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FBI Profiler #7

Right Behind You

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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.

389 pages, Hardcover

First published January 31, 2017

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About the author

Lisa Gardner

60 books18.6k followers
Lisa Gardner is the #1 New York Times bestselling thriller author of the Frankie Elkin series, as well as the Detective D.D. Warren, the FBI Profilers and the PI Tessa Leoni series.

Her current suspense novels feature Frankie Elkin, an everyday, average person who specializes in finding missing people. When the locals have given up, when the media has never bothered to care, Frankie takes on the challenge. From looking for a missing teen in inner city Boston to searching for a missing hiker in the wilds of Wyoming to rescuing a possibly kidnapped girl on a remote island in the Pacific, Frankie is on the case!

Lisa lives in the mountains of New Hampshire with two crazy pups. When not writing, Lisa loves to hike, play cribbage, and, of course, read!

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,672 reviews
Profile Image for Paromjit.
3,050 reviews25.6k followers
February 7, 2017
This is the first full length Lisa Gardner novel that I have read. I loved it and found it a fantastic and addictive read. At aged 9, Telly Ray Nash killed his father with a baseball bat to protect his younger sister, Sharlah, from being stabbed to death. His father had already stabbed his mother. After such a traumatic childhood, Telly and Sharlah were separated and have experienced a number of problematic foster families prior to finding ones that eventually work for them. Telly is with Frank and Sandra, and Sharlah is on the cusp of being adopted by FBI profilers Quincy and Rainie.

Quincy finds himself joining a law enforcement team under Sheriff Shelly Atkins after a double shooting at a petrol station in which the killer is filmed shooting down a camera. The shooter is identified as Telly, and on visiting his foster home, Frank and Sandra are discovered dead in a gruesome shooting in their bedroom and there is a missing gun arsenal. It looks as though Telly has become a 'spree' killer who suffers from IED, Intermittent Explosive Disorder, where he can just completely lose it and not remember what he has done. Quincy and Rainie are horrified by their discovery that Telly is Sharlah's brother and that she appears to be in grave danger from him. A massive hunt is on to find Telly and a tracker team led by Cal sustain gunshot injuries when Telly shoots at them. In a terrific and tense story, it is clear that everything is not as it seems and that there are more malignant forces at play than first assumed.

Lisa Gardner knows how to write a compulsively readable tale that is full of suspense and tension. I did not want to stop reading until I reached the end. The perspectives of Sharlah and Telly are superbly deployed in the slow and considered reveal of what precisely has been happening in their lives and the relationship and secrets between them. The characters are all well drawn and develop well throughout the book, particularly both Telly and Sharlah. The author is clearly an expert in this genre of writing and I will be reading more of her novels. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Headline for an ARC.
Profile Image for Mary Beth .
389 reviews2,135 followers
May 24, 2017
4.5 stars!

This is the seventh book in the Quincy and Rainie Series.
I just love this series and I could not put this book down.
Lisa Gardner is one of my favorite authors. I have read all of her books. I love Quincy and Rainie. I was beyond thrilled when I heard that we would be getting a new book in this series.

Right Behind You is a mystery/suspense/thriller. The case/mystery is unique to this book. However, there is a lot of back story with Rainie and Quincy that you will miss out on if you start with book #7. This series is phenomenal and I would definitely encourage everyone to start from the beginning. But you won't be lost if you pick up this book without having read the others. Make sure that you have a lot of time on your hands when reading this book because I think everyone would have a hard time putting it down. It is a page turner filled with twists and a lot of suspense. It will make your heart pound.


A teenager with a troubled past becomes the prime suspect in a string of brutal murders, but ex–FBI profiler Pierce Quincy and his partner, Rainie Conner, think there’s more to the story.

For the past three years, Pierce and Rainie have fostered Sharlah Nash, now 13, with the hope of soon adopting her. Sharlah’s childhood is the epitome of troubled: when she was 5, her drug-addict father killed her mother and then tried to kill her and her older brother, Telly, but Telly, then 9, bashed his head in with a baseball bat. The siblings were fostered apart, with Sharlah ending up with Pierce and Rainie, whose expertise as parents seems to come from their combined resumes as a former criminal profiler and cop, respectively. Telly, we learn in expansive flashbacks from the now-teenager’s point of view (Sharlah has her own, crowding an already packed narrative), bounced around before landing, age 17, with Frank and Sandra Duvall, a kind couple who are obviously not what they seem. In what appears to be an explosion of unexplained rage, Telly allegedly murders the Duvalls and then kills two people in a gas station before heading off into the Oregon woods, sparking a manhunt and fears that he’s coming after Sharlah. Pierce and Rainie work with local law enforcement to build a psychological profile of the teen—which is questionable given the excessive amount of guesswork and second- and thirdhand information used—while trying to protect their daughter from harm.

This series is very well written. The characters are believable and very easy to imagine. I felt so sorry for Telly and loved his sister Sharlah who was a very brave girl, and of course I love Quincy and Rainie also.

I recommend this book to everyone that loves a good thriller.
Profile Image for Melissa.
647 reviews29.1k followers
January 30, 2017
Who am I who am I who am I?

Much to my surprise, this wasn’t the dark and depraved story I was expecting. Considering Find Her was my first of Lisa Gardner’s work, and this only my second, can you blame me?

