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Forensic Instincts #1
The Girl Who Disappeared Twice
IT HAPPENED ONCE. IT HAPPENED AGAIN
Despite all her years determining the fates of families, judge Hope Willis couldn't save her own. Her daughter taken, she's frantically grasping at any hope for Krissy's return. Her husband dead-set against it, Hope calls a team not bound by the legal system.
Forensic Instincts: a behaviorist. A techno-wizard. An intuitive. An ex-Navy SEAL. Unconventional operatives. All with unique talents and personal reasons for joining Casey Woods's group, they'll do whatever it takes.
Able to accurately read people after the briefest of encounters, Casey picks up in the Willis household signs of a nervous spouse, a guilty conscience, a nanny that hides on her phone. Secrets beg to creep into the open.
Forensic Instincts will dig through each tiny clue and eliminate the clutter, working around the clock. But time is running out, and Casey's team knows that the difference between getting Krissy back and her disappearing forever could be as small as a suspect's rapid breathing, or as deep as Hope's dark family history.
Despite all her years determining the fates of families, judge Hope Willis couldn't save her own. Her daughter taken, she's frantically grasping at any hope for Krissy's return. Her husband dead-set against it, Hope calls a team not bound by the legal system.
Forensic Instincts: a behaviorist. A techno-wizard. An intuitive. An ex-Navy SEAL. Unconventional operatives. All with unique talents and personal reasons for joining Casey Woods's group, they'll do whatever it takes.
Able to accurately read people after the briefest of encounters, Casey picks up in the Willis household signs of a nervous spouse, a guilty conscience, a nanny that hides on her phone. Secrets beg to creep into the open.
Forensic Instincts will dig through each tiny clue and eliminate the clutter, working around the clock. But time is running out, and Casey's team knows that the difference between getting Krissy back and her disappearing forever could be as small as a suspect's rapid breathing, or as deep as Hope's dark family history.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 31, 2011
252 people are currently reading
3885 people want to read
About the author
Andrea Kane
48 books834 followersComing in March 2019 from Andrea Kane: DEAD IN A WEEK.
Andrea Kane is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of twenty-nine novels, including fifteen psychological thrillers and fourteen historical romantic suspense titles. With her signature style, Kane creates unforgettable characters and confronts them with life-threatening danger. As a master of suspense, she weaves them into exciting, carefully-researched stories, pushing them to the edge—and keeping her readers up all night.
Kane’s first contemporary suspense thriller, Run for Your Life, became an instant New York Times bestseller. She followed with a string of bestselling psychological thrillers including No Way Out, Twisted, and Drawn in Blood.
Her latest in the highly successful Forensic Instincts series, Dead in a Week, adds the Zermatt Group into the mix—a covert team of former military and spy agency operatives. With a week to save a young woman from ruthless kidnappers, this globe-spanning chase, from the beerhalls of Germany, to the tech gardens of California, to the skyscrapers of China, and finally the farmlands of Croatia will keep readers guessing until the very end. The first showcase of Forensic Instincts’ talents came with the New York Times bestseller, The Girl Who Disappeared Twice, followed by The Line Between Here and Gone, The Stranger You Know, The Silence that Speaks, The Murder That Never Was, and A Face to Die For.
Kane’s beloved historical romantic suspense novels include My Heart’s Desire, Samantha, Echoes in the Mist, and Wishes in the Wind.
With a worldwide following of passionate readers, her books have been published in more than twenty languages.
Kane lives in New Jersey with her husband and family. She’s an avid crossword puzzle solver and a diehard Yankees fan. Otherwise, she’s either writing or playing with her Pomeranian, Mischief, who does his best to keep her from writing.
Andrea Kane is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of twenty-nine novels, including fifteen psychological thrillers and fourteen historical romantic suspense titles. With her signature style, Kane creates unforgettable characters and confronts them with life-threatening danger. As a master of suspense, she weaves them into exciting, carefully-researched stories, pushing them to the edge—and keeping her readers up all night.
Kane’s first contemporary suspense thriller, Run for Your Life, became an instant New York Times bestseller. She followed with a string of bestselling psychological thrillers including No Way Out, Twisted, and Drawn in Blood.
Her latest in the highly successful Forensic Instincts series, Dead in a Week, adds the Zermatt Group into the mix—a covert team of former military and spy agency operatives. With a week to save a young woman from ruthless kidnappers, this globe-spanning chase, from the beerhalls of Germany, to the tech gardens of California, to the skyscrapers of China, and finally the farmlands of Croatia will keep readers guessing until the very end. The first showcase of Forensic Instincts’ talents came with the New York Times bestseller, The Girl Who Disappeared Twice, followed by The Line Between Here and Gone, The Stranger You Know, The Silence that Speaks, The Murder That Never Was, and A Face to Die For.
