The Missing is set in rural, red Australia. Small-town life for 16 year old Max seems average. He is shy, good with computers, skirts around friendship groups but has no friends of his own, and likes a girl from the wrong side of town, Bree, who has a tough guy boyfriend. Max gets bullied a bit, his mother (always at school on P&C business) embarrasses him and his father is strict. His family are wealthy, and he has dreams of being a pilot.
At a teenage party at an outback Two-Up ring, there is drinking, drugs, loud music, and there is Bree. Speaking to Bree, Max finds she too plans to leave town, and concrete plans are put in motion. That night Max disappears – everyone knows Max hates his father and wants to leave town. So, if a boy like Max suddenly disappears what are the parameters for the authorities to look for him? What would be the first conclusion everyone would jump to?
A few days later after talking to the Police, Bree disappears. A year before that Brendon disappeared. Possibly runaways, until chilling CCTV footage comes to light.
Two women, a police officer and a radio presenter, both new to small-town life, both with personal issues, buckle down and follow every lead however far-fetched to find these youngsters.
The parameters of the police and the laws about forcing young runaways to return home are eye opening. McDonald’s great factuality, the amazing plot twist (which I didn’t see coming at all) and superb writing kept me hooked.
Book review by Alison Logie
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ABOUT THE AUTHORBestselling rural crime author Fleur McDonald has always had a strong affinity with the land and the vast Australian outback. Raised in Orroroo, South Australia, Fleur loves the open roads, red dust and magical sunsets.
With 25 fiction novels to her name, Fleur has built a strong following of loyal readers with an insatiable appetite for her craft and characters, most notably Detective Dave Burrows. She spends much of her year behind the wheel, traversing our big country, scouting inspiration and potential storylines for future books, and appearing as a guest speaker at a range of events, including country shows, ladies’ days and writers’ festivals.
A trailblazer in all aspects of her life, Fleur has been a jillaroo farming the land for more than 20 years, founded DVassist to help regional dwellers access crucial support for family and domestic violence, and raised two children with developmental and speech delays, teaching them Makaton sign language to communicate.
These days, in between putting out two books a year, she has her sights set on learning to fly a plane. Fleur lives in Esperance, Western Australia with her two children, Rochelle and Hayden, who come and go as they please and an energetic border collie Shadow.
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