Touch & Go: A Novel
Written by Lisa Gardner
Narrated by Elisabeth Rodgers
4/5
()
About this audiobook
How do you vanish a family?
Ten minutes after walking the elite Back Bay townhouse and investigator Tessa Leoni already doesn’t like what she sees. Signs of an abduction. Clearly the work of professionals. At best, the entire family has been kidnapped. At worst…
How do you disappear a marriage?
The more Tessa learns about the Denbe family, the less she likes their chances. What might have looked like the perfect existence—a powerful CEO, his adoring wife, their angelic child—is not what it appears. Husband, wife, daughter—magazine perfect, but each hiding dark secrets…
How do you erase a life?
Tessa knows more than she’d like to about families riddled with lies. What she doesn’t know is where the Denbes are and if any of them are still breathing. She’ll have to climb over unbending feds and territorial local cops to find out, and if she’s not fast, the Denbes’ chances of survival will quickly become little more than…
Touch & Go
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.
More audiobooks from Lisa Gardner
Touch & Go: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Other Daughter: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Crash & Burn Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
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Reviews for Touch & Go
418 ratings40 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Per usual Lisa Gardner kept me turning pages long into the night with her latest release Touch & Go. For those new to Gardner's works, she writes brilliant suspense thrillers and TOUCH & GO is no exception. Tessa Leoni is back and paired up with Wyatt Foster, a wonderful team I hope to read more about. The characters are well written and the plot will keep the reader thoroughly engaged which is why I highly recommend TOUCH & GO to all who enjoy reading an excellent suspense novel.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This book was a real page turner I really enjoyed it. The Denby family is kidnapped. The only thing the police find our scuff marks that were left by the wife and confetti from the taser gun that was used. If you are a Lisa Gardner fan I highly recommend this book!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Great book! Not very long, but easy to listen to with good captivating plot
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Lots of suspense and mystery. Had me on edge. .
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5אומנם הספר היה קצת צפוי אבל הביצוע היה מעולה!! מומלץ ביותר
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fast moving, well performed story. All loose ends tied up.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Love the suspense, writer and reader keep you on edge of your seat
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This novel is my first introduction to novels by Lisa Gardner and without a doubt she becomes a favorite author for psychological thrillers. "Here is something I learned when I was eleven years old: Pain has a flavor. The question is, what does it taste like to you?"I had never thought of that question before and yet I've felt pain - both physical and emotional. It's one of those intriguing openings to a compelling story on the order of Linwood Barclay's "Fear the Worst: A Thriller" that begins "The morning of the day I lost her, my daughter asked me to scramble her some eggs" or to begin with "When Cynthia woke up, it was so quiet in the house she thought it must be Saturday." in "No Time for Goodbye" taking the ordinary, building unexpected twists and turns, highs and lows, to absorbing, page-turning, compelling and extraordinary novels.The Denbe family might be the neighbors next door of any elite neighborhood - the powerful CEO, the adoring wife, and the 15-year old daughter - dearly loved, independent but dependent, bored yet engaged in all matters of importance to teenage girls. And on an ordinary night, as the privacy and the sanctuary of what is known as home is intruded in a way none of them ever thought possible, their world changes individually and together, and the family become the flashing neon billboard sign that announces "You never know what goes on behind closed doors."The only way to understand what has happened is to learn the secrets and unveil the private life of the Denbe family. The question is with a few secrets of her own, can Tessa Leoni, former Massachusetts state police trooper and now in corporate investigations, unlock the mysteries of this case? Unraveling the secrets is a thrill-ride reading adventure that soars like a North American X-15 or a speedboat on the sunniest day in crystal clear, calm waters or the anticipated ride on the Formula Rossa roller coaster on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, part of the United Arab Emirates that reaches an astonishing top speed of 149.1 mph (240 kmh). [A hydraulic launch coaster manufactured by Intamin AG of Switzerland that accelerates from 0 to 100 km (62 miles) in 2 seconds, climbs 52m (171 feet), and generates 1.7 Gs).]I can't wait to add more Lisa Gardner novels to my "Wish List" of novels to read! There simply aren't enough adjectives to describe her writing and the way in which the reader is intrigued and engrossed within the book covers! It might be best to read her novels on vacation when the alarm clock doesn't ring so early in the morning for work. :)
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This was a real roller coaster of a book. I enjoyed it very much and suggest that you listen to it.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Good characters well narrated interesting mystery a who planned it mystery
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Interesting ending!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This was a good one for me. 4 stars.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I figured out the mastermind of the kidnapping plot early on in this book. I also thought the romance between Wyatt and Tessa did not add to the book at all. However, there was still enough to keep me interested. I would have preferred that D.D. Warren play a larger role in the story.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This is normally not a book that I would pick up to read. But something in the summary caught my attention and I had to start reading.
