When You See Me by Lisa Gardner

A body is found in the hills – but the truth still lies buried…

In a small town in the Deep South, Flora Dane is part of a task force committed to hunting down every last trace of notorious serial kidnapper Jacob Ness. As his last victim, imprisoned by Ness in a small box for over a year, she knew him better than most. Even after his death, his evil still lingers.

But this is the kind of town that doesn’t take kindly to strangers asking questions.

The kind of town where dark secrets lurk just beneath the surface.

The kind of town she might not leave alive.

Featuring Detective DD Warren and FBI Special Agent KimberleyQuincy.

‘A string of murders, a crack FBI team and a voiceless girl desperate for revenge – this twist-a-minute thriller has it all.’ KARIN SLAUGHTER

‘A twisty-turny psycho-thriller with a plot and characters that won’t let you go. Lisa Gardner is at the top of her game!’ KATHY REICHS

‘When You See Me is another rocket-fuel-propelled thriller from Lisa Gardner. This culmination of her great talents . . . starts out chillingly intimate and explodes into a sky-high denouement that will leave you breathless.’ GREGG HURWITZ

My Thoughts on When You See Me

When You See Me is the latest  Lisa Gardner publication in a crime series featuring Detective Sergeant DD Warren.

This gripping crime thriller kept me awake until the early hours. The fast-paced police procedural was intricately plotted, gritty and all-consuming. It starts when a human bone is found by a couple hiking and ends with a town in absolute turmoil.

DD Warren is sent to Georgia where the remains of a young girl are found. An FBI task force has been put together headed by Special Agent Kimberley Quincy and accompanied by civilian Flora Dane, a kidnap survivor turned vigilante. The local Sherriff is part of the task force, along with Flora’s friend Keith an expert in criminology and a computer whizz.

The team suspects that the bones are the victims of deceased predator Jacob Ness. Flora knew Ness well, he kidnapped and held her hostage for over a year.

An intricate search plan in the remote Appalachian mountains is put into action and other bodies are revealed.

Are these also the victims of Jacob Ness or is more than one killer involved?

Interspersed throughout the chapters is the voice of a young girl who is captured, traumatised and unable to speak. The words of the nameless girl are so harrowing I was desperate to find out who could perform such unspeakable crimes. As the story progresses the girl is given the name Bonita and communicates through pictures and the use of colour to portray feelings.

This brilliant crime thriller really keeps you guessing. The twists and turns make it difficult to know who to trust and the writing is completely compelling and expertly researched. Each character in the task force has their own skillset which became vital at different times in the story. I felt carried along on a journey with them, desperate for each one to remain safe and ended the book feeling tired and emotional.

Definitely one of my favourite crime thrillers for a long time!

I wish I had read the previous books in the series, this has certainly whetted my appetite for more DD Warren books and I will be actively searching for others in this compelling series written by Lisa Gardner.

Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for a copy of the book, which I have reviewed honestly.