Kane’s beloved historical romantic suspense novels include My Heart’s Desire, Samantha, Echoes in the Mist, and Wishes in the Wind.
With a worldwide following of passionate readers, her books have been published in more than twenty languages.
Kane lives in New Jersey with her husband and family. She’s an avid crossword puzzle solver and a diehard Yankees fan. Otherwise, she’s either writing or playing with her Pomeranian, Mischief, who does his best to keep her from writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 609 reviews
October 8, 2012
First off let me saw that I am not a big fan of Kane's writing style. The story is meant for adults, but the writing is seems like it was meant for high schoolers. It was simple, but not with the class or grace that someone like Agatha Christie has. Christie's stories are simply written, yet elegant in their plot and twists; Kane's book is simple in both plot and writing. Not that that's bad, it just jolted me out of the story more than once.
The dialogue was also a little stilted occasionally. There were phrases and conversations that were not said like people normally would say them. I can't really explain it, but it just seemed like some conversations were staged/contrived and didn't flow well.
The story was also highly predictable. The "twists" weren't "twists" and the red herrings failed 99% of the time. There were so many things that happened that were just major fails. Like letting a suspect use the restroom and not follow them, when earlier the main characters knew that person was suspicious of police activity. So what did this person do? Say it with me..."They ditched the cops." Just things like that made me think I was reading the script for a Saturday morning cartoon.
And the kidnapper? I guessed who it was within the first two chapters. It's obvious and you will most likely guess who it is.
Overall this book kept me entertained, but skip it at the bookstore and get it from the library.
Grades 10/11+
The dialogue was also a little stilted occasionally. There were phrases and conversations that were not said like people normally would say them. I can't really explain it, but it just seemed like some conversations were staged/contrived and didn't flow well.
The story was also highly predictable. The "twists" weren't "twists" and the red herrings failed 99% of the time. There were so many things that happened that were just major fails. Like letting a suspect use the restroom and not follow them, when earlier the main characters knew that person was suspicious of police activity. So what did this person do? Say it with me..."They ditched the cops." Just things like that made me think I was reading the script for a Saturday morning cartoon.
And the kidnapper? I guessed who it was within the first two chapters. It's obvious and you will most likely guess who it is.
Overall this book kept me entertained, but skip it at the bookstore and get it from the library.
Grades 10/11+
March 26, 2013
I have very few rules about what I WON'T read.
I won't read novels about vampire lovers.
I won't read books with pictures of over-endowed and half-dressed pouty women (or men, for that matter) on the dust cover.
I won't read books that glorify sadism or sadists.
I won't read books about Hitler.
And I won't read mystery or crime books in which children or animals are the victims. Other than that, most anything goes.
Why, then, did I wind up reading this book in which a five-year-old child is the victim? Well, that's easy enough. It was this month's selection of my local book club.
In the last couple of years as a member of this club, I've been introduced to several writers that I had never read before. I've liked a few of them (Tom Franklin, Harlan Coben, e.g.), a lot of them I found to be mediocre, and a few I've actively disliked. This one, I think, falls in the meh category.
I found the writing rather simplistic, as if it were written for an intermediate school audience. Moreover, the characters did not seem realistic. All of the members of the various investigating teams were paragons of virtue. Egoism and personality clashes never got in the way of their investigation. Everyone was very careful not to step on anyone's toes. Frankly, it just made me long for crusty, irascible Inspector John Rebus.
The story is this: A beautiful five-year-old girl has been kidnapped. She is the daughter of a veteran family court judge and a high-powered defense lawyer who has been known to defend rather shady characters. It seems far too much of a coincidence that thirty years earlier the six-year-old identical twin sister of the family court judge had also been kidnapped. The reader intuits almost immediately that there must be a connection. Well, I mean it's right there in the title, isn't it?
The purpose of this book seems to be mainly to introduce the characters of a private forensics team which will be the focus of an ongoing series. The team is called Forensic Instincts and it is made up of a group of those paragons of virtue that I talked about, who also seem to be endowed with superpowers.
There is the former Navy SEAL who can penetrate any perimeter, the techno-wizard who can perform miracles with computers, and the head of the team, Casey Woods, a behaviorist. They are a renegade investigative unit with unique talents, sort of X-men without the freaky appearances. They will go outside the law and do whatever it takes to solve a case and serve the interests of their clients.
Along the way, they also pick up an "intuitive," i.e., psychic, and a retired straight-arrow, by-the-rules former FBI agent as new members of the team. Oh, and also a bloodhound named Hero.
My credulity was severely strained. I just wasn't buying any of it. I couldn't really get seriously involved with any of the characters. As for the identity of the kidnapper, that seemed fairly obvious early on, even though the full extent of the motive took a while to develop.
