to surface while their current predicament gnaws at them both physically and psychologically.

It is up to Tessa Leone and other law enforcement to find them before it’s too late. But even if they can be saved physically, will it be too late to save them from their past?

This was the first book I have read/listened to by Lisa Gardner. Although this is the second in the series featuring Tessa Leone the story follows well by itself. The premise of the book was something that could be heard about on the news which is not normally the type of book I enjoy because of its modern style but some of the lesser characters were quite interesting and kept my attentiveness. However; What was disappointing to me was that they mystery was not challenging. I figured out the predictable conclusion very early on and was just coasting to the end to have my prediction confirmed.

The narrator, Elisabeth Rodgers, does a great job with the accent work of some of the characters, but I did occasionally find the narration a bit lulling. These parts were very minor and overall I would listen to her narratives again and she does believable work.

I would give this book 3 stars overall (my three star rating means – I can finish the book and am at least partially interested/entertained.)

Very enjoyable!

Enjoyed this as a fun read very much. Was great to listen to in the car!

Another great puzzler from Lisa Gardner

Would you consider the audio edition of Touch & Go to be better than the print version?

Yes, indeed. the reader is great.

What did you like best about this story?

The story is unique. I pride myself on usually figuring things out very early in a mystery. This one , I was not sure until almost when the detectives got it.

Which character – as performed by Elisabeth Rodgers – was your favorite?

I guess Tessa Leoni was my favorite. I like what she is doing with her life and her skill and assertiveness in getting the job done. I liked her in a previous novel. I also liked the wife . We get her pov most of the time and she is a very sympathetic character. Honest about her own failings and love for her daughter and the issues in her life and early childhood.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I think the ending when it all becomes clear what has been going on and who is responsible. I hope we see more of the mother in later books. I also liked one of the kidnappers and want to see more of him.

Any additional comments?

I do have doubts that the villain would be able to fool all of us for so long. I don't want to say more because it would be a spoiler.

Twist - turn - suspence

First Lisa Gardner book - and I really enjoyed it!

The book is a dandy - the suspense... the guessing of "who done it" - and the ending is not worth missing. I didn't mind that we found out who the villian was well before then end of the novel - I then focused my attention on rooting for the good guys to hurry up and catch the guy.

I would recommend this book - well worth the credit!! Performance was excellent.