Girls Without Tears by T. L. Finlay

 

Noa is living her best life in Miami.  She fled her small hometown after high school, tired of an environment where everyone knew everyone and all their business.  That meant everyone knew Noa had CIP, Congenital Insensitivity to Pain, and didn't feel pain.  They also knew that after years of being together, Noa's boyfriend, Zack, had dumped her in their senior year for Taylor.  Noa is now a project manager and has just met a new man who seems promising.

Then she gets the call from back home.  Skye, Zack and Taylor's daughter, has been kidnapped.  Everyone in town is turning out to help with the search which included the Everglades and Noa's parents ask if she can come back also.  Noa is hesitant but the thought of a six year old facing Florida's harsh environment convinces her to go home to help.

Once there, she reunites with her best friend from school, Jamie, who is also Zack's best friend.  She and Jamie form a pair to go search in the Everglades.  They face danger there and soon Noa isn't sure if the kidnapper was an outsider or someone in the town.  There are rumors that Zack and Taylor's marriage is having issues so was this a custody matter?  Why hasn't anyone heard from Zack's father since he and Zack's mother broke up and he left town?  Why does Taylor have bruises all over her? 

T.L. Finlay is an American author who specializes in psychological thrillers.  This one is interesting not only for the mystery but for the discussion of CIP and I learned quite a lot about this syndrome.  Those affected not only don't feel pain which means they are at danger of injuring themselves quite seriously but also can't feel things like overheating or the urge to go to the bathroom and need to set reminders to pay attention to these things.  The interplay between Noa and the three main men in the story, Zack, Jamie and her new relationship, Hector, is interesting and it is unclear who Noa may end up with.  Skye is only six but plays an active role in her own rescue.  This book is recommended for mystery readers.