From one of America's best-loved storytellers - the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Where the Heat Is - comes a tale of a small Oklahoma town and the mystery that has haunted its residents for years.
In 1972, windswept DeClare, Oklahoma, was consumed by the murder of a young mother, Gaylene Harjo, and the disappearance of her baby, Nicky Jack. When the child's pajama bottoms were discovered on the banks of Willow Creek, everyone feared that he, too, had been killed, although his body was never found.
Nearly thirty years later, Nicky Jack mysteriously returns to DeClare, shocking the town and stirring up long-buried memories. But what he discovers about the night he vanished is more astonishing than he or anyone could have imagine. Piece by piece, what emerges is a story of dashed hopes, desperate love, and a secret that still cries out for justice...and redemption.
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"I loved the suspense and the story line of this book. I have read several books by Billie Letts and love the details she gives to her stories and her characters. You feel like you are a part of the community she is writing about. This is a good feel story with a little mystery to boot."
— Amy (4 out of 5 stars)
“Kathe Mazur’s easy-on-the-ears voice makes the story an enjoyable companion on a long road trip. She uses nuances in her voice to move between past and present, giving us a sense of the story's characters, culture, and community.”
— AudioFile“Letts peppers her prose with a cast of quirky characters, including a quartet of nosy, domino-playing senior citizens and a perky pool-hall owner who bakes peanut-butter pies. Readers of Sue Miller and Wally Lamb are sure to embrace this memorable tale of love, loss, humanity, and hope.”
— Booklist“Perfect for the beach.”
— Kirkus Reviews" Don't read this book looking for something deep and thought provoking. Read it for what it is, an interesting, quick, fluff kind of read. If you read it for that, you will really enjoy it. :) "
— Tamara, 2/18/2014" I have enjoyed every one of billie letts books. "
— Jeanie, 2/18/2014" This was a fine read (for book club), but I don't know that I really got anything out of it either. It was an interesting story, and I liked the main characters. It seemed to be written for drama's sake, which I'm sure plenty of people like. I prefer books that inspire me. "
— Alison, 2/15/2014" A good beach read, but not too much more. Interesting plot line, but the prose lacked creativity. "
— Jane.foxlemongmail.com, 2/13/2014" This book was too fun! "
— Katrina, 2/9/2014" This was a quick and interesting read. There was a killing/kidnapping to solve, and it had some good twists throughout. It wasn't at all predictable, which I appreciate, and the author wrote a great storyline with funny, relatable characters. "
— Allison, 1/27/2014" Cute story, but I felt like it dragged a bit at the end. "
— Betsy, 1/26/2014" I don't even want to say how long I have had this advance readers copy....finally read it last weekend and really enjoyed it. The characters were believable and the story moved fairly quickly. The end was somewhat predictable but heart warming. "
— Corky, 1/23/2014" At times it seems that justice will never come but you have to be patient. When in a difficult situation something good may happen, like meeting the person your meant to be with. "
— Christie, 1/18/2014" a good mystery, entertaining. "
— Harmony, 1/16/2014" The book is okay but it isn't riveting. The character development was okay but I didn't fall in love with any of the characters. The story was somewhat interesting but didn't draw you in. I would say it was just an okay book. My "
— Thart2002, 11/27/2013" Enjoy all of her books "
— Heidi, 9/6/2013" A really good read! I had forgotten just how talented Billie Letts is at developing great characters and stories. "
— Debbie, 3/10/2013" Semi-predictable and hard to get through. Seems like most other murder mystery movies I've seen. Been there done that. "
— Lacey, 11/3/2012" Mystery surrounding the disappearance of an infant in a small Oklahoma town. I listened (and read text at the same time)to the audio version. The story was very good and pulled at my heart strings. The narrator (Lou Diamond Phillips) was superb! Surely one of my favorites books. "