This story actually hit on the opposite end of the spectrum, in almost every way. Mild in comparison, it wasn’t the manhunt or the investigation itself that garnered my attention like before, but the HUGE throbbing heart at the center of the story - Quincy, Rainie and their little makeshift family. If you're anything like me, you'll find it's pretty easy to forge a connection with this cast of characters.

This being my first case with Quincy and Rainie, I had no history to fall back on and you know what, that was okay. In no way did I feel like I was missing out. Both retired, Quincy from the FBI as a profiler and Rainie from the police force, “they’re experts in monsters” and work together as consultants on special cases. This being the most special case of all.

Thirteen-year-old Sharlah and her constant companion, a retired police dog named Luka, have become the center of Quincy and Rainie’s world. Somehow, someway these two investigators found each other and were lucky enough to get a chance at a family of their own. Sharlah has a traumatic childhood to overcome, but with plans in place for the adoption, they’ve all settled in and have quite the dynamic. That’s all threatened when Telly, Sharlah’s estranged older brother, goes on a killing spree. Eight years ago, Sharlah watched Telly bludgeon their parents with a baseball bat, so it feels a little like history repeating itself. Naturally you have to wonder, is she his next target? Is this how he's going to end the pain of the past?

While I found this story enjoyable, I can’t hide the fact that I found the investigation and subsequent truth to be quite predictable. Maybe not every single detail, but I pretty much had the outcome pinpointed from the go. If it hadn't of been for the sheer likability and vulnerability of these characters, I'm not sure I would have enjoyed it as much as I did. It was definitely light on the police procedural aspect, there's no intricate plot here, but big on heart and character connections.

*Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP/Dutton and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Diane S ☔.
4,888 reviews14.4k followers
February 11, 2017
I could poke holes in a few plot points, but I won't. I am so happy to see a Quincy and Rainier novel again, loved the two young characters, but mostly because it was the first mystery/police procedural that I didn't want to put down in quite a while.

Quite quickly paced, the effects of early violence on the young, foster homes and the adjustments they take and a strong brother/sister bond. Plus, a wonderful and loyal ex police dog. Also loved Cali, the cheese maker and tracker. Intrigue, suspense and though I saw a few of the twists coming still enjoyed and didn't have a clue about the final resolution of this story.

Hope we continue to hear more from two of my favorite profilers.

ARC from Netgalley.
Profile Image for Norma.
557 reviews13.5k followers
February 7, 2017
Sister Read Review by Norma & Brenda

Yeah!  Quincy & Rainie are back after nine (9) years! Where have they been and what have they been doing?

Lisa Gardner touches on these questions in Right Behind You and we were totally satisfied with the answers that we obtained after reading this novel but we felt that the story was also about some of the supporting characters that were introduced.  It’s not all about Quincy and Rainie here.  So with that being said it absolutely works as a standalone book.

LISA GARDNER IS OUR QUEEN OF CRIME THRILLERS!  
RIGHT BEHIND YOU by LISA GARDNER is a well-written, interesting, emotional, exciting, captivating, brisk, and a suspenseful read that we both thoroughly enjoyed. This was definitely a page turner and hard to put down for both of us. Lisa Gardner has been one of our favourite and go-to authors since we first discovered her back in the mid-2000’s.  Lisa Gardner has always gotten one of us out of a reading slump.  

“Because as Sharlah knows all too well, the biggest danger is the one standing right behind you.”

Quincy is called in to join a team of local law enforcement officers to profile the identity of a perpetrator suspected of committing multiple murders with the help of his wife Rainie who is a former police officer. The suspected perpetrator is Quincy & Rainie’s soon to be adoptive daughter, Sharlah’s long lost brother Telly.  The stars of this tale are Sharlah and her dog Luka, a former police officer. Makes us wonder what Lisa Gardner has in store for them. The team included Quincy & Rainie, Sheriff Shelly Atkins, tracker and very proud cheese maker, Cal and the help of a few unexpected characters.  And what an exciting team they made. This was an engaging mix of characters each of them bringing so much to this story that we quickly came to love.

What makes a family? When do you become a family? How do you become a family?

Loved the team combination of profiler, tracker, and sheriff and the issues of domestic violence, social issues, adoption, and addiction that was woven into the storyline.

To sum it all up it was a well written, well-researched, suspenseful, interesting, fast-paced, quick and easy read with a satisfying ending from one of our favourite authors. Would recommend!

http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereadi...
Profile Image for Brandie.
711 reviews256 followers
February 7, 2017
I hate to say it but I was not impressed by this one. Maybe it was my mood, but it was really slow and boring and repetitive. I struggled to get through it. I'll probably be in the minority on this one!
Profile Image for Gary.
2,805 reviews404 followers
December 11, 2016
This is the 7th boot in the 'Quincy & Rainie' series by author Lisa Gardner and can be read as a stand alone or as part of the series.I have read quite a few Lisa Gardner books but this is only the second one I have read in this 'Quincy & Rainie' series and found it very enjoyable.
The series is set around Pierce Quicy who is a former profiler and his wife former cop Rainie. The couple have a teenage girl, Sharlah living with them that they hope to adopt. Sharlah's older brother, Telly killed their abusive parents eight years ago and since the pair have been kept apart in various homes. Now eight years later two people are murdered in their local convenience store and Sharlah's brother is identified as the killer. While fingers point to Telly been the killer it seems that there is a lot more to this case than first thought.
This is a very well paced novel that made me want to read more of this series.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Headline for supplying a copy of this new novel in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Theresa Alan.
Author 10 books1,139 followers
October 3, 2017
If you are not yet a fan of Lisa Gardner, I don’t recommend that you start here. This book is good, but does not move at the breathless pace that Gardner’s work is often associated with.

