Title: KISS HER GOODBYE – Frankie Elkin #4
Author: Lisa Gardner
ISBN: 9781529917116
Publisher: Random House UK / Cornerstone
Pages: 400
Source: NetGalley
A young mother haunted by war, determined to make a fresh start. But sometimes, the sins of the past aren’t so easy to escape.
Recent Afghan refugee 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. Sabera’s closest friend, however, is convinced Sabera would never willingly leave her three‑year old daughter. At her insistence, missing persons expert Frankie Elkin agrees to take up the search through the broiling streets of Tucson. Just in time for a video of the young mother to surface—showing her walking away from the scene of a brutal double murder.
Frankie quickly realizes 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—she 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 quickly 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.
Official Summary
15 May 2025
Lisa Gardner continues to prove she’s at the top of the thriller genre with Kiss Her Goodbye, the fourth instalment in the Frankie Elkin series—and honestly, I think it’s one of the strongest yet.
This time, Frankie takes on the case of Sabera Ahmadi, an Afghan refugee and young mother who vanishes without a trace. As always, Frankie isn’t the kind of investigator who flashes a badge or plays by the rules. She’s fuelled by empathy, instinct, and a deep sense of justice for those who don’t usually get it. And in Sabera’s case, the lack of urgency from the authorities makes the story even more urgent and compelling.
What I loved most about this book is how emotionally layered it is. Gardner doesn’t just hand us a mystery to solve—she gives us a broken family, cultural complexity, the aftermath of war, and characters who are both deeply flawed and immensely strong. Sabera is more than a victim; she’s a woman haunted by the past but determined to survive for her child. And little Zahra, with her photographic memory, is a unique and haunting presence that ties everything together in a truly chilling way.
The plot is razor-sharp and full of twists, but it’s the human element that keeps you turning the pages. Frankie’s voice remains raw, honest, and real. She makes mistakes. She questions herself. But her heart never wavers—and that’s what makes her such a compelling protagonist.
Kiss Her Goodbye is tense, timely, and thought-provoking. It highlights the resilience of women, the trauma of displacement, and the dangerous shadows that can follow even when you try to start over. If you’re already a fan of the Frankie Elkin series, you won’t be disappointed. If you’re new to it, this is a great place to dive in.
An unputdownable thriller with soul—highly recommended.
Also By Lisa Gardner
Before She Disappeared - Frankie Elkin #1
Recovering alcoholic Frankie Elkin spends her life doing what no one else will–searching for missing people the world has stopped looking for. A new case brings her to Mattapan, a Boston neighborhood with a rough reputation. She is searching for Angelique Badeau, a Haitian teenager who vanished from her high school months earlier. Resistance from the Boston PD and the victim’s wary family tells Frankie she’s on her own–and she soon learns she’s asking questions someone doesn’t want answered. But Frankie will stop at nothing to discover the truth, even if it means the next person to go missing could be her.
One Step Too Far - Frankie Elkin #2
Frankie Elkin, who readers first met in Before She Disappeared, learns of a young man who has gone missing in a national forest. Law enforcement has abandoned the search, but a crew of people led by the young man’s father are still looking. Sensing a father’s desperation, Frankie agrees to help–but soon sees that a missing person isn’t all that’s wrong here. And when more people start to vanish, Frankie realizes she’s up against something very dark–and she’s running out of time.
STILL SEE YOU EVERYWHERE – Frankie Elkin #3
Frankie Elkin is an expert at finding the missing persons that the rest of the world has forgotten, but even she couldn’t have anticipated this latest request—to locate the long-lost sister of a female serial killer facing execution in three weeks’ time.
She has called herself “death,” but people called her the devil.
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Lisa Gardner, a #1 New York Times bestselling thriller novelist, began her career in food service, but after catching her hair on fire numerous times, she took the hint and focused on writing instead. A self-described research junkie, she has transformed her interest in police procedure and criminal minds into a streak of internationally acclaimed novels, published across 30 countries. She’s also had four books become TV movies (At the Midnight Hour; The Perfect Husband; The Survivors Club; Hide) and has made personal appearances on TruTV and CNN.
Lisa’s books have received awards from across the globe. Her novel, The Neighbor, won Best Hardcover Novel from the International Thriller Writers, while also receiving the Grand Prix des Lectrices de Elle in France. She was also recognized with the Daphne du Maurier Award in 2000 for The Other Daughter. Finally, Lisa received the Silver Bullet Award from the International Thriller Writers in 2017 for her work on behalf of at-risk children and the Humane Society.
For a bit of fun, Lisa invites her readers to enter the annual “Kill a Friend, Maim a Buddy” Sweepstakes at LisaGardner.com. Every year, one Lucky Stiff is selected to meet a grand end in Lisa’s latest novel. Past winners have nominated spouses, best friends and even themselves.
Lisa lives in New Hampshire where she spends her time with an assortment of canine companions. When not writing, she loves to hike, garden, snowshoe and play cribbage.
I have been following the Frankie Elkin series and could not wait to read the new one. I recently saw an early giveaway for this book, I was so disappointed that it was only available in the US. Thank you to NetGalley and Cornerstone for this review copy.
Have you been following Frankie? Which is your favourite book in the series? I would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below. Until next time…. Happy Reading!
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