When Patrick Dielman shows up at Detective Jo Larsen's desk insisting that his wife, Jenny, is missing, Jo wonders if it's a case of a bored housewife running away. But as she digs deeper into Jenny's life, Jo learns that Dielman keeps a stranglehold on the family finances, down to the last nickel, and that Jenny's first marriage dissolved following the death of her young son. By all accounts-- ncluding her doctor's-- she never recovered from the loss. Between a controlling husband, a tragic past, and a callous ex-husband, Jo can' st be sure if she should suspect foul play or accept that the woman may have wanted to disappear. For Jo, whose own demons are shadowing her every step, finding Jenny becomes more than the typical protect-and-serve.

Susan McBride is the USA Today bestselling author of the Debutante Dropout Mysteries and the River Road Mysteries. She has won a Lefty Award, been twice nominated for the Anthony Award, and received the RT Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Amateur Sleuth. She lives in St. Louis with her husband and daughter.