I felt a little lost through most of the book, with the back story of Tessa, the independent investigator on the case of the kidnapped family and the who and why of the kidnapping. I felt that the story dragged on quite a bit, but after reading the entire book, I got why so many details were added.
Justin, Libby and Ashlyn Denbe are kidnapped with a bang during the first chapter of the book. We are then taken on a wild ride as we follow the kidnapping in Libby's eyes. After being tasered, drugged, and finally forced to live three deep in a prison cell, the family starts to break down. Things come to light that you really wouldn't have expected.
We also have Tessa Leoni's POV along with Wyatt, Sheriff in New Hampshire, pov. Seeing things from the pov of the police and investigators was a nice change of pace, though the constant switching of the povs was a little much for me; since I couldn't always tell who's pov I was reading.
The kidnappers request a ransom, and once that is paid you would think that the story is over; everyone goes on their merry way and things are good.... Well in this case you would be wrong! There are even more twists and turns.
This makes for one completely thrilling read, and while it took me a bit to really get into it, once I did I couldn't stop reading! - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Libby and Justin Denbe have been married for eighteen years, and have a beautiful fifteen-year-old daughter, Ashlyn. Justin runs the construction company his father built, and has grown it to a $100,000,000 company. Libby is a successful jewelry designer.
They have it all.
Or it looks like they do.
For the last six months, Libby and Justin have been struggling with the aftermath of Libby discovering Justin had been having an affair. They go out for a Friday night date night as part of their effort to rebuild the marriage--and come home to a team of very professional kidnappers.
The Denbe family is quietly and efficiently carried off to a brand-new, but mothballed, prison in northern New Hampshire. It's no coincidence that it's a prison Justin's company built. D.D Warren is one of the Boston detectives that responds to the scene of the kidnapping, but it's not long before Justin's GPS device--separated from Justin--is found by NH Sheriff's forces. That makes it definitely a federal case, and the FBI takes over. The NH sheriff responsible for the area where the GPS tracker was found, Wyatt Foster, is assisting because it's now clear that the Denbes are somewhere in his territory. Also involved is ex-Massachusetts state trooper Tessa Leoni, retained by Denbe Construction to find their CEO. Aside from the standard tensions between local police and the FBI, and between law enforcement and private investigators. this ad hoc team has a few extra issues. Wyatt and the lead FBI agent Nicole Adams were lovers, and now aren't. Tessa left the Massachusetts state police after the horrifically painful episode in which her husband disappeared and their child, Sophie, was kidnapped. Tessa found and recovered Sophie, but broke some rules in doing so, and is suspected of having shot her husband.
So law enforcement has its doubts about her. Tessa's only concern now is giving her daughter a stable, secure home, and being a PI with Northridge Security pays better and has more regular hours.
This is an interesting crew, and both compete and cooperate in trying to untangle what proves to be a very tangled case.
Whoever took the Denbes had an override code for the Denbes' high-end home security system, and so had to be an insider or get the information from someone who is--someone the Denbes know and trust. Someone has also been embezzling funds from Denbe Construction--for sixteen years. The COO started at the company as Justin's father's secretary--and her youngest son is Justin's half-brother.
And this is a small fraction of the secrets and lies within the Denbe inner circle.
