Lie in Plain Sight

In Barbieri's angst-filled third Maeve Conlon thriller (after Lies That Bind), the baker's decision to hire single mother Trish Dvorak leads to serious trouble. When Farringville, N.Y., high school nurse Judy Wilkerson phones Maeve one day, Maeve discovers that she's Trish's emergency contact for Trish's 17-year-old daughter, Taylor, who's sick and wants to go home. Maeve gives permission for Taylor to leave school, but the teen never arrives at home. The police, including Maeve's boyfriend, Det. Chris Larsson, are unable to find a clue to the missing girl's whereabouts. When Wilkerson claims that Maeve refused to pick up Taylor, Maeve decides to look for Taylor herself. Her sleuthing leads to good-looking soccer coach David Barnham, who's too close to the girl players; a trio of high school boys on police radar; and Taylor's wealthy father, who refuses to acknowledge his daughter. Maeve's investigative style consists mostly of blunders, and she behaves in erratic ways that don't add up to a convincing whole. Agent: Deborah Schneider, Gelfman Schneider Agency. (Mar.)