Book Review: Touch and Go {Lisa Gardner}

When I was in high school, I became obsessed with True Crime books. Out of everything I read, it became my go-to genre, leaving the twins of Sweet Valley High far behind. Flash forward to a few years later when I was dating a cop, the interest in True Crime only intensified. These days, I don’t read True Crime nearly as much, but crime tv certainly fills up our DVR, with everything from the Law & Order franchise to Criminal Minds. The latter of which I don’t watch when the kids aren’t home. Because for some reason, it scares me way more when I’m by myself than when they’re home.

Go figure.

So when I got an opportunity to review Lisa Gardner’s newest book, Touch and Go, steeped in mystery and good ‘ol whodunit, I was all set to revisit some of my favorite old stomping grounds. The story revolves around a perfect little family that just vanishes into thin air. With the help of the FBI, Private Investigator Tessa Leoni starts delving into what happened to the family, unraveling more secrets and mystery with every chapter, and the more she finds out, the less perfect the family becomes.

Author Lisa Gardner is known for being an expert researcher and has a way of detailing police procedures and forensic evidence that keeps you hooked … and wanting more. Most books take me weeks to finish, due largely in part to those two kids I care for, but this book I finished in just a few days. Gardner has a certain descriptive flair with words that really goes far to paint a very vivid picture. You can close your eyes and envision exactly what she had in mind when she wrote her words, and that kind of storytelling is the best way to draw you in.

With the various plot twists and turns as the mystery develops, the story really does keep you guessing until the bitter end, which is exactly what you want when it comes to a crime book. Who wants to be able to guess the ending before you even get to the meat of the story? If you’re looking for something to sink your teeth into, and get a break from the usual spate of chick lit, grab this one. If you happen to be reading this book for a book club, or just want to get more in-depth, Gardner has some great questions on her web site here to allow you to continue to dive deeper into the book and its characters. And you can also join the BlogHer discussion on this book right here. One of the great lines to come out of this book is “pain has a flavor.” What flavor would your pain be? I instantly think of the taste of blood. That super distinct flavor from when you bite your lip. Now it’s your turn.

Hungry for more book reviews?
My goal is to read 52 books this year. The first book I read for 2013 was Ali Vincent’s Believe It, Be It. Two down, fifty to go…

Disclosure: I was provided a copy of this book to review for BlogHer Book Club but all the opinions expressed here are my own.

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