by Sarah Harman
First published 2025
Florence Grimes watches her world collapse when ten-year-old Alfie Risby vanishes during a school trip. At thirty-one, Florence is already struggling. She's broke, single, and her dreams of music stardom died with her failed girl band. Her son Dylan is her anchor, the one bright spot keeping her going. But Alfie isn't just any missing child. He tormented Dylan relentlessly and happens to be heir to a frozen food empire. When suspicion falls on Dylan as the prime suspect, Florence faces a nightmare scenario. She must track down Alfie and clear her son's name or risk losing him forever. The task seems impossible. Florence has zero investigative experience and a history of cutting corners when things get tough. The other mothers at school already despise her. Worst of all, doubt creeps in. Could Dylan actually be responsible? Florence cannot walk away this time. She must dig deep and face her deepest terrors about both herself and her son.
Genres: domestic-fiction, mystery, crime, contemporary, adult-fiction, thriller
Vibes: dark, emotional, gritty, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: mother-son-bond, redemption-arc, unreliable-narrator, wrongful-accusation
Setting: school
384 pages · Paperback · G.P. Putnam's Sons
Content warnings: child-death, murder