Catch Me: A Novel

Written by Lisa Gardner

Narrated by Kirsten Potter

Detective D. D. Warren has four days to stop a killer in this “shocking…‘must read’”* from #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Gardner—one of Library Journal's Best Thrillers of the Year.

Charlene Grant believes she is going to die. For the past few years, her childhood friends have been murdered one by one. Same day. Same time. Now she’s the last of her friends alive, and she’s counting down the final four days of her life until January 21st.

Charlene doesn’t plan on going down without a fight. She has taken up boxing, shooting, and running. She also wants Boston’s top homicide detective, D. D. Warren, to handle the investigation.

But as D. D. delves deeper into the case, she starts to question the woman’s story. Instinct tells her that Charlene may not be in any danger at all. If that’s true, the woman must have a secret—one so terrifying that it alone could be the greatest threat of all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Feb 7, 2012
• ISBN: 9781455847211

Lisa Gardner

Lisa Gardner is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty novels, including Look for Me, Right Behind You, Find Her, Crash & Burn, Fear Nothing, Touch & Go, Catch Me, and The Neighbor, which won the International Thriller of the Year Award. She lives with her family in New England.

Reviews for Catch Me

[Natalie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of her best books although all of Lisa Gardner’s books are great!

[Jeanne Nichol · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Surprises around ever corner! Big surprise ending. Highly recommend. U can’t figure it out until u hear it.

[NNEAMAKA PAYNE · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This fabulous crime mystery series is more worthy than my treatment of reviewing it a month after the fact! Detective D.D Warren leaves us in capable hands as a strong female protagonist. Equally as strong here is Charlie, who believes she has four days left to live. Her two best girlfriends were murdered on this day, in each prior year before. This case as well as a pedophile case consumes much of D. D’s working hours, she is dreadfully tired now being mum of baby Jack, and she quickly realizes time does not stand still just because motherhood is part of her life now. Charlie is not giving up without a fight, she trains relentlessly for her impending D-Day and is at the peak of absolute physical fitness.

Charlie has tracked D. D down having heard what a great Detective she is and hopes by meeting her she can somehow ingratiate herself into D. D’s life and this will increase her chance of being taken seriously. It was a nice change reading about two strong willed and physically fit female characters when a lot of my literary women often are easily walked over and seem incapable of standing up for themselves. Great continuance of a solid and enjoyable series.

[Gail · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It was a very good book, great author. I’ll read another one by her. I also really likes the narrator.

[curlupandread · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Wow! What a page turner I really enjoyed this book. It really had me guessing until the end. Lisa Gardner knows how to get your attention.

[jonesli · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'm a big fan of Lisa Gardner.I've enjoyed her stand alone novels, and have just started to delve into the Pierce/Quincy FBI Profiler series. My favorite series of hers, however, is that of Boston Homicide Detective D.D. Warren, who up until now hasn't been all that likeable of a character, but in Catch Me, she shows her softer side.D.D. fresh from maternity leave after giving birth to her son Jack, is dreading her parents visit, wondering how she will do her job with sleep deprivation, and trying to figure out her relationship with Jack's father Alex, who has offered to marry her.That's just for starters though. D.D. who is pretty cynical, is thrown for a loop when Charlene Rosalind Carter Grant is found at her latest crime scene and asks for D.D.'s help because she fears that she will be killed on January 21st, as her two best friends were. Charlene has heard that D.D.'s the best, and she wants her to handle the investigation.The reader is left wondering if Charlene is suffering from another personality or is someone really trying to kill her? This was a very good thriller that had captivated throughout. As a side note, I really enjoyed the mention of some of the author's other characters in this book.