Incredibly, these supposedly top-notch investigative teams spent an inordinate hunk of the book concentrating on something that was so obviously a red-herring that I just wanted to grab them by the lapels and scream, "No, no, you're getting it all wrong!"
Even so, I knew from the outset that (Spoiler alert!) the little girl would get home safely. Maybe that's why I was able to keep reading. That plus my sense of responsibility to my mystery book club. See, I'm one of those paragons of virtue, too.
I won't read novels about vampire lovers.
I won't read books with pictures of over-endowed and half-dressed pouty women (or men, for that matter) on the dust cover.
I won't read books that glorify sadism or sadists.
I won't read books about Hitler.
And I won't read mystery or crime books in which children or animals are the victims. Other than that, most anything goes.
Why, then, did I wind up reading this book in which a five-year-old child is the victim? Well, that's easy enough. It was this month's selection of my local book club.
In the last couple of years as a member of this club, I've been introduced to several writers that I had never read before. I've liked a few of them (Tom Franklin, Harlan Coben, e.g.), a lot of them I found to be mediocre, and a few I've actively disliked. This one, I think, falls in the meh category.
I found the writing rather simplistic, as if it were written for an intermediate school audience. Moreover, the characters did not seem realistic. All of the members of the various investigating teams were paragons of virtue. Egoism and personality clashes never got in the way of their investigation. Everyone was very careful not to step on anyone's toes. Frankly, it just made me long for crusty, irascible Inspector John Rebus.
The story is this: A beautiful five-year-old girl has been kidnapped. She is the daughter of a veteran family court judge and a high-powered defense lawyer who has been known to defend rather shady characters. It seems far too much of a coincidence that thirty years earlier the six-year-old identical twin sister of the family court judge had also been kidnapped. The reader intuits almost immediately that there must be a connection. Well, I mean it's right there in the title, isn't it?
The purpose of this book seems to be mainly to introduce the characters of a private forensics team which will be the focus of an ongoing series. The team is called Forensic Instincts and it is made up of a group of those paragons of virtue that I talked about, who also seem to be endowed with superpowers.
There is the former Navy SEAL who can penetrate any perimeter, the techno-wizard who can perform miracles with computers, and the head of the team, Casey Woods, a behaviorist. They are a renegade investigative unit with unique talents, sort of X-men without the freaky appearances. They will go outside the law and do whatever it takes to solve a case and serve the interests of their clients.
Along the way, they also pick up an "intuitive," i.e., psychic, and a retired straight-arrow, by-the-rules former FBI agent as new members of the team. Oh, and also a bloodhound named Hero.
My credulity was severely strained. I just wasn't buying any of it. I couldn't really get seriously involved with any of the characters. As for the identity of the kidnapper, that seemed fairly obvious early on, even though the full extent of the motive took a while to develop.
Incredibly, these supposedly top-notch investigative teams spent an inordinate hunk of the book concentrating on something that was so obviously a red-herring that I just wanted to grab them by the lapels and scream, "No, no, you're getting it all wrong!"
Even so, I knew from the outset that (Spoiler alert!) the little girl would get home safely. Maybe that's why I was able to keep reading. That plus my sense of responsibility to my mystery book club. See, I'm one of those paragons of virtue, too.
June 17, 2011
Have you ever noticed when you read a great book that you've fallen in love with the characters so much that you just know in your heart that they'll return in another book in the future? That's what I thought when I read The Girl Who Disappeared Twice by Andrea Kane. Not so much for Judge Hope Willis and her family whose story is told in this book about the disappearance of their young daughter which has a similar impact on the family as when her own sister disappeared several years ago. Imagine having this happen twice in the same family; how devastating that would be. The torment and question that would call to mind.
No, I'm referring to the investigative team who though a bit maverick in their methods, work to solve this thrilling mystery and bring the young girl home. Casey Woods the young leader of Forensic Instincts and her lover and investigative equal from the FBI Hutch who presents her with a gift of a tracking dog to add to her team. A team fully rounded out with a tech wizard, a psychic, and a couple others adding their own expertise to a successful team that solves crimes.
It's no wonder that Andrea Kane is a NY Times and USA Today best selling Author! Andrea has managed to skillfully blend suspense and romance into a thrilling read that anyone would enjoy! I so loved reading The Girl Who Disappeared Twice by Andrea Kane and seriously urge you to pick up a copy for your own great reading time.
Win It!
November 8, 2020
I have never read an Andrea Kane book but I will be reading more. Hope’s sister is kidnapped when she was a child, and now thirty years later her daughter is kidnapped. Is this related or just coincidence? Leave it to Casey and her badass team to figure it out. It’s a must read.