It starts off with a nine-year-old-boy protecting his five-year-old sister from a father who is drunk and high and attacking the family with a knife. Using a baseball bat, Telly ensures their addicted parents won’t live until morning. Telly and Sharlah are broken up and sent to different foster families—several different foster families. In the end, however, Telly seemed to find good parents who were trying to get him ready for life on his own and didn’t judge him for his trouble with school and his petty crimes. Sharlah ended up with FBI profilers Quincy and Rainie.

It appears that Telly murdered two people at a gas station. When the sheriff investigates, it also appears that Telly murdered his foster parents. Now they have to find Telly before he kills again, which is when Quincy and Rainy are called in.

The mystery slowly unfolds, and it has a lot to do with abusive family and secrets and misunderstandings. I listened to the audiobook and both the male and female narrators did a good job.
Profile Image for Brenda.
725 reviews144 followers
March 5, 2017
It was nice getting reacquainted with Quincy and Rainie, and this story was a great vehicle for these two characters.

Telly and Sharlah, brother and younger sister, have bounced around in foster care after the deaths of their parents. They've been separated for eight years. Sharlah is about to be adopted by Quincy and Rainie, but Telly is close to aging out of the foster system. Then two bodies are discovered at a convenience store, and we're off and running.

Lisa Gardner can tell a story! She supplied information that led me down a path, then she made me stop to speculate on just where this was going. Several scenarios came to mind. I read some more and it happened again. And again. I would adjust my thinking and continue. I love a book that does that to me.

Telly and Sharlah were immediately pulling on my heart strings. Their memories and their stories, although they experienced the same event, were so very different. These two characters were very well written. With one of the trackers, Cal, my feelings wavered. I was not sure about him. And I have to mention Luka; he was an added dimension to the story.

Although this is part of a series, there is a big gap between this book and the previous books. This one works very well as a standalone.
Profile Image for Helga.
1,154 reviews295 followers
September 25, 2019
After being attacked by his drunk and abusive father , Telly, a nine year old boy, kills him and his mother to protect and save the life of his 5 year old sister Sharlah.
Since that faithful day the brother and sister have been separated, each put in the care of a foster family.
Everything seems to be going well until some years later Telly’s foster parents are brutally murdered and he is nowhere to be found.
Did Telly kill his kind and caring foster parents? If so, what was the motive?

My reasons for the 2 stars are as follows:

All throughout the book I had the feeling that the author wants to make sure time and time again that the reader understands what had gone on years ago and what is happening now; even to the point of explaining the whole plot in the epilogue to make sure that after reading the 400 pages we really really got what happened and why.
Repetition of the same sentence, sometimes word for word, in almost every chapter, too many assumptions and speculations and the frequent use of the word "maybe" in every other paragraph became maddening and nauseating.
Boring details, check.
Monotonous narrative, check.
Predictability, check.

With so many 5 star reviews for this book I can only conclude that it’s not the book, it’s me!

There is only one thing that’s bugging me. Is it wise for a foster parent to teach a child with a history of violence how to use a gun and take him target shooting?
Profile Image for Emma.
997 reviews1,107 followers
December 22, 2016
Ooohh this was good.

Lisa Gardner continues to keep this series fresh both by moving the lives of the main characters forward in significant ways and by adding remarkable new individuals who carry the main weight of the plot. That mixture of fresh voices and old favourites, modified and matured by their experiences, is what makes these stories so easy to fall in to. Rainie and Quincy are firm favourites of mine, but they are well matched by Sharlah May Nash and her brother, Telly Ray in this instalment. Right from the outset, both siblings are deftly illustrated through strong voices and hard times, their memories and experiences are the thread that weaves this story from the past to the present. It's done well- questions, truths, lies are parcelled out with purpose, always making the reader rethink what they've been told and what they believe. I read the whole book without stopping.


ARC via Netgalley
Profile Image for Lit with Leigh.
618 reviews7,590 followers
November 6, 2023
Not going to do a full review since it's an older book. I was gonna give this 4 stars despite a lot of questionable behaviour (cheese tracker doing thee most, 13-year-old attending police briefings and tossing out theories despite the MAJOR conflict of interest) but the final showdown with the baddie was too redonk for me to overlook. I read this in hopes of redemption after the crapshow that is Still See You Everywhere and thankfully the writing was MUCH better.
Profile Image for Brenda.
4,590 reviews2,881 followers
February 24, 2018
Wow! Lisa Gardner has done it again!!

Thirteen year old Sharlah May Nash had been fostered with Pierce Quincy and Rainie Connor for three years and they’d been the best three years out of her last eight. Now, in just a few months the legal adoption would be finalised; they would be her parents; she would be their daughter. Sharlah had been five years old when she entered the system – her older brother Telly Ray Nash had cared for her, fed her Cheerios for breakfast, taken her to school and the library. When their parents died in horrific circumstances, they were separated. Sharlah hadn’t seen or heard from Telly in eight years.

