My Favorite Terrible Thing

A bookworm PI investigates a bestselling author’s disappearance in this cunning debut thriller from romance novelist Henry (The Love Proof). At the outset, narrator Nina Travers is called to the lavish Hamptons estate of Miranda Ross. Two months earlier, Miranda’s 30-year-old novelist daughter, Claire, went missing just hours before her lavish wedding. The police found no evidence of foul play, but Miranda and her family believe Claire was kidnapped, possibly by one of the rabid fans of her bestselling debut, The Starlit Ballet, who call themselves the Starlites. Combing the novel for clues and questions to ask Miranda’s friends and family, Nina uncovers seminal incidents from the missing writer’s youth that may be linked to her disappearance. As those secrets come out, Nina gradually reveals details about her own difficult adolescence that cohere into a frightening character portrait. Just as Henry seems to be leading readers down one path, she veers in a wholly unexpected direction, delivering a welcome jolt to an already effective mystery. Sharp observations on toxic fan culture and a basketful of literary easter eggs are icing on the cake. This delivers. Agent: Eve Atterman, WME. (Apr.)