Missing Child

In this chilling tale of domestic suspense from Edgar-finalist MacDonald (Cast into Doubt), Caitlin Rogers, “the director for diversity recruitment at Brunswick University,” moves with her troubled 16-year-old brother, James, to their parents’ South Jersey shore summer house after the death of both parents. Though James dies of a drug overdose, Caitlin recovers sufficiently from these losses to marry Noah Eckhart, whom she meets at a charitable event celebrating the life of Noah’s late wife. One day, shortly after Caitlin drops her six-year-old stepson, Geordie, off at school, Geordie disappears. Caitlin begins a search that not only unearths her own secret demons but also shatters the safe and happy world that she thought she had finally found. As she tracks down every lead, she discovers she isn’t the only one in the family with secrets. Vivid settings, realistic characters, and natural dialogue help make this one hard to put down. Agent: Meg Ruley, Jane Rotrosen Agency. (May)