When Quincy and Rainie were called in to investigate a double murder in their sleepy town, they had no idea it would be directly connected to Sharlah. The shocking circumstances of the crime and the evidence they found pointed horrifyingly at the killer being Sharlah’s older brother. And it seemed he’d only just started his spree…

What would Sharlah do – confront Telly? Or was that just asking for trouble? She was confused and hurting; though she hadn’t really thought about her brother in those years and didn’t remember a lot, she still loved him. She just couldn’t believe this was the Telly who had cared for his baby sister all those years ago…

Right Behind You is another heart-stoppingly brilliant psychological thriller by Lisa Gardner! Gripping and intense, the pace was electric! I raced through the pages and didn’t want to put the book down. I loved it, and have no hesitation in highly recommending Right Behind You to fans of the genre.

With thanks to Hachette Australia for my copy to read and review.
Profile Image for ♥Rachel♥.
2,074 reviews895 followers
February 7, 2017
Thirteen year-old Sharlah hasn’t seen her older brother, Telly, since he killed their parents in self-defense eight years ago. Obviously, these two didn’t have the greatest start in life with drug addicted, violent parents, but they had each other. Telly loved Sharlah, would feed her, make sure her clothes were clean, and take her to the library each day after school to read her favorite books. Now Sharlah is finally getting a permanent home, and parents who love her: Quincy and Rainie, a perfect pair for this troubled girl. Both have personally experienced firsthand the horrors humans can inflict on others, both have their own dark pasts, and can easily relate to Sharlah’s issues.

As everything is looking up for Sharlah, Telly life is another story. It seems he’s the prime suspect in a series of shootings that baffle law enforcement. Did that night Telly saved them change him so much that he could commit these crimes or is there more at play here? Sharlah doesn’t know what to believe, but she must find out the truth. Thankfully, she has her criminal profiling parents to help. The clock is ticking to find answers and Telly before anyone else is killed.

I was thrilled to hear after so many years we’d be getting another Quincy and Rainie book! Apparently, Lisa Gardner wrote Right Behind You in response to a poll asking readers who should star in her next mystery, and the overwhelming answer was this beloved duo. Quincy and Rainie have long been my favorite characters of Ms. Gardner’s many books. Their history, emotional struggles, and romance captured my heart! The mysteries they worked on were riveting! I spent the last few weeks re-reading most of their previous stories before reading Right Behind You. That isn’t necessary to enjoy this story, I believe you can read this installment as a standalone, but it did greatly enhance my enjoyment.

I will say the mystery part didn’t really take off for me until the 39% mark, but I didn’t mind. Life with Sharlah, Rainie and Quincy, still acclimating to each other while investigating the shooting, was engrossing to me. More threads and possibilities become apparent as the team investigates Telly’s life with his foster parents, a place he seemed to settle into, and the urgency to find Telly ramps up. I was eager to get to the bottom of what actually happened all the while hoping everything would turn out okay for Sharlah and her brother!

Ms. Gardner really does her research into criminal behavior and investigative techniques making her mysteries a stand out for me. They are well written crime procedurals with a solid, multi-layered cast of characters. Most of her stories have left me thinking about them long after I closed the book.

A copy was kindly provided by Dutton via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.


This review is also posted on The Readers Den.
Profile Image for Judy Collins.
2,976 reviews430 followers
January 9, 2018
The 30 Best Books of 2017

Psychologically rich. Meticulously researched. Thought-provoking. Edge-of-your-seat thriller. Emotional. Gripping. Suspenseful. Gardner’s Best Yet! 5 Stars +++

The "queen" of crime thrillers, Lisa Gardner returns to Bakersville, Oregon, following Find Her (2016) and the latest tantalizing prequel teaser: The 4th Man (Quincy & Rainie #6.5) with RIGHT BEHIND YOU — with fan favorites, highly anticipated retired FBI profiler and former police officer Quincy & Rainie dynamic duo: A heart-pounding, emotional, and gripping suspense crime thriller.

Fans will devour. Humans are complex. Hearts will go out to this brother and sister duo. Professional and personal lives connect. Where nothing is as it appears.

"Had a family once. Father. Mothers. Sister. Lived in our very own double-wide."

The opening takes us to a scene of domestic violence, abuse, and neglect. Two siblings. A brother and a younger sister. A brutal murder. A troubled past. Childhood trauma.

Flash forward years later, we catch up with Quincy and Rainie, retired FBI agent and former police officer, called in on a case, working with the local authorities in Oregon.

With the past books, Quincy was an FBI profiler and met Rainie, a deputy in Bakersville while working on a school shooting case. Now, both retired, they work together consulting on cold cases, or murders outside the police department’s norm.

They are experts in monsters. Homes can be broken. Can the members be mended by the love of others?

When Sharlah (5) and Telly (9) spent day and night trying to escape the violence of their parents- subjected to the unspeakable. Not a life, for an innocent and helpless boy and girl. There was no one to protect them from harm. The kids had to fend for themselves.

One night things get heated and the father tries to kill them. Telly comes to his sister’s rescue and the parents are murdered. They wind up in foster care separated.

