The Insomniacs

Three members of an online forum for insomniacs try to track down a missing waitress in bestseller Scotch’s fun if underdeveloped latest (after The Rewind). New York City empty-nester Sybil joins the forum and befriends Zeke, a Mets pitcher who’s nursing an elbow injury, and Julian, an ailing candy store owner who also lives in New York. One night, Julian suggests a late-night meetup at a diner, where the trio meet Betty, a waitress and fellow insomniac. Betty joins their ranks, but her guarded behavior leads the others to believe she’s hiding something. When Betty reveals she’s only working at the diner until she can afford a nicer place to live, a concerned Zeke invites her to move into his enormous penthouse, and she accepts. The group grows closer and celebrates Thanksgiving together, but Julian, Zeke, and Sybil still notice Betty’s erratic tendencies. After she fails to return home from work one day, the friends try to uncover the secrets lurking in her past. Effective cliff-hangers and a cast of memorable characters keep the momentum up, but few readers will be satisfied with the far-fetched conclusion, which leaves too many questions unanswered. Still, there’s enough charm on offer here to carry the day. Agent: Elisabeth Weed, Book Group. (Apr.)