The Missing

The disappearance of 15-year-old Billy Wilkinson from his home in Bristol, England, drives this emotionally raw family drama from British author Taylor (The Lie). Six months after Billy went missing, his mother, Claire, is certain that he is alive, while her husband, Mark, is doubtful. Billy’s 19-year-old brother, Jake, and Jake’s girlfriend, Kira Simmons, who lives with the Wilkinsons, have basically shut down. The alienation that each family member feels from the others heightens when they appear on TV to appeal for Billy’s return. Jake shows up drunk, making a scene that’s covered by the press. Claire’s grief over Billy, whom she adored, plunges her into despair and gives the plot its heart. Claire has blackouts and wakes up not knowing where she is; she chases teenage boys she’s sure are Billy; she walks into strangers’ homes or dangerous situations in pursuit of her son. Each incident reinforces the impression that this dysfunctional family thrives on lies. Taylor keeps Billy’s fate in question right up to the shocking denouement. Agent: Madeleine Milburn, Madeleine Milburn Literary. (Nov.)