[elizajane_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Reason for Reading: Next in the series. Tremendous! I just can't wait reading a new Lisa Gardner, some are better than others but I've never been disappointed! This latest volume in the DD Warren series does not disappoint. First off, little time is spent on DD's personal life but we get enough to know the latest details and how she is adjusting to the new changes in her life. Fed up with the downtime she is quite excited to get back on a case and while working one, another case finds her. Of course, it's obvious to any serious crime reader that the two cases will somehow be related to each other which indeed they are, with the first leading to a much larger, more intricate case. The book alternates between the points of view of both D.D. and her team investigating the crimes and the woman who feels that she is the target of a murder. This woman, Charlie Grant,comes across as determined, full of fight and an equal in personality as to how we're used to finding DD herself. A great thriller with many twists and turns. Some interesting people become suspects and knowing who can be trusted is an open question. I sped read this one to the end and am glad to say I am all caught up with this series now! Looking forward to a book next year, Ms. Gardner!

[lizme-336298 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a very interesting thriller/mystery.It keeps you going and I never guessed the way it would end.It involves a mother who has some severe mental problems and abuses her children and ends up killing some of them.The dellusions continued on to one of the live children and you often wonder about the other live child but she turns out to be actually one of the smartest ones in the story.You want to help this one many times through out her life.This book keeps you going and your interest peaked.Loved it.But I always love to read Lisa Gardners books.

[johnfishlock · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a 3.5 for me. Not my favorite. Well written, good story. Some of these books I find are fabulous and some I find just okay.

[lhaines56 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have never given a 5 star rating to a book that I know of. This book was very suspenseful and kept you on your toes ---and then at the end brought in a big surprise twist. Just loved it! I am a recent convert to this author and she is terrific!!!!

[rmarcin-630843 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I figured out the identity of the killer early in this book. I am surprised that other readers did not say they also determined the killer's identity quickly. Still, I really enjoy D.D. Warren as a character so I liked the book because of her.

[lauren2013_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Catch Me
4 Stars

This series has improved in the last couple of installments. One reason is the development of D.D. Warren's character. She is no longer the cold and brash detective with an obsessive need to prove herself but rather a intelligent investigator whose attempts to juggle family life and work make her much more endearing.

The plot is intricate with two parallel mysteries. While both are intriguing and suspenseful (particularly the scenes involving the Internet predators and Charlie's memories of her childhood) ,the threat to Charlie's life takes a back seat to the serial killer storyline, which results in a lack of tension and immediacy. Moreover, the identity of the killer is obvious about 3/4 of the way in mainly due to a dearth of suspects.

The secondary characters are fleshed out well, especially Charlie. Gardner also succeeds in making the vigilante a sympathetic character despite their questionable actions and motivations.

The climax and resolution are satisfying, and the ending made me smile. Another great aspect of the book is the journey down memory lane alongside the characters from previous Gardner books.

All in all, a well written and entertaining thriller with some frightening messages about the dangers lurking on the Internet.

[buffalogr · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

D.D. Warren's character has improved. She isr an intelligent investigator whose attempts to juggle family life and work. This story is told in three narrative threads, that of D.D.'s investigation, the continuation of Charlies story, and a third storyline involving a young boy who is clearly being cyber stalked. Sometimes, this makes it hard to follow in audible form, as the reader waits a few words to interpret what's being said. Characters are well developed and believable. Tension is maintained throughout the book.

[jothebookgirl · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Charlene better known as Charlie has a horrible mother. She suffers from Münchausen syndrome. Charlie suffered more as she is fed broken light bulbs and other abuses at the hands of a mentally ill mother. After the "incident" where the police come, Charlie becomes the custody of her aunt who says if she'd known she would have gotten her sooner. She makes two fabulous friends in her new surroundings but as adults, they are both are murdered exactly one year apart and in exactly the same manner. It is almost one year later and Charlie knows she will be killed too. Charlie trains her body and buys a gun as well as takes every precaution to protect herself. Detective D D Warren enters the picture after the murder of two pedophiles. Could Charlie, a dispatcher, be the protector of the victims as she feels her life is coming to a quick end? So many twists and turns until at the very end the mystery is solved. A good one!

[janismack · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I can only read thrillers occasionally and this one was interesting. I'm not that familiar with deviant crimes so I can't say weather this story could actually have happened. I was interested and I wanted to know who what and why of this story and I guess that makes it a good read.

[mhanover10 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another enjoyable story in the DD Warren life. Lisa had me guessing until close to the end who the murderer was and it was a pleasant surprise. I always enjoy this series.

