The Business Trip

In sports reporter Garcia’s complex and captivating debut, two strangers disappear after sending texts about the same mysterious man. Waitress Jasmine and TV journalist Stephanie sit next to each other on a flight from Wisconsin to San Diego. Jasmine is escaping an abusive relationship; Stephanie is on her way to a news directors’ conference. A few days later, Stephanie’s neighbor, Robert, receives a text informing him that she’s met a wonderful man named Trent McCarthy and flown to Atlanta to spend more time with him. While Robert is initially thrilled for Stephanie, her colleagues are more concerned, and everyone grows uneasy when Stephanie’s texts become increasingly erratic. Then Jasmine’s friends receive similar messages, and both women vanish, raising grim questions about their connections to Trent. Garcia toggles between Jasmine’s, Stephanie’s, Robert’s, and Trent’s points of view, planting cliffhangers at the end of each section that pay off in a series of game-changing reveals. The smoothly executed finale that feels more like the work of a seasoned pro than a first-time novelist. This is sure to keep readers up at night. Agents: Meg Ruley and Logan Harper, Jane Rotrosen Agency. (Jan.)