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bookph1le's review against another edition
4.0
It's so satisfying when I read a mystery/thriller that focuses on its characters and uses their aspirations, hopes, desires, flaws, etc. to drive the action rather than relying on cheap tricks and ridiculous plot twists.
tayloormc's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
skersnick's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
rosemaryandrue's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Frankie Elkin is a roving seeker of missing people, and in her latest case she’s come to Boston to discover what happened to Angelique Badeau, a Haitian teenager who vanished almost a year ago.
Like she does to the cops and the community, Frankie first struck me as strange and perhaps untrustworthy but like she did with them she grew on me too. She’s a flawed person with no illusions about it, and her steadfast pursuit of the missing won me over during the course of the book.
Having lived many years in Boston and volunteered at the kind of school Angelique went to (even if I never went to Mattapan much), I loved how the author really did her research and created a sense of the place and people who live there. Similarly, I felt immersed in Frankie’s experiences as a sober person with an alcohol addiction and loved how the AA network played into how she became immersed in the community and eventually solved the case.
The mystery is an interesting and engaging one, and Frankie’s investigation kept me guessing throughout, even if I did think she got one or two convenient lucky breaks. I wasn’t super invested either in her situationship with Detective Lotham, but it’s a small enough part of the book that while I’d have preferred it left out it didn’t affect my reading experience much either.
I’ve already put a hold on the next book at my local library. Excited to see where Frankie’s search takes her next!
jenhurst's review against another edition
3.0
I have mixed feeling about this one. I liked the writing, the mystery and pacing. I was really engaged throughout the whole book. I really didn’t like the fact a white woman goes into a primarily black Haitian neighbourhood to solve the mystery. It felt a bit like white saviourism and is not a good look in 2021.
arstirn_2000's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
brottany's review against another edition
5.0
Frankie Elkin moves from town to town with the sole purpose of working missing persons’ cases. While fighting her inner demons, Frankie fights for the lives of others. 14 cases, and each one she brought the family news that their loved one has died. But, maybe things can be different this time. Angelique deserves to be found. Found alive. Frankie inserts herself into the community to uncover every tidbit she can to lead her to Angelique. Because, well, her duty is to Angelique. Although Frankie has never met the girl, this is who she works for. Everything she does is for Angelique.
I found myself at the edge of my seat throughout this book. I wanted to know the truth just as much as Frankie. I can’t wait to follow more of Frankie’s cases in the books that follow!
I found myself at the edge of my seat throughout this book. I wanted to know the truth just as much as Frankie. I can’t wait to follow more of Frankie’s cases in the books that follow!
me_alley's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Being 13 years sober, I appreciate that Frankie is a recovering alcoholic, the things that she says about alcoholism and the AA program are very true to life and accurate.
Frankie is a bartender who devotes her life to looking for missing people, even though she is not a detective, not a private investigator, and not in law-enforcement whatsoever. That seems a little strange, at the very least. Once I got over that I really enjoyed the story. It is , great genre of mystery to look for missing people, because you aren’t sure if they will be discovered alive or dead. In this case she is looking for a teenage girl who went missing after school one day. It has the vibe of a police point of view, And overall a good mystery and story. I will read the rest of the series.
Frankie is a bartender who devotes her life to looking for missing people, even though she is not a detective, not a private investigator, and not in law-enforcement whatsoever. That seems a little strange, at the very least. Once I got over that I really enjoyed the story. It is , great genre of mystery to look for missing people, because you aren’t sure if they will be discovered alive or dead. In this case she is looking for a teenage girl who went missing after school one day. It has the vibe of a police point of view, And overall a good mystery and story. I will read the rest of the series.