[carol420 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Charlene Rosalind Grant, "Charlie", is throughly convinced that on 21st January she will be murdered. While dealing with another crime scene, Charlie confronts Detective DD Warren and asks her to make sure she investigates her imminent death properly. The murderer-at-large has already taken the lives of Grant's two best friends on January 21st of consecutive years. As part of a trio of best friends since grade school, Charlie figures she is next on the list, the past year spent on a rigorous schedule of self-defense lessons and graveyard shifts as a 9-1-1 dispatch operator. Charlie does not expect to survive beyond the looming date. Unsurprisingly, Warren's dance card is already full with a new baby, a looming visit from parents and a spate of recent murders of known pedophiles demanding the Boston PD's immediate attention. Now DD must balance the crimes on hand with a case yet to be a case, the assistance of a Special Victims detective much appreciated.

The story is told in three narrative threads, that of D.D.'s investigation, the continuation of Charlies story, and a third storyline involving a young boy who is clearly being cyber stalked. It moves at a consistently fast pace that is sure to keep you turning pages. The plot of this novel is very complex which aids in making it a very good read.

[markpsadler · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is eveverything a suspense mystery book should be!

[kerryelizabeth-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the first Lisa Gardner book I've read, and I only picked it up because it was a group read, but thanks to this book I am now looking into others to purchase. It. Was. Incredible. What would you do if you knew you were going to die in four days? Who would you talk to? That's where D.D. Warren comes in.Despite being a long book, Catch Me was a fast read. I got through it in a couple of days, and loved every single minute of it. Honestly this was the first book I've read in a little while that I simply could not put down. There were so many twists and turns, and up and downs, and back and forths that I honestly didn't know how it was going to turn out. Although I figured out whodunnit before the end, this didn't spoil the book unlike with other thrillers, because the story carries on even after you know who did it. The characters were incredibly well developed and engaging, even if they were the "baddies", and there was a lot of grey area. No one was good or evil, everyone was just a bit of both, and that intrigues me. I found this to be a nail biting, mouth gaping, edge of the seat thriller and I recommend it wholeheartedly. The language used is simple enough to follow, and while it isn't the richest in tone or the most complex in description, nothing takes away from the brilliance of the plot and character development. Although this is a long book, it doesn't feel like anything is unnecessary. Everything had a purpose, and nothing went unanswered. This was absolutely brilliant, and I am looking forward to reading others in the series. A new favourite author for sure.

[frederika.roberts · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I hope Lisa Gardner has more in store for D.D. Warren because if she doesn't, I'll really miss the character!

I've loved getting to know D.D. over the 6 books (plus one short story) and by the end of 'Catch Me', I almost felt like I knew her as an actual person.

The story is full of page-turning plot twists and I wouldn't expect anything less from Lisa Gardner. Very gripping to the very end. Loved it!

[bookczuk · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is the second DD Warren (first unabridged one) I've listened to, and it was a good car listen. As it moved to the climax of the novel, I did bring it inside to finish up, as I won't be driving for a couple of days. Good plot, characters, with a few twists that ratcheted up interest. I may have found another author good for long car rides. Yay!

[acorley84 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As for twists and turns and plots that you absolutely cannot guess until the very end, Lisa Gardner has out-done herself in "Catch Me". I am devastated to have finished this book, as it was so good, I just want something that wonderful to continue reading. I also an anxious to see if Gardner rewards us with another novel following Sgt. Det. D.D. Warren who is such an unforgettable character. There aren't enough great words to describe how awesome this book is. I honestly could not put this book down and managed to read it in about 2-3 days and it has done nothing but leave me WANTING MORE!!

