What You Left Behind by Samantha Hayes

 

Detective Inspector Lorraine Fisher is ready for a vacation.  She and her daughter, Stella, head to Lorraine's home village to stay for the week with her sister, Jo and Jo's son, Freddie.  Jo's husband, Malcolm, works and stays in London during the week and Lorraine's husband, Adam, is also in the police and working this week so the two sisters plan for a week together to renew old ties.

But Lorraine's visit isn't as relaxing as she'd hoped.  Eighteen months ago, the village had been shaken by a series of six teenage suicides, including the son of Jo's best friend in the village.  Freddie has been withdrawn since then, spending most of his time in his room and far from the outgoing teenager he had been previously.  Jo is worried about him, even more so since she and Malcolm have just split up.

Then things seem to be starting again.  One boy, Dean, seems to have committed suicide by driving a stolen motorbike into a tree.  Another, Lenny, is found dead on the railroad tracks.  Each left a note behind.  Then Freddie goes missing.  Lorraine is desperate to help her sister find Freddie and to insure that the other boys' deaths have been investigated properly.  

Samantha Hayes genre is psychological thrillers, based on family situations.  There are always twists and turns but the reader can imagine the events actually happening to them or someone they know.  This book is no different.  Marriage breakups and moody teenagers are normal although frightening to those going through them and teenage suicide is a crisis in many countries.  Readers will be interested in how the events play out and what the solution will be.  This book is recommended for mystery readers.