First published 1992
In the balmy Florida town of Verity, a young single mother is murdered, and her baby vanishes. Twelve-year-old Keith, who lives in the same apartment building, also goes missing. Desperate to find the baby and the boy, Keith's divorced mom Lucy teams up with Julian, a tough local cop with a troubled past. As they navigate the town's swampy streets and eccentric residents, the search takes an unexpected turn, leading them on a race against time to uncover the truth and bring the missing home. Amidst the hunt, an unlikely connection sparks between Lucy and Julian, offering a glimmer of hope in the darkness.
Genres: suspense, mystery, contemporary, thriller
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: race-against-time, unlikely-allies
Setting: Florida, Verity
275 pages · Paperback · Penguin Publishing Group
Content warnings: murder