Among the Missing (novel)

Among the Missing

First edition
Author	Richard Laymon
Cover artist	Steve Crisp
Language	English
Genre	Thriller, Crime
Publisher	Headline Publishing Group & Leisure Books
Publication date	1999
Publication place	United States
Media type	Print (hardback & paperback), Amazon Kindle
Pages	320
ISBN	978-0-7472-6072-1
Preceded by	The Wilds 1998 in literature
Followed by	Come Out Tonight 1999 in literature

Among the Missing is a crime novel by American author Richard Laymon, first published in 1999 by Headline Publishing. The book is a detective story about an investigation into the murder of a woman whose decapitated body is found on a beach.

Plot summary

The novel takes place in Sierra County, California, primarily around the Silver Lake area. The story begins with a man and woman visiting a section of the Silver River referred to as 'the Bend', apparently with the intention of engaging in a romantic tryst. The next day, the woman's decapitated body is discovered by a young couple, Bass and his girlfriend Faye. Sheriff Rusty Hodges and his daughter-in-law, Deputy Mary "Pac" Hodges, are called in to investigate.

The pursuit of the killer leads to a complicated series of events involving Merton (a homosexual drug dealer who was seen running from the scene of the crime), the dead woman's husband, and a revenge scheme involving two of the main characters.

Adult themes

Like many of Laymon's other works, the book features strong adult content. Themes of sex and rape are present.

Critical reception

According to Publishers Weekly: "Outside of [the main character], few characters are worth rooting for, as all of them display despicable qualities. But such flaws make Laymon's one-track story more intriguing and more realistic." ^[1]

References

1. "Among the Missing. Richard Laymon. Headline Book Publishing, $5.99 (320pp) ISBN 978-0-7472-6072-1". Publishers Weekly . October 2, 2000. Retrieved August 28, 2025.