Meanwhile, the Denbes are in that prison Justin built, held by three ex-military men, one of whom is a dangerous kind of crazy. The brains behind the operation has giving orders that Libby and Ashlyn are not to be harmed, but Mick is proving hard to control.
This really did keep me guessing nearly to the very end. The characters are legitimately complicated and interesting, and the plot is really intricate.
Recommended.
I bought this book. - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Touch & Go
4 Stars
The Denbe family seem to have the perfect life - as enviable marriage, a beautiful home, a successful business. But appearances can be deceiving and when the Denbes are abducted, insurance investigator Tessa Leoni will have to separate the lies from the truth if she is to find them before it is too late…
While this is book #2 in the Tessa Leoni series (a spin-off of the D.D. Warren series), the focus for most of the book is on the dissection of the Denbe family’s lives both prior to, during and following their abduction. Readers are privy to their most intimate moments via the 1st person account of Libby Denbe interspersed with the 3rd person narratives of the investigators, primarily Tessa and Sheriff Wyatt Foster, as they attempt to follow the clues to the family’s whereabouts.
The mystery itself is intriguing as the Denbes’ secrets are revealed one by one, and the facade of the perfect family slowly disintegrates. The suspects from amongst the victims’ supposedly loving relatives and friends pile up and their motives range from jealousy, greed, revenge and hatred. Although the revelation of the mastermind’s identity is not all that surprising, it is, nevertheless, disappointing as it results in a darker and more bitter ending without much hope in sight.
Tessa Leoni’s character development is, unfortunately, minimal although the hints at a romance with the sexy sheriff are promising and it is good to see her and her daughter recovering from their ordeal in the first installment Love You More.
Finally, although the mix of 1st and 3rd person takes some time getting used to, Elizabeth Rodger’s narration is immersive and heightens the intensity of the circumstances.
All in all, a gripping thriller and I look forward to reading more about Tessa in the future. - Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I would actually give this 3.5 stars. It was a good book not great but it was ok. It wasn't my favorite book of hers but it still had a lot of suspense, thrill, romantic interests and terror. Had no clue who the bad guy was until the end.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Exciting, well-paced, fast read audiobook, despite it's 14+ hour length. It's about a kidnapping of a rich family and the resultant search and circumstances of the family. The characters are well described and believable. Gardner tells the story from the perspective of Judith, the woman victim. It makes her books. Our heroine, Tessa, serves as private investigator on the case with many competing LEO interests. Pretty good book, I'll read another.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Exciting, well-paced, fast read, many characters with depth and likeable personalities, scary but not gory.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5actually not at all what I was expecting, but enjoyable, was a nice surprise.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Lisa Gardner's books never disappoint and this one was no exception. The Denbe family has been kidnapped. It doesn't take long before the investigators know that it had to be someone that knew the family well; well enough to know the security codes to their Boston townhouse; well enough to know each members deepest, darkest secret. Just when you think you know where the story line is headed it makes 180 degree turn and leaves you guessing all over again.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Touch & Go takes place 2 years after the events of Love You More and drags its baggage through almost every page. Granted the shit that went down in the first book was major, but please let it go for just a little while, huh? The other thing, which D.D. brings up nicely, is Tessa’s lack of investigative training or experience. Sure, her new employer has put her through some courses, but she shouldn’t be allowed to touch this situation at all. If you read enough of this kind of thing though, the real villain isn’t hard to spot. Libby’s character was reminiscent of Tessa herself though and I had a bit of trouble separating their narratives in my mind. Eventually I’ll get onto the third in the series, just to see if she and Wayne do get together and if it works.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Wow! I had no idea how ready I was to read, no devour, a thriller. But that doesn't detract from the awesomeness that is this book. I have, to date, read one book from Lisa Gardner's D.D. Warren series and chose to read this novel before continuing to follow the series. D.D. Warren makes a few cameo appearances. The other characters are believable and diverse. The action is thrilling without gratuitous violence or sex. The plot quickly pulled me along to the heart-stopping climax.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Excellent thriller...like all her books. Can't go wrong with this one!