February 8, 2019
The ratings for this book are all over the place. The book is somewhat unbelievable in the cooperation between various government and private agencies. Additionally, the main independent agency has a cast of characters that are somewhat over the top. Despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. (It is fiction after all.) There are some twists in the story line, but I was able to predict the ending. Despite this, it was an enjoyable, quick read and I will see if the second book in the series develops the main characters further.
July 21, 2011
I was very disappointed. Predictable, lackluster writing, no character development. Why did I read "the whole thing?" I kept thinking it must get better, it couldn't be that inane.... It was.
May 24, 2022
Review originally published October 2011
Five year old kindergartener Krissy Willis is SO excited to see her mother, Hope, has surprised her by picking her up from school. Precocious Krissy does not even think it is strange her mother honks for her to hurry along. Usually they meet on a bench next to the school.
And so begins the suspenseful, kidnapping story of bestselling author Andrea Kane’s book The Girl Who Disappeared Twice. Make sure you have time to read this one in one sitting because it will keep-you-up-all-night!
Shortly after school is dismissed, Nanny Ashley is surprised to see Hope arriving home without Krissy. All the more confusing is when the nanny tells Hope that she was the one that supposedly picked her own daughter up from school a very short time ago! If Hope, a veteran family court judge, had turned at just the right time on her rush home to surprise Krissy, she would have seen her sweet baby girl frantically trying to escape the child-proof locks of an identical family vehicle passing her in the opposite direction! As soon as Hope sees Krissy’s panda is not tucked in on top of her bed, she realizes there has been a kidnapping, and she is quick to call in the authorities to help as the first few hours are crucial in a child disappearance case.
Besides local law enforcement and the FBI, Hope enlists the help of a team of renegade investigators called "Forensic Instincts." The team consists of a behaviorist, a techno-wizard, an intuitive, a former Navy SEAL, AND a psychic. This unique and talented group of individuals each has their own personal reasons for being part of Casey’s motley crew. Also arriving on the scene is an independent specialist who happens to be the not so distant boyfriend of Casey. Hutch, the rekindled boyfriend, brings on scene a bloodhound direct from Quantico. This human scent evidence dog, Hero, was retired at the young age of three due to the fact that he was a terrible air traveler!
The judge’s husband is also not so popular. Between Hope and her attorney husband, they have an exceptionally large number of enemies who will all need to be checked out in the utmost hurry! This crazy cast and crew who all have conflicts with each others’ unconventional operatives will have to wade through many issues, including Hope’s very own dark family history, to solve this case.
Will they help or hinder each other in the race to save Krissy? Hope’s own sister was kidnapped as they lay sleeping some thirty years ago. That case was never solved and when the investigator from the cold case shows up, things get even dicier! Also, what deep dark secret has the nanny been hiding since Krissy’s birth? How about the brooding husband with his stormy attitude, what is he covering up?
If you are looking for a new author, Andrea Kane is the one to try. She has also written fourteen historical romances. While I am waiting for the next Forensic Instincts team to solve impossible new cases as they simultaneously assist and enrage law enforcement, I will definitely read her electrifying FBI titles, Twisted (2008) and the sequel Drawn in Blood (2009).
Currently, Andrea is learning even more FBI investigation procedures, hostage negotiations, as well as mastering her ability to shoot a Glock!
Find this book and other titles within our catalog.
Five year old kindergartener Krissy Willis is SO excited to see her mother, Hope, has surprised her by picking her up from school. Precocious Krissy does not even think it is strange her mother honks for her to hurry along. Usually they meet on a bench next to the school.
And so begins the suspenseful, kidnapping story of bestselling author Andrea Kane’s book The Girl Who Disappeared Twice. Make sure you have time to read this one in one sitting because it will keep-you-up-all-night!
Shortly after school is dismissed, Nanny Ashley is surprised to see Hope arriving home without Krissy. All the more confusing is when the nanny tells Hope that she was the one that supposedly picked her own daughter up from school a very short time ago! If Hope, a veteran family court judge, had turned at just the right time on her rush home to surprise Krissy, she would have seen her sweet baby girl frantically trying to escape the child-proof locks of an identical family vehicle passing her in the opposite direction! As soon as Hope sees Krissy’s panda is not tucked in on top of her bed, she realizes there has been a kidnapping, and she is quick to call in the authorities to help as the first few hours are crucial in a child disappearance case.
Besides local law enforcement and the FBI, Hope enlists the help of a team of renegade investigators called "Forensic Instincts." The team consists of a behaviorist, a techno-wizard, an intuitive, a former Navy SEAL, AND a psychic. This unique and talented group of individuals each has their own personal reasons for being part of Casey’s motley crew. Also arriving on the scene is an independent specialist who happens to be the not so distant boyfriend of Casey. Hutch, the rekindled boyfriend, brings on scene a bloodhound direct from Quantico. This human scent evidence dog, Hero, was retired at the young age of three due to the fact that he was a terrible air traveler!
