My Brother’s Keeper

In this engrossing novel by New Zealand author Malane (Surrender), Wellington missing-persons expert Diane Rowe reluctantly accepts an assignment from Karen Mackie, a former drug addict who served seven years in prison for killing her son. Karen’s ex-husband, Justin, has disappeared with their 14-year-old daughter, Sunny, and Karen wants Diane to locate the girl, gauge the state of her well-being, and see whether a reunion might be possible. After Diane finds the volatile Sunny and her techie half-brother, Neo, in Auckland, she meets the rest of the family—hostile Justin; Justin’s two-faced wife, Salena; and Karen’s charming stepbrother, Ned—and wonders if Karen’s concern for Sunny may have grave implications. Her unease proves prophetic when Karen is murdered, the police question Diane’s version of events, and a friend of Karen’s refuses to reveal an important message he has for Sunny. Although Americans might scratch their heads at some Kiwi expressions and some readers may guess the perpetrator well before the denouement, unexpected twists bring meaningful changes to Diane’s life in the end. [em]Agent: Daniel Myers, Word/Link Literary Agency (New Zealand). (Dec.) [/em]