Get a Grip

by Annie Hansen

In the wealthy, snow-filled suburbs of Chicago, three desperate housewives try to solve the disappearance of their neighbor, Carrie. During the past few winter weeks, she has been inexplicably missing. Her glamorous, brand-new, three-story house has been left vacant. Did she leave town to avoid the high Covid numbers? Is she missing? Was she murdered? Is it possible that Covid is not the only killer stalking the neighborhood? Or are they just being paranoid?
Behind the doors of these wealthy housewives, the three friends are balancing a lot—divorce, debt, addiction, PTSD, and the start of a hot new romance. So, when Petra, a stressed-out ER doctor, launches a full-on hunt, her friends are hesitant to get involved for fear of making a disturbing discovery.

Determined to find answers and help Petra, Jane and Lisa find themselves unable to say no to their friend. They get involved in searching for clues, plunging themselves deeper and deeper into the quest to find Carrie.

281 pages, Paperback

Published September 22, 2023

About the author

Annie Hansen is a partner with Hansen Search Group, a staffing firm she co-founded with her husband and business partner, Brent Hansen, in 2001. She was named the winner of the Helen McCloy Mystery Writers of America Scholarship in 2011 for her submission of “Give Me Chocolate.” Annie was also a finalist in the 2017 Soon to be Famous Illinois Author Project. Annie is the author of The Kelly Clark Mystery Series and can be reached through her website: www.kellyclarkmystery.com. She lives with her family in the western suburbs of Chicago.

Reviews

[Leah Orr · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entertaining page-turner. This cozy mystery was full of twists. The characters were intriguing and kept me engaged until the end. By the end of the book, I felt as though Lisa, Petra and Janie were my friends. A fun weekend read for the holidays.

[fred jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very different cozy mystery. Three friends, a doctor with PTSD, a struggling divorcee and a recovering alcoholic, investigate when one of their neighbours goes missing during the pandemic. This is a fabulous story full of obsession, mental trauma and strength, with the twists and turns of a well written and entertaining mystery.The title is very apt as at their worst that's what you feel like shouting at them even knowing their situation. it is at turns a deeply emotional, deeply frustrating and ultimately triumphant story. A must read for all of us who soldiered on. I received a complimentary copy from the author and am leaving a honest voluntary review.

[Caroline 'relaxing with my rescue dogs' · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like the other Annie Hansen books I have read I wouldn't say that these were cosy novels but rather a study of emotions and strength through the last few years. Initially I struggled with the book, but that is me as I had a really traumatic time during covid so I really identified with the PTSD plot line. But once I 'got a grip' it worked and I got a lot out of the story. The narration suited the story and added to the emotional journey.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three housewives from an affluent Chicago suburb find themselves embroiled in the mysterious disappearance of their neighbor. Since Covid is still keeping people homebound the fact that Carrie disappeared during a family vacation is suspicious. Petra, Janie and Lisa all have their own suspicions and secrets, but they don't share them with each other. This makes for a riveting mystery till the end.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get a Grip
By: Annie Hansen
Narrated by: Lessa Nosko


Three neighboring housewives are investigating what happened to their other neighbor. They are dealing with divorce, trauma, PTSD, addiction, not to mention Covid. Screams, strange people, and enough twists to keep the listener engaged. So many suspects, so many motives. I will look for more from this author.


The narration done by Lessa Nosko brought the story to life.


I was given a free audio book and I am leaving my honest review. My opinions re my own, yours may differ.

[Siobhan D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the narration of Lessa Nosko


What are you to do, when one of your neighbours disappears. Even if you are suffering from traumas, PTSD, addiction and divorce. You get together and start, looking into it yourselves. Three housewives become the truth finders. So many twists, suspects, I kept guessing and re-guessing.

[Deborah Ortega · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was exciting and I enjoyed the story. This book was written about the Covid Pandemic and the stress on the doctors and everyone else. It is the perspective of three neighbors and a missing woman who is there neighbor who they did not know well. There is a mystery to solve and all kinds of hi-jinks by the women trying to figure out where there neighbor has gone.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is detailed and complicated. There was so much going on that I needed to listen closely for fear of missing information. This mystery has three friends getting involved in solving it while dealing with the stresses of their lives. Less Nosko did a great job with the narration.

[Jeffrey Ito · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping mystery read

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and its character development throughout the story. I look forward to more cozy mysteries from the author.