The judge’s husband is also not so popular. Between Hope and her attorney husband, they have an exceptionally large number of enemies who will all need to be checked out in the utmost hurry! This crazy cast and crew who all have conflicts with each others’ unconventional operatives will have to wade through many issues, including Hope’s very own dark family history, to solve this case.
Will they help or hinder each other in the race to save Krissy? Hope’s own sister was kidnapped as they lay sleeping some thirty years ago. That case was never solved and when the investigator from the cold case shows up, things get even dicier! Also, what deep dark secret has the nanny been hiding since Krissy’s birth? How about the brooding husband with his stormy attitude, what is he covering up?
If you are looking for a new author, Andrea Kane is the one to try. She has also written fourteen historical romances. While I am waiting for the next Forensic Instincts team to solve impossible new cases as they simultaneously assist and enrage law enforcement, I will definitely read her electrifying FBI titles, Twisted (2008) and the sequel Drawn in Blood (2009).
Currently, Andrea is learning even more FBI investigation procedures, hostage negotiations, as well as mastering her ability to shoot a Glock!
Find this book and other titles within our catalog.
January 24, 2020
I enjoyed this book a lot. It went into such great detail of the kidnapping of the six year old daughter. I wouldn't have been able to come up with all of that. The plot kept going and it was flowing with creativity. I imaigine it must have taken a large amount of time to make this book possible. There must have been lots of planning involved to make it just right. This book as I mentioned was about a six year old girl getting kidnapped. There are perspectives from the police and you know what's going on with the mother and even sometimes with the kidnapper which I love in books so that made it even better. The little girl's mother had went through the same thing when she was a young age. The mother (her name is Hope) when she was a little girl her twin sister, Felicity was kidnapped. And the mystery of that goes unsolved until they are in their thirties. And that ties into the kidnapping over Hope's daughter. Which I knew from the start! I predicted it had something to do with her twin sister. I just thought since they mentioned the part about the twin sister it had to do something with what was happening in the story. But I was a little confused about the title it's called "The Girl Who Disappeared Twice" but it's not the same girl for each. I thought the story would actually be about the same girl getting kidnapped. And I think this was an adult book but I still read it it was enjoyable. There wasn't really anything wrong with it at all but I save 5 stars for books I love the most.
March 29, 2020
With the libraries closed due to coronavirus, I've only got one library book left to read so I will be hitting my bookshelves hard and reading some of my older books. Not a bad thing at all. Something I've been needing to do for a long time.
This romantic suspense from 2011 is the first of the Forensic Instincts series. I've read several of the sequels and I'm interested in getting back to see how the series originated.
Casey Woods founded Forensic Instincts, a private investigative firm. Casey has a masters degree in forensic psychology and she's an astute observer of human behavior. The two other members of the firm are special ops Marc and computer expert Ryan.
Family Court Judge Hope Willis's daughter Krissy is kidnapped. Strangely enough, thirty-two years ago, Hope's twin sister was kidnapped.
I've always been impressed with Casey and her firm. They manage to get to the truth in ways law enforcement cannot. I liked seeing how additional team members were added.
This romantic suspense from 2011 is the first of the Forensic Instincts series. I've read several of the sequels and I'm interested in getting back to see how the series originated.
Casey Woods founded Forensic Instincts, a private investigative firm. Casey has a masters degree in forensic psychology and she's an astute observer of human behavior. The two other members of the firm are special ops Marc and computer expert Ryan.
Family Court Judge Hope Willis's daughter Krissy is kidnapped. Strangely enough, thirty-two years ago, Hope's twin sister was kidnapped.
I've always been impressed with Casey and her firm. They manage to get to the truth in ways law enforcement cannot. I liked seeing how additional team members were added.
Read
May 10, 2011Let me start off by saying if you like the new show "Criminal Mind: Suspect Behaviour", you will like this book. Very early on, we find out who the suspect is - which was a bit of a let down for me. Fortunately, the rest of book deals with the why. Why would someone kidnap a young girl.
The story flows nicely, the writing is well done. I must say, personally I was a bit disillusioned that I was able to figure it out so quickly. While the rest of the story was still exciting and fast paced, it didn't have 100% of my attention. The team of rogue current and ex law enforcement that is hired to find her moves too smoothly. It works a bit too well with local law enforcement - whom everyone knows don't like their toes stepped on. It would have read better had it been a bit more realistic.
It was a good book, just not a keeper for me.
