Now You See It

Kirkus ReviewsHaunting debut about a husband's attempt to unravel the mystery of his wife's disappearance.Well-educated and sophisticated, David and Jessica both come from upper-middle class backgrounds and, after a period of youthful rebellion in their adolescent and college years, have drifted back into a privileged Manhattan milieu of clubs and charity benefits. David is an investigative reporter at a glossy travel magazine; Jessica teaches at an exclusive private school uptown. Although their marriage has had its share of grief (especially in their long and futile attempt to have a child), it seems solid and capable of weathering the storms of age. But one day David is shocked to come home from a business trip and find Jessica gone without a trace. A spur-of-the-moment trip? Hardly -- Jessica had classes that Monday morning and has never missed a day of school. Another man? Just as unlikely -- her keys and wallet are still in the apartment. The NYPD detective glumly tells David that missing persons who aren't found within 72 hours are usually never found at all, but David becomes more convinced with each passing day that Jessica is alive. Why? Even Jessica's mother gives up hope after a few months and holds a memorial service for her (which David refuses to attend). Perhaps David's faith has some link to the case of Derek Jhensen: An American businessman who disappeared in Peru in 1992, Jhensen is still rumored to be alive, and David made his own name as a reporter by tracking Jhensen through the wilds of South America. Now David is getting new sightings of Jhensen once more. Is this a sign that Jessica may be out there somewhere also? Or is David just unraveling altogether?Lynn's gripping and feverish tale builds momentum page by page -- right up to a surprise climax that confounds all expectations but seems obvious once it arrives.