Of course, Sharlah knows all too well about monsters. Her parents are dead, with no surviving relatives. Just a brother, four years older than her. She has not seen or heard from him since. She was very young and does not remember a lot about the night her parents died. No one talks about her brother. She has post-traumatic stress, and continues to go to therapy.

She had come to Rainie and Quincy with a case history of antisocial tendencies. They had qualified as foster parents despite Quincy's advanced years, and Rainie's continued struggle with alcohol. They plan on adoption. There is always a pull here with three different personalities.

Quincy was considered an expert in bonding. Sharlah was not easy. She was a lost girl. Broken. One who had been subjected to hardship and violence and had built the corresponding protective layers. She did not trust easily, nor reach out, with a lack of faith. However, she bonded with their dog, Luka. They were inseparable.

She was broken inside. Sharlah had been in their home for three years, and they were close to adoption. She respects her soon to be parents and the work they do. However, she does not realize, nor do they, how she is connected to the case? The meaning of family. Everyone involved is part of this family unit.

Quincy is the quiet one; and Rainie, the emotional one. Sharlah loves them, but not quite sure how to express her feelings. She has her guard up all the time. She knows they are experts in monsters, like herself. If you have read the other books in the series, you know the challenging journey this couple has traveled.

They are giving back by being foster parents to teenage daughter Sharlah, and their dog Luka. Luka is a former police officer. A trained member of law enforcement. He had to retire at five with a bum knee and not strong enough for active duty. Quincy got him for a cop friend—now he is Sharlah’s best friend. She was ten when she arrived at their home, after being placed in many others.

We also meet Shelly the local small town Sherriff and fugitive tracker, Cal - wonderful added characters. There has been a shooting at the EZ Gas station in Bakersville, a backwoods town between Portland and Salem. Three victims. Multiple gunshots. A killer is on the loose.

They soon discover as the investigation is underway; there is a foster teen boy, who appears to be the perpetrator on a shooting spree. Why? What set him off? Could it possibly be Sharlah’s brother? The evidence is pointing his way.

He had been so good with his little sister, had read to her, taken her to the library and caring for her needs. Protecting her. However, upon their parent’s death, the siblings had been separated.

Quincy and Rainie fear for their daughter. Is Telly out to harm her? Where will he strike next? A psychotic break. A killer on the loose?

However, has Telly, the brother killed his foster parents and the victims at the gas station? Or is it someone else? Why does he have photos of Shariah?

As Quincy and Rainie fear for the safety of their own family and Sharlah, they also must dig deeper to understand what happened all those years ago, at the murder scene to make sense of the events unfolding in the present.

The brother and sister duo have not seen or heard from one another for eight years. Why now? Did Sharlah have her own memories hidden away? Does she remember what went down that night so long ago? Is a brother trying to protect his sister, still today, after all these years?

One more person to kill. Secrets. A family is about trust.

The suspense builds as Gardner takes you back to the trailer, to the night it all began. The innocent lives of two young siblings and the painful, cruel hand they were dealt. From tragedy, loss, pain, and trauma, to love, loyalty, and deep connections.

INTENSE! The author grabs you from page one (grabbed me with the preview included in The 4th Man) and never let's go, not even for a second. I knew I had to read this story. It is a "read in one sitting" kind of suspense. Psychologically rich, one of the best crime thrillers I have read this year. Also, a vivid portrayal of the foster care system and the impact of both parents, and children have on one another.

With meticulous research and skillful crafting, Gardner combines law enforcement, profiling, cop procedures, domestic violence, foster care, social issues, juvenile system, adoption, alcoholism, at-risk kids, addiction, spree killing, fugitive tracking, crime, mystery, and suspense. It has it ALL.

In addition, to being a huge Quincy/Rainie and Gardner fan, (quickly going back to buy the previous audiobooks, to catch up); loved the relationship between Telly and Sharlah> My favorite was the twist with Sandra and Frank (Telly’s foster parents). Sandra’s intriguing past and her relationship with Telly. Highly creative as the two families are intertwined. And let’s not forget the skill and love of a loyal dog.

Buy RIGHT BEHIND YOU, today! Gardner pulls out all the stops. Cannot wait for the next. Here’s hoping for more Quincy, Rainie, Telly, and Sharlah. Gardner can flat out write complex crime, and spin a tale, like no one else.

A special thank you to Dutton and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

JDCMustReadBooks

Be sure and add Look For Me Coming Feb 6, 2018! Lisa Gardner's latest twisty thrill ride, Detective D. D. Warren and Find Her's Flora Dane return in a race against the clock to either save a young girl's life . . . Or bring her to justice.
Profile Image for Jim.
581 reviews99 followers
June 10, 2017
This is the seventh book in the Quincy and Rainie Series but I think there is no problem reading this as a stand alone. I have not read any of the other books in this series but having finished this one I am left with a strong desire to read the other books in this series. Lisa Gardner is terrific storyteller. This is a mystery / suspense / thriller but it is also about family and relationships.

Eight years ago Sharlah May Nash’s older brother, Telly Ray Nash, beat their drunken father to death with a baseball bat in order to save both of their lives. Their father had attacked their mother with a knife. Sharlah and Telly's parents are dead, they have no other relatives, and they are placed in the foster care system. Separately. Both have moved around in the system. They have not seen each other since the night Telly killed their father.

