First published 1980
The Wrights trusted Paula Aherne completely. She watched their child, kept their home safe, earned their confidence through months of reliable care. Now Paula lies dead and their child has disappeared from an empty bedroom upstairs. No one left a ransom demand. No evidence points toward answers. The police investigate methodically while FBI agents follow standard procedures, but the Wrights cannot wait for official channels to produce results. They launch their own desperate hunt through abandoned factory districts and Boston's grimy North End neighborhoods. The parents discover that Paula Aherne harbored secrets they never suspected. Each revelation about their trusted babysitter leads them deeper into danger. Another death will occur before they uncover what happened to their missing child and learn who Paula really was.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: dark, emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: deception, investigation, secrets
Setting: Boston, North End
Period: Contemporary
265 pages · Paperback
Content warnings: death, violence