Before She Disappeared, Lisa Gardner

I almost didn't pick this one up because it's a series, and I don't read series books - or so I thought. Before She Disappeared has converted me. This is a really good book.

Frankie Elkin is a disaster. An alcoholic who works in a bar and lives a nomadic life traveling from place to place as a civilian trying to bring home missing persons, all without pay. In this book, she is working on her fifteenth missing person case.

The character of Frankie is relatable; she's smart, sassy, independent, and savvy. Yet, she is also lonely, confused, haunted by her past, and in love with a man she can never have.

Lisa Gardner spins a fast tale about a missing fifteen-year-old in inner-city Boston who literally, it would appear, vanishes. No CCTV images, pings from her phone, sitings, or communication. Eleven months after she goes missing, she suddenly starts popping up here and there, dropping breadcrumb clues of her whereabouts.

There are good twists and turns, and throughout the book, I had no idea who was the kidnapper. I was pleasantly surprised at this out-of-my-norm-genre-read and am already looking forward to reading the second in the series.