Telly is too old to be adopted and is about to age out of the system. He has gotten in trouble due to his quick temper. Now a husband and wife have taken him in. Too old to adopt but they want to mentor him and prepare him for life after foster care. They may not be a family but all indications are that there is some bond.

Sharlah's fortunes appear to be better. She has moved around in the foster system too and has her own emotional baggage but now she has been taken in by Pierce Quincy and Rainie Conner who plan to adopt her. She also has a pet dog named Luca, a retired police dog. The walls that Sharlah built are slowly coming down and don't exist with Luca.

Then one day a call comes in. A shooting at a local gas station / convenience store. When the sheriff investigates she finds two murder victims. Video from a security camera appears to indicate that the shooter is Telly Ray. When they raid his home they find his foster parents also shot to death. Telly has had his problems. He has a known short temper. But nothing like this. Why after eight years has he started killing?

Eight years ago Sharlah's big brother saved her life. Now he appears to be on a killing spree. What does this mean for her and her new family? Is Telly a hero? Or a murderer on a killing spree? This is a real page turner that will leave you wondering what happened and what does the future hold for these characters. It was easy to connect with all of the characters and be interested in what happens to them. I am looking forward to reading other books in this series.
Profile Image for Lisa.
896 reviews
September 12, 2017
I read this out of order yeah I know am silly but I saw it in the library & to me Lisa Gardner is a drug just need my fix & boy didn't she deliver I loved everything about this book , The characters were top notch, loved the way Miss Gardner combined Sherriff Shelly Atkins With Quincy & Rainie it worked to a T this for me was one of her best novels I have read , I bought The Next Accident after 84 pages the plot was tight & believable. The story goes back 8 years earlier & then goes to the present.


two people are found murdered at EZ Gas a convenience store shot, Sherriff Shelly Atkins & sergeant Roy Peterson bring in Pierce Quincy A Former profiler with the FBI & cop Rainie to solve the case. As the look deeper into the deaths they have found a suspect Telly Ray Nash who just happens to be the brother of Sharlah who they are looking to adopt.


As we go further into the plot it is discovered that Telly may have killed his adoptive parents Frank & Sandra Duvall , Sharlah is horrified as she couldn't imagine Telly doing such a thing so she decides to go & find him with the help of Quincy & Rainie.

Quincy looks into Telly's past he finds that he has anger issues he tells Sharlah that he may come after her but Sharlah is not scared, she doesn't believe he did it & will stop at nothing to prove it.


Quincy finds out that Sandra has a past a lot of red herrings to be brought out it threw me for a loop couldn't get my head around everything but there is a lot of twists & turns in this book, I felt so sorry for Telly as the book goes back, what he & Sharlah went through no kids should!!
was one powerful read that will keep you guessing right to the bitter end
February 6, 2017
Sharlah and Telly Nash were raised in an abusive environment by drug addicted parents. At age nine, Telly killed his drunk father with a baseball bat to protect himself and his sister. The siblings were separated into different foster homes and they remained apart for eight years.

Retired FBI profilers Rainie Conner and Pierce Quincy are foster parents to Sharlah. She has turned thirteen and has been passed around to different families. To the surprise of their quiet community, a double murder takes place at a local convenience store. Rainie and Pierce are brought in to help investigate the case. Video feed obtained from the store identifies the shooter as Telly Nash.

This book is a mystery with lots of suspense. The family relationships weaved into the book creates a puzzle for readers. It's filled with twists and turns and keeps you guessing. This is book 7 in a series but it can be read as a stand alone story.

Two copy giveaway on my blog until 2/3 https://www.facebook.com/suzyapproved...
Profile Image for Sharon.
1,205 reviews231 followers
December 31, 2018
Right Behind You is the seventh book in the Quincy and Rainie by Lisa Gardner. It really has been a fantastic series.

Just like the other books in this series Right Behind You has been another nail biting psychological thriller that was difficult to put down. If you love reading intense page turners then make sure you read this book. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Mallory.
1,640 reviews239 followers
June 13, 2024
I really enjoy Lisa Gardner’s books, but I have to admit I hadn’t read this series before this one (this is book 7). I really liked the characters so I expect I will need to read the earlier 6 now, but it didn’t impact my enjoyment at all. I liked this book a lot and while it was far from perfect and some bits weren’t exactly plausible I enjoyed it so much. It’s rare I find a police procedural that I don’t want to put down at all. And I read all but the first couple of chapters today so it was a quick and engrossing read. I found the bit twist to be not so twisty but I still enjoyed this wild ride. The plot was complex and to avoid spoilers I’m going to skip summarizing it the description on the back or on goodreads will work. I will say the characters in this book were all realistic and likable (well most of them) and really seemed to come off the page and become real people. This book was especially interesting to me as it focuses on two siblings in foster care and I work in that system and it was a fairly accurate portrayal (although extreme). Overall I gave this one 4.5 stars rounded up because I had so much fun reading it.
Profile Image for Linda Strong.
3,880 reviews1,690 followers
December 12, 2016
Sharla Nash's older brother killed their drunken father with a baseball bat 8 years ago. Telly Ray was only 9 years old at the time and never charged. Sharla and Telly Ray were sent to separate foster homes.

