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Touch & Go  By  cover art

Touch & Go

By: Lisa Gardner
Narrated by: Elisabeth Rodgers
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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.

What listeners say about Touch & Go

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    3,911
  • 4 Stars
    2,028
  • 3 Stars
    645
  • 2 Stars
    128
  • 1 Stars
    81
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    3,842
  • 4 Stars
    1,595
  • 3 Stars
    427
  • 2 Stars
    79
  • 1 Stars
    49
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    3,513
  • 4 Stars
    1,711
  • 3 Stars
    597
  • 2 Stars
    124
  • 1 Stars
    60

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

A Go-To for Going

I value reviews, suggestions, lists, even *best of* and *must reads*, but I rarely read a book because I think should--I read because (probably like you) I love to read, I love books--sometimes even stinkers find in me a soft spot. I consume 3-4 a week including, textbooks, Kindle, and Audio, so I pursue high recommendations from my fellow readers, sometimes even when they are out of my usual preference zone. I've previously only read 1 Gardner novel, again highly recommended by Audible reviewers - who seem to really love this author. Myself, I put Gardner in my *Not-that-there's-anything-wrong-with-that* category...books to grab in the gift shop or bookstore when you are on the go; books that are easy to pick up and get lost in, easy to put down, easy to pick back up (easy to leave on the plane)--nothing negative, nothing wrong with that.

This had a similar feeling to the previous Gardner book I read, quick paced, sensational, and overall was entertaining on a mindless level. I guess the full-five-star reviews are all in context to what others have read before. For me, I thought some of the reviews overly generous. Touch & Go is not a great original thriller; the writing is average, the plot comparable to a good TV mystery or 20/20 spot; you won't remember it next month...like I said, not that there's anything wrong with that. The 2 books of Gardner's that I've now read were okay, but this will probably be my last--unless I forget a book on my next business trip and need to pick one up in the airport.

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131 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Wait for it to go on clearance!

Would you listen to Touch & Go again? Why?

No, the narrator's attempts to do the male voices were strained. They should have used a male to co-narrate given all the male parts. Her female voices were just as strained and way too exaggerated.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

A bit way too predictable to be interesting. The least interesting aspect was all the played out ridiculous family drama released in the middle of a hostage crisis. It was more like a page from a teen diary or a lonely pill popping housewife drama than anything. Way too much detailed description about meaningless subjects.

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47 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

I'm exhausted! In a good way.

We've all read/listened to books in which a seemingly perfect family has a crisis, which causes lots of secrets to unravel. This is NOT one of those books! Well, yes, I guess it is, but with carefully developed characters and a complex plot line that is unlike anything in this genre I have ever read. Some of the bad guys commit heroic acts. Some of the good guys commit unforgivable acts. The story could have come to a conclusion several times and still have been satisfying, but Lisa Garder milked every ounce of drama she could out of the situation. There are a number of pivotal characters, so pay attention at the beginning: You'll need the information before it's over! Elisabeth Rodgers does a fine job of switching between the first person narration of Libby and the third person objective story-telling with dialogue of everyone else. A really compelling experience!

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45 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

WOW--What a Story

I am a huge Lisa Gardner fan but this story was fabulous--IMHO, her best so far. I literally could not stop listening, the twists and turns just kept coming, and the narration was perfect.

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42 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Disappointed

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No

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

I think this book is sub-par for Lisa Gardner. I was able to figure out the "twist" early on in the story, and I really got tired of the wife whining over her life.

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

No

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27 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

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.

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27 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Wow! What a fantastic listen!

I don't typically read books in the mystery/thriller genre but this one was on sale and recommended by a friend (the same person that convinced me to read Gone Girl). All I can say is WOW! This had me hooked from the very first chapter and I could not put it down! There were so many twists and turns and shocking moments to this story. I loved it. I can usually figure out the "whodunit" in most books but this one had me almost until the very end.

This was my first Lisa Gardner novel but it definitely will not be my last.

4.5 stars

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16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Kept my pulse rate up!

Any additional comments?

WOW... I loved this book! I would liked to have tweaked the ending just a little bit, but it was still very satisfying. This was my first listen by both the author and the narrator, and they both really impressed me. It was definitely worth the credit. Bravo!!!

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

It was good, but not great

I enjoyed this book, but perhaps my expectations were a little high based on the reviews. I thought the plot and most especially the ending were somewhat predictable. I enjoyed the listen and thought the narrator did a good job in helping to keep the story engaging. I think I had it in my mind that this was another "Gone Girl" type novel, and it doesn't even begin to compare.

An easy listen while cleaning, but not one I am going to recommend to others.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

A good listen even with a fairly obvious mystery.

This is a kidnapping story that involves better police work than the mystery requires. First, I liked the two main law enforcement characters a lot and never thought of not finishing the novel. That immediately qualifies it a 3 star novel, though with its drawbacks I'd give it 2.5 if I could.

Close to half the novel is told in the first person of the kidnapped wife whose husband and daughter are also kidnapped with her. I found her extremely unattractive and droll. In fact, I found her husband an daughter's characters extremely under developed, to the point none of their actions made sense to me.

The narration was excellent with exception to two of the kidnappers, Elisabeth Rodgers had trouble with their gruffness.

This was a complicated mystery that I feel called for far more detail and in depth characters than the author was willing to provide. I was certain of the outcome early on, but finished just to be sure.

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10 people found this helpful