— Trudy, 10/29/2012" Not quite as good as "Where the Heart Is", but still excellent, with a great cast of characters to get to know and love. "
— Jan, 8/1/2012" Loved it! Still thinking about the characters. Maybe I liked it more because I was able to read it in big chunks, but still think it's a good book. "
— Dana, 5/30/2012" Great mystery love story. "
— Jerri, 4/30/2012" eh. I think the problem was that I didn't really like any of the characters. But, the killer was unexpected and yet still plausible. It was a well told story. "
— Abbey, 3/20/2012" This book was a bit more serious and somber than her other novels, and I found myself missing her usual quirky characters, however, I did enjoy it. It was entertaining, and had a twist that I didn't see coming. "
— Ginny, 2/16/2012" This was an interesting book, but it was quite uncomfortable for the reader in certain places. "
— John, 1/5/2012" This was an interesting and entertaining book. It was an easy read. "
— Sally, 12/18/2011" I thought this was an entertaining book, but not quite as good as "Where The Heart Is". The build-up of the mystery was great, but the resolution was kind of a let down. "
— Caroline, 12/10/2011" Shows a much deeper side of Letts. Lot more depth than her previous works. "
— Dorothy, 11/23/2011" Only gave it 4 stars because the other two were so much better. It still was a good book though. I can't wait to read her others. "
— Tanya, 10/15/2011" This book is the equivalent of watching "Murder She Wrote." Boring plot, horrible dialogue, and just in general a pile of dreck. "
— Rebecca, 10/10/2011" 3.5. It dragged a bit on audio, but went really fast in print. "
— Angela, 10/9/2011" Cute book to read and pass the time; a good summer read. "
— Dev, 9/26/2011" I love Billie Letts, but I just couldn't get into this one. Hopefully someone else can appreciate this book. "
— Brandie, 6/25/2011" Eh, I am not a big mystery fan. This book was cute, and I didn't guess the end. Kept me engaged, but didn't excite me too much. Cookie cutter mystery! "
— Sev3nty, 6/15/2011" Good mystery with intricate characters. LOVE Billie Letts characters! "
— Polly, 5/19/2011" I enjoyed it and it was a quick read. I never guessed who killed Gaylene until it was finally revealed. I liked how all the characters got wrapped up in the end. "
— Jennifer, 5/10/2011" Easy to read, likeable characters, a novel sure to give you a good time. "
— Dhali, 5/7/2011" This was just a quick mindless read, moderately entertaining. "
— Margaret, 5/4/2011" I was going to give this book 4 stars, but then it turned kind of anti-adoption at the end and I just couldn't be ok with it anymore for personal reasons. "
— Carol, 4/28/2011" The preface of this book is so complicated that it almost made me put it down - again I think. But once the book started I remembered why I liked it the first time. Lots of interesting people in smalltown Oklahoma and an interesting story that isn't obvious at all. "
— Kat, 4/28/2011" Trite, cliche,...don't waste your time on this one. "
— Lorene, 4/9/2011" Another easy to read, but fun story by Billie Letts. Love that she writes about small towns, but big characters. "
— Casey, 4/6/2011" No worse than Grisham, with themes that are in some ways perhaps more complex and subtle than his. The characters and the plot require some suspension of disbelief, but they're likeable enough (or villanous enough) for the reader to persevere in this essentially quick read. The ending is clever. "
— Sue, 4/6/2011" Found it on booksale and I liked the cover and the title so I bought it. It was a nice read, and I really liked it. It had a bit of suspense like can't-wait-what-will-happen-next feel. I find myself excited as I kept reading. The story ended well and I was happy. "
— Jeselle, 3/21/2011" A baby that disappeared many years ago, presumed dead, returns to the small town where he was born. His return has the townspeople confused and the powers that be uncomfortable. A good read. "
— Carol, 3/5/2011" Wasnt my favorite book by Billie Letts. "
— Jillybeads81, 2/26/2011Billie Letts is the author of numerous highly acclaimed short stories and screenplays, as well as several beloved novels. A former university professor, she lives in Oklahoma.
Lou Diamond Phillips is an accomplished actor with numerous film, television, and theater credits. Among his films are La Bamba, Young Guns, and Young Guns II.