Hide in Place

Single mother Laney Bird, the heroine of Naymark’s promising debut and series launch, gave up her career as an NYPD undercover narcotics detective and moved to Sylvan, N.Y., an idyllic town upstate where she believed her troubled son, Alfie, would be safe. Three years after the two settle in Sylvan, 13-year-old Alfie disappears on his way to school band practice one night, and Laney is forced to realize the Hudson Valley is no safer than the inner city. The school administration assumes this is just one more of the behaviors that already have Alfie on the verge of expulsion. By-the-books cop Ed Boswell is more sympathetic, but he, too, has had to deal with Alfie’s acting out in the past. When Laney discovers that Alfie’s disappearance is tied to her own past, she must confront a vengeful ex-con as well as what it truly means to be a parent. With each twist and turn, Naymark ratchets up the tension. This is an original, satisfying roller-coaster ride for domestic suspense fans. [em]Agent: Paula Munier, Talcott Notch Literary Services. (Feb.) [/em]