Among the Missing (novel)

Among the Missing is a crime novel by American author Richard Laymon. It was first published in 1999 by Headline Publishing. The book is a detective story about an investigation into the murder of a woman whose decapitated body is found on a beach.

Among the Missing
First edition
AuthorRichard Laymon
Cover artistSteve Crisp
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
GenreThriller, Crime
PublisherHeadline Publishing Group & Leisure Books
Publication date
1999
Media typePrint (hardback & paperback), Amazon Kindle
Pages320
ISBN978-0-7472-6072-1
Preceded byThe Wilds 1998 in literature 
Followed byCome Out Tonight 1999 in literature 

Plot summary edit

The novel takes place in Sierra County, California, primarily around the Silver Lake area. The story begins with a man and woman visiting a section of the Silver River referred to as 'the Bend', apparently with the intention of engaging in a romantic tryst. The next day, the woman's decapitated body is discovered by a young couple, Bass and his girlfriend Faye. Sheriff Rusty Hodges and his daughter-in-law, Deputy Mary "Pac" Hodges, are called in to investigate.

The pursuit of the killer leads to a complicated series of events involving Merton (a homosexual drug dealer who was seen running from the scene of the crime), the dead woman's husband, and a revenge scheme involving two of the main characters.

Adult themes edit

Like many of Laymon's other works, the book features strong adult content. Themes of sex and rape are present.