Abducted Girl

One of the most original new voices in suspense, Charlie Donlea, returns with a haunting novel, laden with twists and high tension, about two abducted girls—one who returns, one who doesn't—and the forensics expert searching for answers.

Nicole Cutty and Megan McDonald, both high school seniors in the small town of Emerson Bay, North Carolina, disappear from a beach party one warm summer night. A massive search is launched, but no clues are found, and hope is almost lost until Megan miraculously surfaces after escaping from a bunker deep in the woods.

A year later, Megan's bestselling account of her ordeal has turned her from a local hero to a national celebrity. It's a triumphant, inspiring story, except for one inconvenient detail: Nicole is still missing. Nicole's older sister Livia, a fellow in forensic pathology, expects that one day soon Nicole's body will be found, and it will be up to her to analyze the evidence and finally determine her sister's fate. Instead, the first clue to Nicole's disappearance comes from another body that shows up in Livia's morgue—that of a young man connected to Nicole's past. Livia reaches out to Megan for help, hoping to learn more about the night the two were taken. Other girls have gone missing too, and Livia is increasingly certain the cases are connected.

But Megan knows more than she revealed in her blockbuster book. Flashes of memory are coming together, pointing to something darker and more monstrous than her chilling memoir describes. As Megan and Livia dig deeper, they realize that sometimes true terror lies in finding exactly what you've been looking for.

Praise for Charlie Donlea and Summit Lake:

"A gem of a mystery, fast‑paced and suspenseful." —Catherine Coulter, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"Fans of contemporary suspense will enjoy this brisk read." —Booklist

"An exciting debut, with all the right touches, captivating from the first page to the last. There's a bright future ahead for this newcomer to the thriller genre—definitely a talent to watch." —Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author

"Donlea keeps readers guessing throughout. The whodunit plot is clever and compelling . . . for fans of nonstop mysteries with a twist." —Library Journal

"A swift, outstanding debut. Summit Lake engrossed me then knocked me cold. Charlie Donlea is a superb storyteller sure to damage the bestseller lists." —Robert Dugoni, New York Times bestselling author

"With a soaring pace and teasing plot twists, Charlie Donlea's debut mystery is like a cool drink of water with a twist of lemon. It's refreshing to find a book that has such a well-developed plot and excellent writing to back it up." —BookPage

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