August 17, 2017
I thoroghly enjoyed listening to this book and can't believe it's taken me so long to read it! They sure just don't write books like they used to now do they? I believe Andrea Kane really has a knack for grabbing a reader and holding on to them throughout the entire story! I was pretty shocked at the ending! Overall, excellent and the best part is, there's plenty more to follow!
February 24, 2018
Very VERY pleased to stumble upon this first installment in why I hope will be a psychologically-thrilling mystery series
July 19, 2014
Casey Woods is contacted by a frantic Judge Hope Willis who explains that her daughter has been kidnapped and wants Casey's team on the case. Forensic Instincts is a group of experts who aren't afraid to bend the law to get their job done. Now they are helping the police and FBI search for Krissy Willis who was taken from school grounds. Soon Casey and her team are uncovering possible connections to the mob, a possible ransom, and secrets from another kidnapping 30 years ago.
As the team interviews Krissy's parents and nanny, a large suspect list begins to develop. While Casey and her team track down clues and eliminate suspects, they know that the hopes of finding Krissy alive are getting slimmer and slimmer.
This is the first book in the series and we are introduced to many, many characters. Forensic Instincts is a group of private investigators that consists of Casey who is a behaviorist/profiler, Ryan the computer expert, and Marc a former Navy SEAL and ex-FBI agent. They are soon joined by a new member of the team, a bloodhound named "Hero". They are joined by the police, FBI, a clairvoyant, and a former agent who worked on the disappearance of a young girl many years ago. There are so many characters it sometimes was a little hard to remember what each person's role was in the investigation. I enjoyed the book, even though I thought the identity of the kidnapper was obvious. The story was interesting and I still wanted to know the reason behind the girl's disappearance. My rating: 4 Stars.
As the team interviews Krissy's parents and nanny, a large suspect list begins to develop. While Casey and her team track down clues and eliminate suspects, they know that the hopes of finding Krissy alive are getting slimmer and slimmer.
This is the first book in the series and we are introduced to many, many characters. Forensic Instincts is a group of private investigators that consists of Casey who is a behaviorist/profiler, Ryan the computer expert, and Marc a former Navy SEAL and ex-FBI agent. They are soon joined by a new member of the team, a bloodhound named "Hero". They are joined by the police, FBI, a clairvoyant, and a former agent who worked on the disappearance of a young girl many years ago. There are so many characters it sometimes was a little hard to remember what each person's role was in the investigation. I enjoyed the book, even though I thought the identity of the kidnapper was obvious. The story was interesting and I still wanted to know the reason behind the girl's disappearance. My rating: 4 Stars.
August 24, 2012
I haven't read any Andrea Kane before, and I was in a bit of a mystery mood when I saw this book on a library mystery display. It was disappointing. The opening scenes were well done and quickly got my attention. But by the time I'd finished chapter 4, I had figured out who did it - or at least generally what was going on. I continued reading more to see how it was resolved rather than who-dun-it, and that became a mess of former mob ties, lots of red herrings, and some awkward romance. Thirty-two years before, one of a set of identical twins was kidnapped. The twin left behind is now grown up and a family court judge when her 5 year old daughter is kidnapped. Knowing first hand the problems with FBI and other law enforcement recovery of missing children, she calls in a private detective agency called Forensic Instincts to help. If the criminal procedures were more believable, this might have bumped up to at least 3 stars. Instead, this was a suspend all belief type of FBI investigation. Or do you really think the FBI would let a private security/investigation company call the shots and have that much access if the head of the company (Casey) and the FBI lead (Hutch) were regularly having sex? I liked the characters, even the bloodhound Hero, and I wish I could have liked this book better. I just like a little more believability and research in my mysteries.
June 13, 2016
The book was more focused on the case rather than the characters. I only got to know them on the professional level (that they're the best in their field).
There were bits and snippets about their personalities but not much. I didn't mind because this being the first book so I was hoping to get to know them more in the other books. Also, there were some personal conflict but they were solved pretty quickly and the characters involved would not let those conflicts got in the way of the investigation.
The dialogue seemed a bit too explanatory at times, but it was expected from this kind of book. Maybe not the best in the genre, with some plot and characters flaws, and writing hiccups.
Overall, I was pretty entertained with this book. Partly because this was exactly the kind of book I was in the mood to read : crime investigation with cool characters and cool technology.
But I was on the fence about the intuitive, I mean I don't mind reading anything paranormal in paranormal books but when mixed with normal stuff... I'm just not feeling it. At least the author didn't make it as the easy way out, and still combining with other elements in the investigation.
Hope it will get better in the next book.
There were bits and snippets about their personalities but not much. I didn't mind because this being the first book so I was hoping to get to know them more in the other books. Also, there were some personal conflict but they were solved pretty quickly and the characters involved would not let those conflicts got in the way of the investigation.
