It’s Nina Landry’s fortieth birthday and she is taking her two children and her new boyfriend to Florida – well, she is if she can get the car started so that she can pick up some last minute things, finish the packing and get her fifteen-year-old daughter Charlie home from a sleepover.
When neighbour Rick gets the car going and Nina gets back from shopping it is to discover a collection of people gathering for a birthday party, this being Charlie’s idea apparently – isn’t that just like Charlie to organise a party for her mother and not turn up herself. In fact kind though the thought is, Nina could have well done without the party, and just where is Charlie?
As time ticks closer to their intended departure, Nina becomes uneasy. Charlie should be aware what time they have to leave, so the unease turns to panic as Nina tries to locate her daughter. Even the police when contacted seem unable to grasp the seriousness. “Maybe she has run away, Mrs Landry,” says PC Mahoney. “All teenagers have secrets.” Gradually all explored avenues prove to be dead ends and Nina begins to fear for her daughter.
The suspense builds brick by brick until everything and everyone is suspicious – just how well do we know anyone? One of those books that you cannot put down, even to get a cup of coffee. Compelling reading.
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Lizzie Hayes
Other books are The Memory Game, The Safe House, The Red Room, Killing Me Softly, Land of the Living, Beneath the Skin, Catch Me When I Fall, Secret Smile.