Book Review: One Step Too Far by Lisa Gardner

One Step Too Far
Author: Lisa Gardner
Series: Frankie Elkin (Book 2)
Publication: Dutton (January 18, 2022)

Description: From #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Gardner, a chilling thriller about a young man gone missing in the wilderness of Wyoming . . . and the secrets uncovered by the desperate effort to find him

Timothy O’Day knew the woods. Yet when he disappeared on the first night of a bachelor party camping trip with his best friends in the world, he didn’t leave a trace. What he did leave behind were two heartbroken parents, a crew of guilt-ridden groomsmen, and a pile of clues that don’t add up.

Frankie Elkin doesn’t know the woods, but she knows how to find people. So when she reads that Timothy’s father is organizing one last search, she heads to Wyoming. Despite the rescue team’s reluctance, she joins them. But as they hike into the mountains, it becomes clear that there’s something dangerous at work in the woods . . . or someone who is willing to do anything to stop them from going any farther.

Running out of time and up against the worst man and nature have to offer, Frankie and the search party will discover what evil awaits those who go one step too far . . .

My Thoughts: Frankie Elkin's second adventure takes her to a wilderness area to search for a young man who disappeared from a camping trip celebrating his upcoming marriage. Three of his groomsmen managed to stumble out of the woods and the fourth was soon located, but Timothy O'Day was never found. 

Despite his father's annual search for Tim or his remains, no trace had ever been found. Frankie comes to town as the fifth and final search is getting started. Despite a lack of experience hiking in the wilderness, Frankie manages to insinuate herself onto the team. She takes the place of the fourth groomsman who is hospitalized as a result of his alcoholism. The other members of the group are the father of the groom, three remaining groomsmen, a local guide, a Bigfoot hunter with lots of wilderness experience, and a woman and her cadaver dog Daisy.

No sooner than they get to their base camp after a harrowing hike than things start to go wrong. One of the groomsmen is lured from his tent and the rest scatter to find him. When they return to the camp, they learn that most of their food is missing with no indication that animals took it. 

The father refuses to give up the search. He has promised his dying wife that he will return her son to her before she dies. When they begin exploring an area with caves and crevices, they are shot at and one of the groomsmen is bashed on the head with a rock. 

The group begins arguing about what to do and ends up splitting up with the ablest hikers heading back to get help. The group is further split up when the father demands that he be allowed to search the cave area again. All the while, Frankie is talking to people and doing what she can to learn more about Tim and about what happened on the first fateful camping trip. 

The story is packed with adventure. The descriptions of the hikes and their flight from a well-armed enemy are chilling. Only my knowledge that there are books three and four in the series, gave me any hope that Frankie would survive both the attacker and the wilderness. 

This was an edge of the seat thriller. I really, really enjoyed it and loved learning more about Frankie and why she lives the life she does. 

I bought this one July 8, 2025. You can buy your copy here.