That Missing Piece Is Killing Me

Recently divorced, 60-something librarian Alice Pepper and her crew of puzzle-obsessed friends in the small town of West Hazel, Oregon investigate the disappearance of a former action film starlet in New York Times bestselling author Roz Noonan's latest mystery. Perfect for fans of Robert Thorogood, Jesse Q. Sutanto, and Ellery Adams.

The owner of a dance and martial arts studio, 63-year-old Michelle Chong is a well-liked fixture in the West Hazel community, despite being married to the famous-and famously temperamental-artist, Lars Olsen. That's why when she disappears, people don't blame her for fleeing her dysfunctional marriage. Still, Alice has her suspicions, especially after learning about Lars' violent past-and current affair.

When Alice receives a custom-made puzzle as a gift, the artwork seems so familiar that she assumes it's from Lars as an apology for his bad behavior during a recent visit. As she and her friends get to work on it, they're stymied by a missing piece.

With evidence pointing to Michelle's disappearance being planned, Alice turns her attention to her own fractured family. But a shocking chain of events, culminating in a brutal murder, makes Alice question if any piece of the past can ever be put to rest . . .