[wyvernfriend · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Charlie Grant is certain that she's going to die on 21st of January, after all that's the same date her closest friends died over the last two years. Now it would appear to be her turn, but she's not going down without a fight. She works as a police dispatcher and wants D D Warren, Boston's top homicide detective to investigate, and hopefully find out who dunnit, before they do it.It's a pretty classic plot, and I enjoyed the read. Found the characters interesting and want to read more in this series

[sharrona_4 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Fast-paced suspenseful story, unfolded in small pieces that the reader can fit together. As more pieces are added, the puzzle has to be rearranged again and again. Just when it all seems clear -- something new! This is the kind of storytelling that appeals to folks who like to figure out "whodunnit" before being told.The narrator's speaking voice is pleasant, and she enunciates clearly. However, she read two major characters so similarly that I often couldn't tell them apart. When I finally caught on to who was speaking, I wished I could "turn back a page or two" to review what she had said and what it meant. Having heard one D. D. Warren short story, and then this novel, I'm definitely interested enough in Lisa Gardner's writing to seek out more in this series.

[teeth_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was avery entertaining read with lots of twists and turns! Detective DD Warren is asked to investigate a womans murder which is about to take place in 4 days.

[conkie_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fantastic book! Very interesting story-line with lots of twists, some which you could see, some that you could not.

[melissajoy_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a great story. I’ve always been a fan of Gardeners work and I was not disappointed with this one. I loved the characters and its twist and turns kept going until the end. Wonderful read…

[mikedraper · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Boston homicide detective, D.D. Warren is asked by a woman to investigate the woman's death when she is murdered in four days.Charlene Rosalund Carter Grant tells D.D. that her two best friends have been murdered in the last two years, both on Jan. 21st at 8:00 P.M. Now she thinks it's her turn.A parallel story tells of the investigation D.D.'s unit is having of someone who has been murdering pedophiles. As an aside to this, D.D. has just become a mother and is enjoying her new motherhood.The tension mounts as the deadline draws near and we wonder if the steps Charlene has take to prevent her murder will be enough.Lisa Gardner is an excellent story teller and has added a number of plot twists which keep the reader guessing and add to the enjoyment of the book.

[cal8769 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Detective D.D. Warren has returned to work after her maternity leave and is faced with a pedophile's murder. While at the scene a mysterious note saying, 'Everyone has to die sometime. Be Brave' is left on her windshield. Warren spots a young woman watching her and after chasing her down finds that the woman is expecting to get murdered and wanted to see who would be handling her homicide investigation. Charlene Rosalind Carter Grant is a desperate woman. Her two best friends have been murdered, both on Jan. 21st a year apart and without any signs of struggle. Grant feels that her day to die is in a few days. She has gone 'off the grid' and has trained to fight in an effort to save herself. Will Warren be able to help her?I have read Gardner's books and have enjoyed everyone of them. I'm new to the Warren series but I will be on the look out for more. With frequent twists and turns and a surprise ending, every mystery lover will enjoy this book.

[suetu_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Has motherhood mellowed D.D.?Boston homicide detective D.D. Warren is back! And at the age of 41, she’s dealing with first-time motherhood. In fact, she’s just returned from maternity leave, and her first case back involves what appears to be a serial killer of pedophiles. While the Boston P.D. isn’t mourning the victims, they aren’t about to turn their backs on some kind of vigilante killer.Outside one of the crime scenes, D.D. finds a suspicious note on her windshield, and spots a woman watching her. Once D.D. chases her down, she meets Charlene Rosalind Carter Grant, a young woman with an amazing story. In short, Charlene believes that she’s about to be murdered in a few days on January 21st, just as her two closest friends were in the two preceding years. The novel is told in three narrative threads, that of D.D.’s investigation, the continuation of Charlene’s story, and a third storyline involving a young boy who is clearly being cyber stalked. It moves at a consistently fast pace that is sure to keep you turning pages. The plot of this novel is very complex. There’s a lot going on, and if you figure it all out, you’re a lot smarter than me. Stories with as many twists and turns as this one has can seem contrived, but Ms. Gardner has managed to put all of her puzzle pieces together so meticulously that I never felt she was cheating. It was beyond impressive!As tight as the plotting is, perhaps the most satisfying aspect of this novel is watching the evolution of this central character that we’ve gotten to know so well over the years. Every time I finish one of these novels, I’m left looking forward to the next case and the next chapter in D.D.’s life.