🔍 Book Review: Love You More by Lisa Gardner
A taut, emotionally charged thriller that pits maternal instinct against the law in a race to uncover the truth.
Lisa Gardner’s fifth installment in the Detective D.D. Warren series, Love You More, delivers a gripping blend of police procedural and psychological suspense. With a Goodreads rating of 4.18/5 from over 56,000 readers, this novel is a standout for fans of twisty mysteries and morally complex heroines.
🧠 Plot Overview
When state trooper Tessa Leoni calls in the shooting of her husband, Brian Darby, she claims self-defense. Her bruises and broken cheekbone seem to support her story. But there’s one problem: her six-year-old daughter Sophie is missing.
Boston homicide detective D.D. Warren is called in to investigate, and what seems like an open-and-shut domestic case quickly spirals into a frantic search for a missing child. As D.D. digs deeper, she must navigate the blue wall of police loyalty, confront her own biases, and unravel the truth behind Tessa’s carefully guarded secrets.
💥 Why It Stands Out
- Dual Female Leads: Tessa and D.D. are both strong, flawed, and fiercely maternal—making their clash as compelling as the mystery itself.
- Emotional Stakes: The novel explores what it means to be a mother, and how far one will go to protect a child.
- Twists & Turns: Gardner keeps readers guessing with layered motives, shifting alliances, and a final reveal that reframes everything.
- Realistic Procedural Detail: The investigation feels authentic, grounded in Gardner’s meticulous research and sharp prose.
💬 Critical Praise
- “A brainy, exciting, and humane thriller” — Kirkus Reviews
- “Would a mother harm her own child? Gardner explores this terrifying question with nuance and suspense.” — ReviewThisReviews
🏁 Final Verdict
Love You More is a masterclass in character-driven suspense. If you enjoy thrillers that challenge your assumptions and tug at your heartstrings, this one will keep you turning pages late into the night.
