As the book opens, Eric Moore is a relatively contented man. He owns a camera shop that sells photographic merchandise, develops film, and frames photos;
he's married to a community college English teacher named Meredith;
and he and Meredith have a 17-year-old son named Keith. Keith is a quiet boy who spends his spare time playing computer games, taking walks around the town, and occasionally making deliveries for his dad's store.
Camera shop owner Eric had higher ambitions as a youth, but his hopes were derailed by a difficult upbringing. Eric's father was a cruel narcissist who bankrupted the family with bad financial investments and the purchase of luxuries - like custom made suits and fine wines - for himself.
Meanwhile, Eric's mother was cowed by her spouse, and scrimped to feed the children and to clothe them from thrift shops.
On top of all that, Eric's beloved little sister died from a brain tumor.
Eric's selfish father, who's still a nasty curmudgeon, is now in a retirement home; and Eric's mother is long gone, having died when her car went off a bridge. The legacy of all this is an ordinary life for Eric and a troubled life for Eric's brother Warren. Warren was the butt of their father's disdain, constantly being told he was useless and wouldn't amount to anything. As it turns out, Warren is an alcoholic who works sporadically as a house painter.
Things are about to change for the Moore family, and not in a good way. One evening, the Moores' neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Giordano, ask teenage Keith to babysit their 8-year-old daughter Amy. Keith - who's babysat Amy before - agrees, and he watches the child while the Giordanos go out to dinner. The Giordanos return at around 10 PM, Keith leaves, and the next morning, little Amy is missing!
The Giordanos are immediately suspicious of Keith, and their concerns are shared by the police, who interview the boy again and again. Eric and Meredith insist their son had nothing to do with Amy's disappearance, but Eric isn't absolutely 100% sure and his ambivalence is felt by both his son and wife.
Eric's brother Warren, who bunked with Keith while recovering from surgery, sticks up for his nephew, insisting Keith would never hurt a little girl.
Meanwhile, Keith is viewed askance by the townsfolk; and Mr. Giordano - who's beside himself with worry and fear - threatens violence if Keith doesn't 'come clean.' Meanwhile Keith keeps insisting he had nothing to do with Amy's disappearance, and his behavior becomes increasingly erratic as suspicion and questions pile up on him.
As things devolve, Eric becomes more and more troubled.
He's worried about his son Keith; plagued by memories of his dysfunctional family; thinks his wife may be having an affair; is sick of his brother's drinking and fecklessness; and cringes during his weekly visits to his dad's retirement home.
Things play out as they will, and by the end of the book, the mystery is resolved.
I was engaged by the story, which is crafty and suspenseful. My major critique would be that the characters sometimes behave unrealistically, but it's a novel after all.
Recommended to fans of mysteries.
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