The Girl Who Disappeared Twice: Forensic Instincts, Book 1

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. The plot was very interesting and gripping. Its been a while since we've had a new Andrea Kane book to enjoy and I was not disappointed. This is definitely the first book in a new series and I look forward to reading/listening to more about the characters in this cast.

This story is more suspense than romance and that is a good (love my romance!). I only have two "complaints" about the book - 1) though very well written - and it somewhat understandable in a first in series book - there were a lot of characters introduced, but not much in-depth revelation as to who they are. The pro about that is that the storyline was center-focus and not the cast...but...I like to connect with the characters and that was hard to do...though what we did learn of them was very enjoyable. 2) The narrator - this is not a slight and really goes back to #1 - the narrator did a good job reading the book - but I think (for me) I would have enjoyed a female narrator more or someone who distinguishes the cast through tone of voice. With what he was given to work with, I think he did a great job.

The plot more than made up for these "short-coming" and though I did guess "who-dun-it" half-way through - I did enjoy listening to the story unfold. If you are fan of Criminal Minds, the In-Death Series, or the like...this book should be enjoyable for you (but without the character development). :)

In a selection filled with Vampires and Werewolves (not knocking it, its just not for me) - this was a breath of fresh air!!! I give it 4.5 stars!! (Audible - hint, hint!!)

This is my first Audible review and my first Andrea Kane book. I really wanted to stop listening from the second chapter - but I just kept thinking it might surprise me. It didn't. The story was far too easy to see through (if you watch CSI or Criminal Minds this story will feel like play-doh), the writing was simple, and the narrator was awful. Actually, I think that it was the narrator that made me keep listening because I was afraid I was letting him ruin the story for me. He had a rhythm he didn't want to break; I expect it was for breathing, but he really seemed like he was trying to read poetry instead of a story. He also had a deeply nasal quality that distracted me, not like a stuffy nose but more like a mouth breather. He didn't attempt to differentiate the characters with the tone of his voice and that made the story difficult to follow at times. In addition, his female and child voices were horrendous. I really hated every minute of his reading and I feel cruel for saying so, but his rhythm and delay probably added an hour to the reading. I was so tempted to put my iPod on double time! While I was certain I knew the outcome of the who-done-it I remained hopeful throughout, but if there is any suspense to be felt in this story the narrator quashed it with his reading. If the story-lines of Ms. Kane's books could be a little more complex in the future I could imagine enjoying a series made up of these characters though.

I could listen while I slept and not really miss much!

Not the genre, but this was the first from this author, and, well, the last.

It was just ok.

Probably - house-wifey drama some people might really eat up.

I didn't hate this book. I really didn't. But it was a poor and inconsistent portrayal of children 5 and 6 years old. I mean - six year olds being soccer stars? And what 5 year old has the keys to the house and a cell-phone (Maybe I'm behind the times). And it WAS very predictable. And not all that interesting.

When six year old Felicity is kidnapped from her home, leaving her twin Hope to grow up without her, the reader is immediately into the story within the first few chapters. The plot immediately moves to Hope all grown up with a five year old child of her own who is also kidnapped. What happens next is a law enforcement task force team and an interesting consulting firm, Forensic Instincts who Hope and her husband hire to skirt legal boundaries in hopes of finding Chrissy fast. The plot is fast paced and the reader gets just enough information to solve the case along with the dual teams. There are some unexpected twists and turns that can throw off the reader in solving the mystery, but the entire plot keeps you engaged. The couple of love scenes were poorly written, and completely unnecessary but none of that is enough to ruin the book. The narrator, Jim Colby, is not good. His style is "sing song". It sounded to me like he would come to the end of the line in the book, stop, and then resume at the beginning of the next line. At first it drove me nuts, but then I got used to it and that was simply because the plot was so good. Ms. Kane does a credible job with character development, although some of the dialogue is stilted. What I do hope is that the Forensic Instincts team returns in another book and for my money, a wish for returning characters says it all. Give us more!

I have enjoyed some of the author's other books. When I saw that this was the first in a series, I bought it. I thoroughly enjoyed the book! I really like books in a series with the same characters and character development.The story had twist and turns and kept me listening so that I had to finish it in a day and a half! I think Andrea Kane introduced us to all of the characters, the roles they play, as well as to leave us anticipating future cases. The narrator did a good job with character changes and made it an easy listen. I can not wait for the second book!!