Sharla is now 13 and living with retired FBI profiler Pierce Quincy and his wife, Rainie. They have come to love this girl and have already made plans to adopt her.

A murder at a local gas station has the Sheriff there requesting the help of Quincy and Rainie. Much to their surprise it looks likes Telly Ray is the killer. And he's not done killing. His foster parents are found gunned to death in their bedroom.

Why after eight years has this young man started killing again? And what does this mean for Sharlah? She remembers that he saved her life once .... and she owes him. BUt at what cost to her .. her new family?

For anyone who has followed Lisa Gardner's FBI Profiler series featuring Quincy and Rainie are in for a treat. For anyone who hasn't previously read the series, this makes a great stand alone novel.
Sharla and Telly Ray are stand-out characters, with the story being told in part by Sharla, along with Telly Ray's memories and how he came to live with his foster parents. Even though they haven't seen or talked to each other for all these years, neither have forgotten that night and each other. Quincy and Rainie are solid in how they've grown over the years.

The reader might think that the mystery is revealed in the very beginning ... but think again. Not everything you think you know is the truth. What really happened that night 8 years ago? And how does that connect with the murders of today? Is Telly Ray a spree killer ... or something more?

As always with Lisa Gardner's books, they are well-written with appealing characters and suspenseful moments.

I wish to thank the author / PENGUIN GROUP Dutton / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of this book. The opinion expressed here is unbiased and entirely my own.
Profile Image for Wendy.
1,808 reviews638 followers
February 12, 2017
I was thrilled to be back in the world of Quincy & Rainie in Lisa Gardner's "Right Behind You".
A superb family-themed mystery/thriller!
Sharlah May Nash's older brother Telly beat their drunken father to death with a baseball bat in order to save both of their lives. They are separated at that point, both going into different foster homes. Eight years later, 13 year old Sharlah has finally moved on and is settling into her new life with her dog Luca and with her about to be adopted parents, retired FBI profilers Pierce Quincy and Rainie Conner.
Sheriff Shelly Atkin is notified of shots fired at the EZ gas station and upon her arrival discovers two dead bodies, an abandoned pickup and security camera footage of a teenage shooter with flat, dead eyes staring straight into the camera before he shoots it out. The killer is identified as 17 year old Telly Ray Nash, Sharlah's brother, who has a series of minor offences.
Quincy is called in to assist with the case and is stunned to learn the identity of the suspect. Upon the discovery of two other related murders Quincy feels that Sharlah might be his next victim. The frantic manhunt begins and a thrilling ride ensues.
With extremely clever twists and turns, an intriguing storyline with plenty of suspense, and a shocking conclusion, Lisa Gardner is at the top of her game with "Right Behind You".

Thank you to Dutton and NetGalley for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Erin.
3,355 reviews474 followers
April 15, 2018
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced ebook in exchange for an honest review and for GRANTING MY WISH to read this book

So.. this week I truly was visited by the NETGALLEY book fairy and received the 7th book in the Quincy and Rainie series and I was pleasantly surprised. But also just surprised because Right Behind You was published in 2017 and I cannot even recall when exactly I "wished" for this. Lisa Gardner is one of my go-to authors since I was a teen and over the years I have read all of her books and only ever given The Other Daughter a low rating. She's just that stellar of a writer.

Right Behind You takes place in the seemingly quiet town that Quincy and Rainie are now living. The couple are coping with the raising of their foster daughter, Sharlah and beginning the adoption process. Of course, a few grisly murders open the story and are actually related to Sharlah's past.

As always, I don't get very much housework completed when I step into a LG book and this one was a great Saturday evening read. Perhaps not as dark and twisty as some of the author's previous books, but enough substance to keep me riveted.
Profile Image for Melany.
878 reviews123 followers
December 1, 2022
Such a great read! I loved the author's writing style and how she offered different character point of views along the way. It truly gripped me to see what was waiting around every corner. I absolutely felt for the two main characters, even got a little teary eyed at moments. Such a thrilling, fast paced book that'll keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time. The ending was so well done!
Profile Image for Kris (My Novelesque Life).
4,674 reviews206 followers
May 3, 2019
Lisa Gardner put up a poll on Facebook asking fans which character they would like to see in her next book. Gardner thought for sure it would be D.D. Warren or Tessa Leoni (I love D.D. but am not such a big fan of Tessa). But to her surprise people choose Quincy and Rainie. It has been about eight years since Gardner wrote, Say Goodbye. I thought it was the last book in the FBI Profiler series and given up hope for another book. Then of course, I started to think, "what if I didn't like the book?"

Rating: 4.5 STARS
JANUARY 31, 2017; Penguin Group Dutton

Quincy and Rainie are back, and they are in the process of adopting their thirteen year old foster daughter, Sharlah May Nash. Sharla has had a hard childhood. Her parents drank and took drugs. She was raised by her older brother, Telly Ray. He himself was only four when she was born. Not only has he made sure she was fed, Telly had saved their lives by beating their father to death with a baseball bat. They have been apart for eight years living through the foster system. Now, finally Sharlah may get her forever family. A family that has seen the dark side of the world and know where Sharlah's fears lay.

