4.0 (1 rating)
Kiss Her Goodbye
A Frankie Elkin Novel
A New York Times bestselling author returns with the latest installment in the addictive Frankie Elkin series, in which Frankie is called to Tucson, Arizona, to find a missing Afghan refugee, whose friend suspects she is in grave danger--before it is too late. "Timely and completely gripping." (Louise Penny, New York Times bestselling author)
Recent Afghan refugee and young mother Sabera Ahmadi was last seen exiting her place of work three weeks ago. The local police have yet to open a case, while her older, domineering husband seems unconcerned. At the insistence of Sabera's closest friend, missing persons expert Frankie Elkin agrees to take up the search just in time for a video of Sabera to surface--showing her walking away from the scene of a brutal double murder.
Frankie quickly notes there's much more to the Ahmadi family than meets the eye. The father Isaad is a brilliant mathematician, Sabera a gifted linguist, and their little girl Zahra has an uncanny ability to remember anything she sees. Which given everything that has happened during the girl's short life, may be a terrible curse.
When Isaad also disappears under mysterious circumstances and an attempt is made on Zahra's life, Frankie realizes she must crack the code of this family's horrific past. Someone is coming for the Ahmadis. And violence is clearly an option.
When everything is on the line, how far would you go to protect the ones you love? Frankie is about to find out.
Recent Afghan refugee and young mother Sabera Ahmadi was last seen exiting her place of work three weeks ago. The local police have yet to open a case, while her older, domineering husband seems unconcerned. At the insistence of Sabera's closest friend, missing persons expert Frankie Elkin agrees to take up the search just in time for a video of Sabera to surface--showing her walking away from the scene of a brutal double murder.
Frankie quickly notes there's much more to the Ahmadi family than meets the eye. The father Isaad is a brilliant mathematician, Sabera a gifted linguist, and their little girl Zahra has an uncanny ability to remember anything she sees. Which given everything that has happened during the girl's short life, may be a terrible curse.
When Isaad also disappears under mysterious circumstances and an attempt is made on Zahra's life, Frankie realizes she must crack the code of this family's horrific past. Someone is coming for the Ahmadis. And violence is clearly an option.
When everything is on the line, how far would you go to protect the ones you love? Frankie is about to find out.
Pages: 408
ISBN: 9781538765104
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4.0
1 rating
Carla B.
Feb 8, 2026
When a mother vanishes, Frankie Elkin steps in to find the truth — before it’s too late.
Frankie Elkin, missing persons expert, heads to Tucson, Arizona, to search for Sabera Ahmadi, a young Afghan refugee who hasn’t been seen in weeks. The local police are dragging their feet, and Sabera’s husband seems suspiciously unconcerned. Only Sabera’s best friend is willing to admit what everyone else is avoiding — something terrible has happened. As Frankie digs deeper, she uncovers a tangled web of family secrets, a missing mathematician husband, and a daughter with an extraordinary memory that might just hold the key to it all. Violence is circling this family, and Frankie’s running out of time to stop it.
Spillin’ the Book Tea:
There’s something about this series that just works, but you absolutely do not have to read the others before jumping into this one. Kiss Her Goodbye stands perfectly on its own. I never felt like I missed anything or had to play catch-up.
What pulled me in immediately was the emotional depth. This is not just a missing persons case slapped onto a crime thriller blueprint. It’s layered, with so much heart woven through the tension and danger. The dread builds with every page, and honestly, Lisa Gardner is a pro at making you feel it settle right into your bones. This is not a fast-paced race to the end. It’s a slow burn, but the payoff? Totally worth it.
Frankie is exactly the kind of character I love following — stubborn, smart, and absolutely determined to bring people home, no matter how messy or dangerous it gets. I loved the addition of Zahra, the daughter, and how Gardner highlights her unique memory in a way that adds both tension and heartbreak. And yes, this book brings the heartbreak. It is loaded with twists and layered reveals, but it never forgets to focus on the human element.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. Do not skip Gardner’s author’s note at the end. It gives the whole story an even deeper impact once you understand the inspiration behind it.
The Vibes It Brings:
Frankie Elkin, missing persons expert, heads to Tucson, Arizona, to search for Sabera Ahmadi, a young Afghan refugee who hasn’t been seen in weeks. The local police are dragging their feet, and Sabera’s husband seems suspiciously unconcerned. Only Sabera’s best friend is willing to admit what everyone else is avoiding — something terrible has happened. As Frankie digs deeper, she uncovers a tangled web of family secrets, a missing mathematician husband, and a daughter with an extraordinary memory that might just hold the key to it all. Violence is circling this family, and Frankie’s running out of time to stop it.
Spillin’ the Book Tea:
There’s something about this series that just works, but you absolutely do not have to read the others before jumping into this one. Kiss Her Goodbye stands perfectly on its own. I never felt like I missed anything or had to play catch-up.
What pulled me in immediately was the emotional depth. This is not just a missing persons case slapped onto a crime thriller blueprint. It’s layered, with so much heart woven through the tension and danger. The dread builds with every page, and honestly, Lisa Gardner is a pro at making you feel it settle right into your bones. This is not a fast-paced race to the end. It’s a slow burn, but the payoff? Totally worth it.
Frankie is exactly the kind of character I love following — stubborn, smart, and absolutely determined to bring people home, no matter how messy or dangerous it gets. I loved the addition of Zahra, the daughter, and how Gardner highlights her unique memory in a way that adds both tension and heartbreak. And yes, this book brings the heartbreak. It is loaded with twists and layered reveals, but it never forgets to focus on the human element.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. Do not skip Gardner’s author’s note at the end. It gives the whole story an even deeper impact once you understand the inspiration behind it.
The Vibes It Brings: