Disappeared

In 2004, sisters Julie Welch and Fay Lariviere embark on a getaway to Morocco without their families, in this smooth blend of family drama and political thriller from Spring (Toward the Light). Their vacation is immediately threatened by a traffic stop, and matters escalate when Fay disappears from their hotel room, leaving only a note that she’s undertaking “an urgent errand for her husband,” who’s a lawyer, and will be back in two days. Julie’s initial anger at her sister’s thoughtlessness turns to fear when Fay doesn’t return. After an attacker kills a woman he mistakes for Julie, she ventures into the remote Sahara, where she’s captured by the same forces that are holding Fay prisoner. Julie must overcome her justifiable anger so that the sisters can work together to escape. Action-first readers might find the book initially overly focused on the sisters’ relationship, but the pace picks up with a rousing race against time that challenges their ingenuity and reinforces the bond between them. Those who like to see resourceful women prevail in dangerous situations will be rewarded. Agent: Lisa Abellera, Kimberley Cameron & Assoc. (May)