On Sharlah's first day of swimming camp, all hell breaks loose. The EZ Mart has a double murder with the suspect now on the run. Quincy is called in by the local police to profile the killer to get his identity. As the clues are revealed and more bodies pile up, it seems like Telly may be the spree killer. Quincy and Rainie must try and figure out what set Telly off after eight years, and if Sharlah is in danger. Telly and Sharlah Nash both "know the biggest fear can be right behind you".

Wow, this novel started off with a bang! I was sucked in right away. We get the point of view of both Sharla and Telly from the night eight years ago and present day. I liked this because we got a better sense of the characters and how they evolved. Yet, Gardner reveals things slowly at a time, so that the mystery unravels as we find out more about that night and how it led them to this. We also see how Quincy and Rainie are trying to solve this case and deal with being parents. This is not a linear case but has so many aspects to it. I think if it was revealed by one character's point of view we would almost not believe the ending. I think the way Gardner presented this story worked great. It's the kind of suspense thriller novels I thrive on. I highly recommend this book to all those who love a good mystery filled with suspenseful moments.

You don't have to read the other Quincy and Rainie novels to like this book, but I think all the background that we learn in those novels enriches the experience. Plus, I am a huge stickler for reading books in order.

***I received an eARC from the AUTHOR/PUBLISHER via NETGALLEY***

My Novelesque Life
Profile Image for Amy.
2,211 reviews1,943 followers
February 6, 2017
All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com

I’m a huge Lisa Gardner fan and I love all three of her series, but Quincy and Rainie will always have a special place in my heart, so naturally I was thrilled to see her latest novel was bringing them back! One of my favorite things about getting attached to any series is feeling like I’m catching up with old friends and this dynamic duo is one of best to spend time with.

There’s a spree killer on the loose in Bakersville and Quincy and Rainie are both called in by the local sheriff, Shelly to consult. Things quickly turn deeply personal for them when they discover that the suspect is their soon to be adoptive daughter, Sharlah’s long lost brother, Telly. As they race to apprehend Telly, things become extremely complicated and highly volatile and their main goal is to keep their daughter safe. Is history repeating itself with Telly’s anger rising to the surface? Or is there more to the case than what meets the eye?

This was one emotional story for a crime novel! Gardner has the unique ability to make the reader forge fast and meaningful connections to her characters and I had emotional attachments to all of them, but especially to Quincy, Rainie and Sharlah. Each and every individual connected to the case narrates chapters which provides an overall look at what everyone is doing, feeling and thinking. It’s very clever and adds something special to her books.

This was a fast and furious read, one that kept me flipping pages late into the night. It all just flows so smoothly with fluid writing and plenty of twists and turns to keep you on your toes. This wasn’t a case that was so much about who the killer was, but the why? The motivation was tangled and fascinating and the truth was highly complex. The best way I can describe this one is to say it’s a thriller with a huge heart and a truly compelling read.
Profile Image for Adrienne.
518 reviews126 followers
January 18, 2020
4.5 superb suspense thriller starring recurring characters Quincy and Rainie. This time centered around a 13 year old girl they are planning to adopt - Sharlah May Nash. Sharlah has a 17 year old brother Telly - living separately.
Telly at 9 years old, and chief looker-after of his 5 year old sister, beat his drunken father to death. He was trying to kill them both with a knife. Which gave him nightmares for years afterwards.
Now someone is trying to frame him. And use his sister as bait.
Unputdownable
Profile Image for Erin Clemence.
1,283 reviews375 followers
July 3, 2017
“Right Behind You” by Lisa Gardner is, in my opinion, a suspense-fueled crime drama. In “Right Behind You”, Sharlah Nash was three years old when she watched her older brother, Telly, beat her parents to death with a baseball bat to protect her from their constant abuse. Now, she is thirteen and living with a police profiler and his wife, finally finding some semblance of family. One day, however, a double murder takes place in their small town, followed by the brutal killing of Telly’s foster parents. As the town begins to point fingers at Telly, and the police begin a manhunt for her brother, Sharlah begins to have doubts- could her protective older brother actually be a murderer?
I have, somehow, never read Lisa Gardner before. I am familiar with her, sure, and have seen her works in different places several times. Many of the titles and covers have even captured my attention but for some reason, we have never bonded. I am so grateful that that has changed. This novel was captivating and suspenseful, full of drama and intrigue. The characters are well developed (which makes sense. Apparently Quincy and Rainie, the foster parents to Sharlah, have appeared in several of Gardner’s previous novels) and I thoroughly enjoyed each and every one of them.
This novel is one that apparently follows a series of other novels with the same characters but, seeing as I have not read those, it stands to reason that “Right Behind You” can also be a standalone novel. Obviously, since this book was read in less than a week (I know because the library gave me this on a seven-day loan!) it was one heck of a read. There were many police detectives and officers, but not too many that I had to keep a running chart (which I usually have to do in crime or police procedurals) and the “foster kids” were actually portrayed as decent human beings worth their salt (props to Gardner for not making them “tainted” and “no good”).
Although I did enjoy the ending, it was a bit difficult to follow at times, with all of the secret business dealings and crime boss involvement. It did not sour me entirely however, as this novel did reach a successful and satisfying conclusion.
“Right Behind You” had me desperate to find out more about Quincy, Rainie and Sharlah and I will definitely be investigating more of Gardner’s books in the future. I am definitely kicking myself for missing out on this great author.
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