FIND HER: A PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER NOVEL BY LISA GARDNER
Find Her is a psychological thriller novel that deals with trauma caused by horrific crimes committed against Flora Dane and what the human mind and body are capable of. It’s a gripping and terrifying story of survival, a story that you won’t easily forget.
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But first, who is Lisa Gardner? Well, in case you’re not familiar with her, she is a #1 New York Times bestselling author from the US, known for her numerous thrillers. In the beginning of her writing career, she also published some romantic suspense books under the name Alicia Scott. She’s also a Daphne du Maurier award winner for The Other Daughter, in 2000.
Below, you can find a complete book review of Find Her. You can read what it is about and what I think about it, as well as a super short teaser. This should help you decide whether to add it to your wish list or not.
SYNOPSIS
There are three perspectives you have to follow: flashbacks of the past (when Flora Dane was being held captive), Flora’s current predicament, and the current investigations led by Detective D.D. Warren.
Seven years ago, carefree student Flora Dane was abducted from a Florida beach. 472 days she spent with her captor, a serial rapist and kidnapper by the name of Jacob Ness. Locked in a wooden box, sexually abused, starved, and psychologically tortured.
She survived, but what returned home wasn’t the same Flora Dane. Haunted by the trauma, she becomes obsessed with self-defense and tracking other missing persons. This is where we find Flora in “the present”.
Amid the disappearance of another college student whose case has grown cold, Flora can’t just wait and do nothing. So she starts hunting.
Her reckless actions make her the object of D.D. Warren’s investigation. But what happens when she’s kidnapped again? And this time, the kidnapper doesn’t plan on letting her get away.
Not much of a fan of Flora’s vigilante ways, D.D. must find this mysterious perpetrator and save Flora. Again!
RATING AND ANALYSIS
In terms of suspense and psychological factor, this book deserves five stars.
While it is the eighth book in the D.D. Warren Series, it CAN be read as a standalone.
Given the unimaginable abuse Flora suffers, this one is hard to read. Add to that the insight we get into Flora’s head during all this time and even after, and you should understand why.
However, this shows what a masterful job Lisa did! Just know that with this one you’re pulled out of your comfort zone by a wide margin!
The fact that the flashbacks are told in the first person (while in Mia Sheridan’s novels, she uses the third person) makes it more personal and intimate. Sometimes there’s irony or sarcasm in her tone (Flora’s tone) that alleviates the darkness just a little bit.
The psychological element is very strong in Find Her. We are let in on a victim’s perspective of her abuse and the aftermath of it. The author delves so deep into the mind of the victim and leaves you with no choice but to feel everything. You feel the tension; you feel Flora’s fear and you’re terrified for her too.
As far as characters are concerned, Flora is one of a kind. To me, she outshines D.D., even if it’s her series. The dynamic between Flora and D.D. is another interesting aspect. They are fun to watch. D.D. is definitely not a fan, yet she must do her best to save Flora. Their relationship evolves satisfyingly throughout the next books in the series.
TEASER
“There’s not much to do day after day trapped in a coffin box. In fact, there’s really only one thing worth imagining, obsessing, contemplating minute by minute, hour after terrible hour. One thought that keeps you going. One focus that gives you strength. You’ll find it. You’ll hone it. Then, if you’re anything like me, you’ll never let it go. Revenge. But be careful what you wish for, especially if you’re just a stupid girl trapped in a coffin-sized box.“
find her, lisa gardner
BUY ON AMAZON/READ AMAZON REVIEWS
Now you should have an idea about what this book contains and if it’s your cup of tea. As you can see, I enjoyed it and I think it’s pretty high quality. And if you’re an avid psychological thriller reader, this is a MUST-READ. Click below to see what people on Amazon think about it.
Before you go, you might also be interested to see: 5 Really Dark Romance Books Not Everyone Can Read
Crime thrillers with a hint of romance are always a fun read. And this one sound like it qualifies. I’ll check it out!
It’s a well-written and captivating thriller, but this one doesn’t have romance in it. If you’re looking for romantic thrillers, check out this Mia Sheridan review or this guide to Karen Rose’s novels.
I am such a chicken so there are very few thrillers that I read. This one sounds very good, though! I have a few bookish friends who would love it 🙂 Great review!