Touch & Go

A Novel

By: Lisa Gardner

Narrated by: Elisabeth Rodgers

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.

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!

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.

I liked it

I listened to this story during a long drive, and really enjoyed it. The plot was good, and the story kept me on the edge of my seat. This isn't one of those stories I'll look back on as one of my favorites of all time, but it is certainly entertaining. I'm glad I listened to it, and will definitely listen to more from Lisa Gardner.

Oh what tangled webs we all weave

What other book might you compare Touch & Go to and why?

Love You More by the same author and some of the same characters

Any additional comments?

Oh what tangled webs we all weave! Wow this was a great thriller that kept you guessing and if you think your family is screwed up just wait until you read about the Denby's. In this book the Denby family, mom, dad and 15 y/o daughter are taken hostage out of their own home. Tessa Leoni, from Love You More (which is a great read too), is hired by Denby Construction to investigate what happened to the family. Tessa works with the FBI and local law enforcement to find this family. What on the surface appears to be a large construction family run by a close knit group, ends up being anything but. About the time you think you have figured out who kidnapped them there is another wrench thrown into the mix to keep you guessing and trying to figure out the who and why. You don't need to read Love You More before this book even though some of the same characters play a role but the storyline is not effected either way.

Not up to her standard

I have found Lisa Gardner's books to be well written and enjoyable stories. This book struck me as having been by an adolescent. So many of the conversations conducted by a family being held hostage were insipid. Her stories are always well woven and smart, but I knew "who done it" here early on. I'm hoping this is Ms Gardner's only misstep. I really like her work.