The dialogue seemed a bit too explanatory at times, but it was expected from this kind of book. Maybe not the best in the genre, with some plot and characters flaws, and writing hiccups.
Overall, I was pretty entertained with this book. Partly because this was exactly the kind of book I was in the mood to read : crime investigation with cool characters and cool technology.
But I was on the fence about the intuitive, I mean I don't mind reading anything paranormal in paranormal books but when mixed with normal stuff... I'm just not feeling it. At least the author didn't make it as the easy way out, and still combining with other elements in the investigation.
Hope it will get better in the next book.
June 30, 2012
The only reason I stayed with this book was to see if I was correct about whodunnit. I figured it out very early, and the title sort of gives it away, so I think that would be the first thing I would change, were I the editor.
The writing was kind of lame - way too many conversations explaining simple stuff, with declarative sentences, that made you feel like the author thought you were stupid. Sometimes it was too cutesy and moronic - especially the banter between the Forensic Institute employees. The characters were not seared into my psyche as I would have hoped. And I didn't like the romantic side story, but then I usually don't like those anyway.
I just didn't think this rose to the level of Lee Child, Robert B Parker, and others. Although the storyline was intriguing.
The writing was kind of lame - way too many conversations explaining simple stuff, with declarative sentences, that made you feel like the author thought you were stupid. Sometimes it was too cutesy and moronic - especially the banter between the Forensic Institute employees. The characters were not seared into my psyche as I would have hoped. And I didn't like the romantic side story, but then I usually don't like those anyway.
I just didn't think this rose to the level of Lee Child, Robert B Parker, and others. Although the storyline was intriguing.
July 15, 2011
I hate when I can predict the ending of a book. Its fun to try and guess what the twist is, and what everything is leading up to. And I don't mind figuring it out in the last two chapters - that makes me feel clever. But when I guess the ending of a book in the FIRST two chapters, it irritates me. Yet, I continued reading because I needed to make sure I was right (I was). Some of the dialogue was unrealistic - people just don't talk that way. Overall, it was an okay book. I didn't hate the book (just the predictability). Luckily, it was a quick read.
August 28, 2012
UGH! Despite knowing who the kidnapper was from literally page 5, this book was poorly written. People don't speak in the way that this author described their conversations. The whole time I was reading quotes I was thinking, "Who would actually say that in real life?"
Also, the realationship between the main character and her boyfriend was completely unbelievable and I didn't care one bit about them. However, she kept talking about their fabulous sex life. WHO CARES??
Hated it.
Also, the realationship between the main character and her boyfriend was completely unbelievable and I didn't care one bit about them. However, she kept talking about their fabulous sex life. WHO CARES??
Hated it.
August 29, 2014
I enjoyed the story (although half of the twist was obvious by the end of the first quarter of the book), but if they reminded the reader one more time how Forensic Instincts plays by it's own rules, I was going to throw the book in frustration. I get it! Their own rules, outside the box, outside the law, by any means necessary, etc, etc. Argh!
June 8, 2011
Interesting premise, but didn't quite hold together. Lot's of stock characters, none of whom are original or compelling. Basically, this is a series "pilot". Establishes the team for books yet to come. I won't be bothering to read any of them.
July 8, 2022
A good mystery with plenty of misdirects and red herrings, yet I was pretty confident I knew who the kidnapper was from the very beginning (as were many others judging from the reviews). I still enjoyed listening to it. There were a few mistakes where the Forensic Instincts team missed obvious opportunities, surely to keep the story from moving along too quickly, but they were annoyances that only detracted slightly from my enjoyment.
Another thing I'm not fond of is how the team has people not just expert but world class in all the skills needed to solve the case. It's not as bad as when they're all in one person, but still . . .
I give this one a 3+ and look forward to reading FI#2, assuming it will be a little better.
Another thing I'm not fond of is how the team has people not just expert but world class in all the skills needed to solve the case. It's not as bad as when they're all in one person, but still . . .
I give this one a 3+ and look forward to reading FI#2, assuming it will be a little better.
January 11, 2023
It was a pretty good mystery read. Had some good twists and turns. Reminded me of an episode of criminal minds
May 3, 2013
I've read Andrea Kane in the past and really liked her books but this is the first that I've given less than 4 stars. It just didn't grab me like the previous books did. Maybe it was because there were just too many agencies involved (FBI, local cops, the CARD team (whoever they were), Forensic Instincts and a former FBI consultant) and instead of them all following different leads/directions, they were stumbling all over themselves in a pissing match all chasing the same thing (oh yeah they pretended to get along but the animosity was there and the holding back information too). I think it took way too long for these specialists to figure it out as I had it solved very early in the story. I mean really we're talking about a child abduction here so I expected better results especially from these "perfect" professionals. I didn't think the suspense level was up to par as a matter of fact I really didn't think it was at all suspenseful. The story just plodded along with Forensic Instincts doing various illegal things to get results but ultimately not getting the job done fast enough.
