Book Review: Lisa Gardner's "Touch & Go"

It's funny, I've never been a very lucky person. Usually when I enter any giveaway I can kiss the hope of being a winner goodbye the minute I enter. It's a genetic thing I suspect. Mom doesn't win stuff either. This applies to silly "enter to win a free poncho when you buy these ugly shoes" to the all important 6/49 lottery tickets which we never win anything on every week. In fact, mom tells a story of being in a Home Fixit store when a freak snow storm hit. Inches of snow seemed to fall in minutes. It happened that there was to be a draw of twelve luxury items to be given away to twelve lucky winners (one thing for each person) at noon that day. The store had opened at ten AM that morning and mom had arrived promptly to pick up some innocuous fixer-upper type object. (mom's an Amazon woman as many an apartment manager has called her. She doesn't ask for help, she fixes stuff herself.) She read the big sign announcing the giveaway and looked around to see that:

1. A huge storm had just started and she figured she'd have trouble driving home in this snow squall.
2. She was one of 13 people who had entered the store at ten AM that morning right before the storm started.

Mom entered the draw and crossed her fingers. Since it was snowing so wildly that you couldn't see your hand in front of your face, she decided to stay until the draw at noon and hopefully pick up her prize, I mean, there were twelve prizes and thirteen people, no one's THAT unlucky, are they?? Ummm, I did say that this lucklessness was genetic, didn't I? 

I'm guessing that you've figured out that mom was the only one in the store who didn't win a prize. Yes, actual proof of our problem with the Luck Fairy. But the Luck Fairy shined on me in December of 2012. I found out that I had won the chance to read and review the newest pre-release book written by Lisa Gardener ("Touch & Go") and I also won the chance to read and review the debut novel written by Sue Knott ("Catching On Fire"). Finally, I found out a couple weeks ago that I won a full set of 6"x6" texture series stencils by Jill Berry, the new book  "The Sun Zebra" by R. Garcia and also the novel "Alfa Romeo 1300 & Other Miracles by Fabio Bartolomei. Holy Cow! How to break a losing streak all in one swoop!! I think I'll go buy a lottery ticket now. ;o)

Ok, let me review the first book that arrived, Lisa Gardner's newest mystery, "Touch & Go" that will be released February 5, 2013. If you remember, I also reviewed Ms. Gardner's book "Catch Me" last year. I really loved that read and was looking forward to biting into a new mystery by this author. (Read my review of "Catch Me" pictured on the left, here.)

This book solidified in my mind just what a terrific mystery writer Lisa Gardner is. Touch & Go is all about the mystery. It's the breathless chase, jam packed action and multi layered whodunit that catches the reader. It's the best of late night, under the covers reading into the wee hours of the morning kind of book. I strongly recommend it to all of you, it is a fantastic read.

The very basics of the story is outlined on the back of the book and on Gardner's website, let me paraphrase: 
An entire family disappeared without a trace, with no witnesses, no motive and no ransom demand. Justin and Libby Denbe have the kind of life that looks good in the pages of a glossy magazine, with their gorgeous brownstone on a tree-lined street, their seemingly perfect marriage and their beautiful fifteen-year old daughter, Ashlyn. But when the entire family disappears without a trace, PI Tessa Leoni must  discover their innermost secrets and race against the clock to try and rescue them before their perfect life goes up in smoke.

In conclusion, let me say that this mystery kept me guessing up until the last dozen pages. This is really unusual for me. Mystery is my genre, I love to figure out what's going to happen significantly before it happens and I don't mean to sound boastful but I'm very good at it. It is so refreshing to read a whodunit and not actually know whodunit, lol. If you love mysteries like I do then go and buy Lisa Gardner's new book on February 5, you won't be  disappointed, I promise.

Best,

Next week I'll be reviewing Sue Knott's book "Catching On Fire" so come on back for that. I'll see you all Saturday for a new APR! Go here for this week's theme.

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