Gone Again

The morning after the night Celia Guest, the protagonist of this solid psychological thriller from Kent (Unmissing), celebrated her 40th birthday with her close friends and loving husband, Rob, she begins opening her presents at her Connecticut home while Rob remains asleep. Among the cards wishing her well is an anonymous note: “You don’t deserve any of this.” This unsettling message prompts Celia to run away without telling Rob and disappear. Gen Jacobs, Celia’s younger sister, who has wanted to form a closer bond with her sibling, sets out to find Celia. Gripping flashbacks told from both Celia’s and Gen’s perspectives reveal that the sisters were raised in an abusive, extremely religious household that Celia escaped from 20 years earlier while Gen quietly accepted the situation. The brisk plot and a surprising twist make up for a backstory that insufficiently explores the sisters’ relationship as children and a conclusion that’s a bit rushed. Never mind that some readers will unearth Celia’s chilling secrets before Gen does. Those into family dramas will be satisfied. Agent: Jill Marsal, Marsal Lyon Literary. (Mar.)