I did like the idea behind Forensic Instincts and thought it had lots of promise. I also really liked Casey, Ryan and Mark so I will definitely read the next in the series The Line Between Here and Gone. I would love to have Ryan or Mark's POV along with Casey. I also like the new additions to the team
I did like the idea behind Forensic Instincts and thought it had lots of promise. I also really liked Casey, Ryan and Mark so I will definitely read the next in the series The Line Between Here and Gone. I would love to have Ryan or Mark's POV along with Casey. I also like the new additions to the team
October 16, 2013
This was my first book by Andrea Kane and boy was this a good one. First in the Forensic Instincts series as well. Forensic Instincts is an elite group of people that get called in to solve a crime when the police and FBI can't solve it. In this book a family hires them to solve the kidnapping of their 6 year old daughter. There are lots of twists and turns in this story but I loved it. 5 stars.
July 22, 2011
This book was exciting from the first to the last page. I loved it.
There wasnt a page in the whole book without something worth while on it. I would highly recommend this book to everyone. This is the first one of Andrea's that I have read but I can guarantee you that it wont be my last.
There wasnt a page in the whole book without something worth while on it. I would highly recommend this book to everyone. This is the first one of Andrea's that I have read but I can guarantee you that it wont be my last.
April 3, 2016
THIS SHIIIIII GOOD AS FUUUUCC
April 13, 2021
This thriller is an interesting read, though just by half of the length I started getting an idea as to who could be the kidnapper, which turns out half- right at the end. So, the story goes like this. A 05 year old girl from twin sisters was kidnapped who was never discovered & the nightmare got repeated as the other twin who survived as a lone child to her parents, the Judge hope Willis's 05 year old girl was kidnapped again. She hires the detective agency named 'Forensic instinct' team- as boss Casey Woods, Marc with muscle power & nerd Ryan who are the heros of the book, to find her daughter as FBI too tighten their leash. Apart from her team, Casey also relies on her newly hired FBI sniff dog hero & the psychic Clair, to get to the bottom of this case. Ultimately, all's well and the kidnapper was discovered at the end as everyone runs from pillars to post through all maze. The author has an easy & smart way of telling a story, especially thriller. The forensic instinct team looks kind of continuous characters who could appear in her other books. This one's is the first of I read of this author's & I like it. 03 stars for the same.
October 2, 2022
Forensic Instincts is a new team, and in this first book about them by Andrea Kane we meet the core 3 person team Casey Forensic Instincts is her baby, Marc, former BAU and former Navy SEAL, and Ryan techno wizard extrodinaire among other things this teams goes places and does things that normal law enforcement can't A young girl is kidnapped from her school and law enforcement and Casey's team must track down the evidence and find the child before time runs out for her. along the way they run into Claire a sensitive, and Patrick a former F.B.I. Special Agent and Casey is given a new member for her team by her F.B.I. boyfriend Hutch. Hero an F.B.I. trained scent detection Bloodhound. Can all the agencies work in tandem without stepping over boundries and killing each other in time to save the missing child? An excellent beginning book to this series and I can't wait to read more
May 8, 2022
Where do I begin? The story itself was a 3 star (and that’s pushing it) but the narrator only a 2 star at best. He talked so slow that I needed to increase the speed just so his voice sounded somewhat normal. His voice was monotone and disjointed at times, although he either got better towards the end of the book or my brain just got adjusted to his voice. I’ve no idea which. As for the story, it was way too long. It could have successfully been adapted to a 1 hr. episode on Law & Order. I’m just glad it’s over.
February 2, 2024
Story 3 stars. Narration 4.25 stars
This was a fairly good story but wasn’t the best. I used to read all this author’s books many years ago and liked them. This was a mystery/suspense story and while it kept my interest, it also had problems. The big plot twist was anything but that for me. It was obvious from just a few chapters into the listen. Along with that, the FBI would never let all the things happen that occurred in this book. I am afraid I might have been rolling my eyes a bit. I did like the romance although it was already ongoing when the book started. And like I said, it kept my interest and that’s important too. This was book one in this series and I also picked up the next one as well.
This was a fairly good story but wasn’t the best. I used to read all this author’s books many years ago and liked them. This was a mystery/suspense story and while it kept my interest, it also had problems. The big plot twist was anything but that for me. It was obvious from just a few chapters into the listen. Along with that, the FBI would never let all the things happen that occurred in this book. I am afraid I might have been rolling my eyes a bit. I did like the romance although it was already ongoing when the book started. And like I said, it kept my interest and that’s important too. This was book one in this series and I also picked up the next one as well.
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