Audio/Thriller/unabridged: Through the whole book I kept on saying, "Call the FBI". Katherine Merrimon never calls them, Hunt never calls them, the chief never calls them. Two girls are kidnapped within one year and no one calls the FBI. The chain of evidence is ruined, crime scenes are trampled over, & evidence and clues are handled with no care. After seeing the way Alyssa's case was never solved, the parents of the second girl do not call the FBI either. ANYBODY CAN CALL THE FBI. Their number is in a regular phone book. Finally, near the end of the book the state police are called, but only investigate whether a one local cop may be involved in the kidnapping. That's it. I was so angry at the police procedure, it was not funny.

The Boy: There is something fundamentally wrong with this town when the county's social services doesn't take him away. There are several instances where he should have been taken away. His mom is a pill-head with a physically abusive boyfriend. The 12-year old is caught driving his mom's car to get groceries. Red Flag. The kid is habitually truant and the mother is never brought to court? Really? Then my favorite: the kid is hospitalized and the nurse sends his mother home? What hospital would tell a parent they can't sleep in a chair overnight when a minor child has a head wound and major stitching? Really.

Narrator Scott Sowers: never again. He over-enunciates everything. EVERYTHING. When he starts out a chapter, it's even worse. The only voice I enjoyed was the medical examiner and his lisp.

The Mother: I wanted to slap her. I understand she's an abused woman, but no, take care of your kid! Get a job. Her pill problem goes away with no methadone or therapy, especially since all through the book, she couldn't quit. Her being a doormat to an abusive boyfriend was ridiculous since she had been a strong woman before Alyssa's disappearance.

None of the kids in the town played video games and I was beginning to think that might be a good solution for the town. None, and I mean none of the parents care what their kids do and where they do it.

This book was a real downer. I've read books taken place in WWII Nazi occupied Germany that were more cheerful. I didn't listen to any of the audio during Thanksgiving week because I didn't want to have a gloomy holiday. There is so much despair in this town. I began to wait for the next punch too.

The Ending: Did any of the first 90% of the book have anything to do with the ending. I kind of understand the Freemantle part. Kind of. The book is not a mystery because there are no clues to reveal the conclusion.

I don't recommend the audio and if your kid gets kidnapped, call the FBI.