David Byrdsong is working as a public defender and dating a good woman, but he has never been able to put his traumatic past behind him. When he was 11 years old and still named David Goodwin, his family abandoned him at the airport and never contacted him again. One day he comes home from work and finds a leaflet with the words "¿Me Has Visto?" (Spanish for “Have You Seen Me?”) and a photo of him as a child, alongside an “aged-up” photo of what he might look like as an adult. It’s a search for a missing child—but the name on the leaflet is “Leonard,” not David. When he and his girlfriend Gayle click on the website listed on the leaflet, they trigger a series of events that involve both danger and discovery.

Kimberly Lee’s HAVE YOU SEEN HIM moves at a very fast pace, introducing a cast of characters and establishing their relationships with enjoyable speed. The premise is sharp and immediately interesting, and the inconsistency of David's name adds a spice of uncertainty as he struggles to figure out what’s going on. The novel is also buoyed by well-defined, relatable characters. All the players in the book feel real, with genuine lives and problems that aren’t totally centered on the premise. David’s troubled relationship with his adoptive father and his long-suffering girlfriend complicate and inform the action in believable ways, making the story more compelling.

The pacing is a bit hit-or-miss, though. Characters spend a lot of time doing nothing much at all, and then suddenly discover hidden action-movie skills when necessary—which gives the narrative an unbalanced feel at times. The ending is a little rushed, too, with all the revelations and resolutions coming on suddenly. There are also some hastily introduced characters who don’t bring quite the emotional heft they were meant to.

Flaws notwithstanding, HAVE YOU SEEN HIM is an enjoyable thriller built around a terrific idea and supported by strong character work. Fans of suspenseful tales featuring regular folks caught up in extraordinary situations will find a lot to love here.

An intriguing premise and appealing characters elevate Kimberly Lee's HAVE YOU SEEN HIM, but a sometimes-meandering plot and rushed ending soften the impact.

~ Jeff Somers for IndieReader