Say Goodbye

By: Lisa Gardner

Narrated by: Ann Marie Lee, Lincoln Hoppe

Length: 13 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's Summary

The best-selling author of Hide and Gone draws us into the venomous mind games of her most terrifying killer yet.  

Come into my parlor...

For Kimberly Quincy, FBI Special Agent, it all starts with a pregnant hooker. The story Delilah Rose tells Kimberly about her johns is too horrifying to be true - but prostitutes are disappearing, one by one, with no explanation, and no one but Kimberly seems to care.

Said the spider to the fly...

As a member of the Evidence Response Team, dead hookers aren't exactly Kimberly's specialty. The young agent is five months pregnant - she has other things to worry about than an alleged lunatic who uses spiders to do his dirty work. But Kimberly's own mother and sister were victims of a serial killer. And now, without any bodies and with precious few clues, it's all too clear that a serial killer has found the key to the perfect murder...or Kimberly is chasing a crime that never happened.

Kimberly's caught in a web more lethal than any spider's, and the more she fights for answers, the more tightly she's trapped. What she doesn't know is that she's close - too close - to a psychopath who makes women's nightmares come alive, and if he has his twisted way, it won't be long before it's time for Kimberly, to... SAY GOODBYE

©2008 Lisa Gardner (P)2008 Random House, Inc.

Possibly the best book I have ever read.

This book made me cry so hard several times.
Narration's exceptionally good.
In my humble opinion a masterpiece.

Great Thriller

This is a great thriller with some unexpected twists and plot turns. It ends with a terrific one-two punch.

The subject matter of kidnapping and sexual abuse is graphic but not gratuitous. The plot has several layers woven through it, and the perspective shifts back and forth between storylines and in time.

The little factoids about different types of spiders at the beginning of every chapter is an interesting leitmotif.

The dual narration is well done by both narrators. The accents are good and the dialogue is realistic.

Do not hestitate to buy this book - it is absolutely worth it. If you like novels by Karen Rose and James Patterson, you'll love this.

RIVETING!!!

I have become a big fan of Lisa Gardner after listening to two of her books! How in the world does she come up with these plots?! I became engrossed in the story and its characters! This is a very well written and thrilling book, although it does touch on some unpleasant and disturbing content! The narrating was excellently done and made the story even more entertaining! A must listen!!!!

Not for the faint of heart

This book is an engrossing listen ~ well written and very well narrated ~ but be warned: if you have children, especially if you have a young boy, parts of this book will break your heart. Certain passages are very hard to listen to, and might just make you frightened enough never, ever to let your child out of your sight for a single moment.

painful, compelling, intricate mystery

This story deals with the themes of child abduction and rape, not for the faint of heart. In Gardner's telling of the story, I could feel the shock and horror of the little boys, without getting too many graphic details. Likewise, the narration of Dinchara is a cold insight into the obliteration of the human soul. I found the information about spiders very interesting, but if you're squeamish, maybe not....I felt great empathy for Kimberly Quincy's struggle with redefining herself as a mother-to-be rather than an agent who lived for the job. I got impatient with her continually overtaxing herself and putting herself in danger. The story is so intense that her issues were a distraction to me. I don't usually care for stories with multiple narrators, but it really works for the story here. Lee is excellent at developing her characters with subtlety and depth. Hoppe was able to pull a little empathy for the boy who survives to become predator, conveying the hopelessness of his life and how removed he is from normal human existence. I don't know that I will listen to this book again, the subject matter is very difficult.

O what wicked webs we weave...

My second Gardner novel and I have to say I'm pleased to find another great series to tide me over till the next Nesbo or Dawn Patrol...

It's a tragic story involving abduction and sexual molestation of children. Not for the squeamish. The police work is first rate as is Gardner's writing. And the story was as unique as it was terrifying.

The narration was good, never getting in the way of the story. I took a couple of stars away because Ms. Lee's voice wavered when trying to sound creepy and I found Mr. Hoppe's effort peculiar and weak.

A second downer was the information about spiders from research before each chapter. Whatever effect the author intended was drowned out by equally long credits. I suppose if I were reading the novel I would've ignored the credits, something that couldn't be left out on audio.

So it's a mixed review, but am I glad I purchased it? That's a five star yes!

outstanding

I have read every Lisa Gardner book there is. I am never disappointed. I listened to this and couldn't leave it alone. One of those you want to savor and yet you can't resist finding out what is going to happen next.

A good kind of creepy, skin itching read!

Is there anything you would change about this book?

As others have said, the content is disturbing - At times I had to remind myself that this was fiction. This fictional plot is in the news every day. I am not going to write a spoiler but there are two narrators and I didn't realize there was more than one male character. It was a bit confusing at one point and I had to back up a couple of chapters because I felt like I had missed something big leading up to the critical ending of the book.This may have been intended by the author, but I was a bit confused until I remembered another reviewer mentioning something similar. I might have considered either bringing in a third narrator or, possibly change the accent a bit for the other male.I don't like the fact that this format asks for what you would change first and not what you loved about the book. I did really enjoy the plot and it kept me listening as I wanted to know what would happen next. The bad guy is really bad and you never doubt that this character type could actually be real! This is not just some bad guy made up in the author's imagination.The female main character was well developed and I really felt that I knew and understood her. Any normal woman can relate to her life struggles and the author seems to make sure she reacts in a very human (as opposed to super-human) way.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I am usually pretty good at figuring out the endings of these types of books but I didn't get this one right. That is a good thing. The only part of the ending that I thought may have been too over the top was the relationship between Sal and one of the bad guys! Can't say more without spoiling the ending.

Have you listened to any of Ann Marie Lee and Lincoln Hoppe ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have never heard these narrators before but they were both very good. There is some very disturbing dialog and these two nail it - very realistic.

Did Say Goodbye inspire you to do anything?

Actually it did. I discussed the issue of children and child abduction, abuse and the internet as a means for evil to get into our homes, with a friend of mine. This is something I wouldn't have thought about as my children are grown and I never had to deal with this issue when they were young.

Any additional comments?

Worth the read.

Keeps you

Wow! this book kept me thinking I knew what was goin on, but bam! Can't quit listening to this one!!! The story was put together, perfectly. this one is a must listen!!

Engrossing and creepy

Would you listen to Say Goodbye again? Why?

Yes, despite the creepiness of the spiders; I actually stopped listening initially after a few minutes BECAUSE of the creepiness of the spiders. I returned since this author has not disappointed me in the past, and I'm very glad I did. Complex plot and heartbreaking to think of the little boys. Not for the feint of heart, however.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

For me, this book was less about the law enforcement characters and more about real monsters in this world. I found the

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

REAL monsters don't hide in the dark