Right Behind You is a great follow-up thriller by Lisa Gardner. Not quite as dark at the others, but still dark enough. In this, FBI profilers Quincy & Raine try to piece together the past abuse suffered by their thirteen-year-old foster daughter, Sharlah. Her brother Telly has not been seen for many years and whose past is so bleak, I couldn’t help feeling wound up and totally wrung out. On the run and wanted for questioning, there’s an underlying menace and nightmarish melancholy you would expect from a book like this, especially when the main goal for Quincy and Raine is to keep Sharlah safe.
What I liked about it was the deep and meaningful characters we have come to expect in Gardner’s novels. Sheriff Atkins was my favorite in this one. Authentic backstory, much of which is narrated from Telly’s point of view, reads in a fast and furious pace which is impossible to put down. Told in alternating viewpoints, the story created enough suspense for me to read it in two days – afternoon and evening of the first day and morning of the second – leaving an after flavor I didn’t expect.
The research, as always, is excellent, although I did feel some of it weighed down the plot for me. I’m referring to the gun chapters involving Telly and Frank, and some of the descriptions of criminal personalities and tracking. I could have done with less of the processes which, although perfect for the setting were a little long-winded.
Overall, the writing is first rate. Characters are complex, plot was riveting and extremely compelling with its backstory of childhood abuse, foster care, trauma and corruption.
Although this book is part of a series, you won’t need to read the previous books to enjoy this one. Plenty of twists and turns to keep you up all night.
Book Description:
THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!
Lisa Gardner’s latest thriller following her runaway hit Find Her takes her wildly popular brand of suspense to new heights.
Eight years ago, Sharlah May Nash’s older brother beat their drunken father to death with a baseball bat in order to save both of their lives. Now thirteen years old, Sharlah has finally moved on. About to be adopted by retired FBI profiler Pierce Quincy and his partner, Rainie Conner, Sharlah loves one thing best about her new family: They are all experts on monsters.
Then the call comes in. A double murder at a local gas station, followed by reports of an armed suspect shooting his way through the wilds of Oregon. As Quincy and Rainie race to assist, they are forced to confront mounting evidence: The shooter may very well be Sharlah’s older brother, Telly Ray Nash, and it appears his killing spree has only just begun.
As the clock winds down on a massive hunt for Telly, Quincy and Rainie must answer two critical questions: Why after eight years has this young man started killing again? And what does this mean for Sharlah? Once upon a time, Sharlah’s big brother saved her life. Now, she has two questions of her own: Is her brother a hero or a killer? And how much will it cost her new family before they learn the final, shattering truth? Because as Sharlah knows all too well, the biggest danger is the one standing right behind you.
New York Times #1 bestselling crime novelist Lisa Gardner began her career in food service, but after catching her hair on fire numerous times, she took the hint and focused on writing instead. A self-described research junkie, she has parlayed her interest in police procedure, criminal minds and twisted plots into a streak of bestselling suspense novels. Her 2010 novel, THE NEIGHBOR, won Best Thriller from the International Thriller Writers. Most recently, she was honored with the Silver Bullet Award for her work with at-risk kids and homeless animals. Lisa loves to hike, travel the world, and yes, read, read, read!
Readers are invited to enter the annual “Kill a Friend, Maim a Buddy” Sweepstakes, where they can nominate the person of their choice to die in Lisa’s latest novel. People have nominated themselves, spouses, bosses. It’s cheaper than therapy and twice as much fun! For more details, visit Lisa’s website.
Lisa lives in the mountains of New England with her family, as well as two highly spoiled dogs. Her latest novel is LOOK FOR ME, where Boston Detective D.D. Warren must join forces with victim-turned-vigilante Flora Dane to find a missing sixteen-year-old girl, who may be the next victim…or the perfect killer.
More Books by Lisa Gardner:
Comments