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This novel is my first introduction to novels by Lisa Gardner and without a doubt she becomes a favorite author for psychological thrillers. "Here is something I learned when I was eleven years old: Pain has a flavor. The question is, what does it taste like to you?"I had never thought of that question before and yet I've felt pain - both physical and emotional. It's one of those intriguing openings to a compelling story on the order of Linwood Barclay's "Fear the Worst: A Thriller" that begins "The morning of the day I lost her, my daughter asked me to scramble her some eggs" or to begin with "When Cynthia woke up, it was so quiet in the house she thought it must be Saturday." in "No Time for Goodbye" taking the ordinary, building unexpected twists and turns, highs and lows, to absorbing, page-turning, compelling and extraordinary novels.The Denbe family might be the neighbors next door of any elite neighborhood - the powerful CEO, the adoring wife, and the 15-year old daughter - dearly loved, independent but dependent, bored yet engaged in all matters of importance to teenage girls. And on an ordinary night, as the privacy and the sanctuary of what is known as home is intruded in a way none of them ever thought possible, their world changes individually and together, and the family become the flashing neon billboard sign that announces "You never know what goes on behind closed doors."The only way to understand what has happened is to learn the secrets and unveil the private life of the Denbe family. The question is with a few secrets of her own, can Tessa Leoni, former Massachusetts state police trooper and now in corporate investigations, unlock the mysteries of this case? Unraveling the secrets is a thrill-ride reading adventure that soars like a North American X-15 or a speedboat on the sunniest day in crystal clear, calm waters or the anticipated ride on the Formula Rossa roller coaster on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, part of the United Arab Emirates that reaches an astonishing top speed of 149.1 mph (240 kmh). [A hydraulic launch coaster manufactured by Intamin AG of Switzerland that accelerates from 0 to 100 km (62 miles) in 2 seconds, climbs 52m (171 feet), and generates 1.7 Gs).]I can't wait to add more Lisa Gardner novels to my "Wish List" of novels to read! There simply aren't enough adjectives to describe her writing and the way in which the reader is intrigued and engrossed within the book covers! It might be best to read her novels on vacation when the alarm clock doesn't ring so early in the morning for work. :)
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I received this book from Goodreads First Reads.
This book caught my attention quickly and never let it go. Each time I thought I had it figured out, there was another twist that kept me guessing again, which I loved, never being one for books that let me figure things out too quickly.
I may have missed a previous book dealing with Tessa, the private detective, from parts of her past that were mentioned but never explained in a lot of detail, but I never felt like it took away from this story. Though it switches from first person with Libby's side and back to third person with Tessa, I didn't find it to be a determent. Normally I don't really like books that switch back and forth between the two, but this one did it well.
Full of family secrets that come to light and twists that keep you guessing up until the end, this is an entertaining and suspenseful read that I didn't want to put down until the end. - Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I would actually give this 3.5 stars. It was a good book not great but it was ok. It wasn't my favorite book of hers but it still had a lot of suspense, thrill, romantic interests and terror. Had no clue who the bad guy was until the end.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5A great psychological thriller in which a family is kidnapped and Sgt. Wyatt and Tessa Leoni team up to solve the crime. A good mystery with lots of twists and turns.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lisa Gardner's latest thriller is a terrific page-turner with some real surprises. She kept me watching closely for hints, twists, nd character revelations which made for an interesting read. Sgt. Wyatt and Tessa Leoni are such good investigators, especially paired together, they are sure to make a showing in another Gardner book.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Another fantastic read by Lisa Gardner.
It took me ages to read it, but that is in no way a reflection on the quality of the book. I go through phases when I just can't focus on reading for more than a few minutes...the strength of this book is that it got me back OUT of such a phase and gripped me to the point where I couldn't put it down. I fell asleep while desperately trying to read a few more pages every night!
The story grips you from the very beginning and the change of perspective from 3rd person when following the investigation to 1st person when following the ordeal the kidnapped family is going through, from the mother's perspective, adds to the great pace of the novel.
As you would expect from Lisa Gardner, there are plenty of twists and turns in the plot, and she keeps you guessing until the very end.
A must read for all Lisa Gardner fans and lovers of the crime fiction genre in general!