The Forgotten Girl

Canadian author Youers (Westlake Soul) makes his U.S. debut with a paranormal thriller distinguished by subtle characterizations and emotionally evocative prose. Some vicious thugs abduct street musician Harvey Anderson from his apartment building in Green Ridge, N.J., and give him a savage beating. They want to know the location of Sally Starling, a name he doesn’t recognize, even after they show him a copy of the rental agreement that he and Sally signed in 2010 for the Green Ridge apartment. Later, a man, whom Harvey dubs “the spider,” shows up and explains this memory lapse. The spider reveals that Sally used her power to erase Harvey’s memories of her and that he has a similar ability to probe people’s minds. But despite the spider’s best, excruciatingly painful efforts, all Harvey can summon up is a vague recollection of a dancing woman and the boardwalk at Asbury Park. Harvey’s compelling, moving search for Sally and the truth offers everything that fans of intelligent suspense could wish for. [em]Agent: Howard Morhaim, Howard Morhaim Literary Agency. (June) [/em]