When Last Seen — Brenda Chapman

The hardest part is not knowing… Ottawa is baking under a July heatwave when the Homicide and Major Crimes Unit is called to help track down missing three-year-old Charlie McGowan. This is the second missing person case in nine months — a university exchange student never made it back to her Carleton University residence from a downtown party in November. At first, the two disappearances appear unrelated, but as true crime podcaster Ella Tate and Detective Liam Hunter dig deeper into both files, unsettling relationships begin to emerge. Evidence, however, remains frustratingly out of reach as the clock keeps ticking and concern for both missing victims takes on a heightened urgency.And then Liam Hunter gets a call that a body's been found on the Ottawa River Parkway … REVIEWS ...wows with well-crafted tension and original characters. In a genteel Ottawa neighborhood, ...Literary sleight-of-hand comes naturally to Chapman, and the culprit could be one of many poker-faced or temperamental suspects as in any worthy mystery-thriller. A tryst with an escort, a traumatizing roofie, a naive vigilante, and plenty of delectable surprises make When Last Seen a treat for mystery readers.-Bookllfe WHEN LAST SEEN is a descriptive and compelling novel showing the fractures in a family when the worst occurs, and the strength and resilience of those who push forward to seek the truth.-Fresh Fiction The dynamics between Hunter and Tate - true friends and colleagues without being lovers - forms the heart of this intricate, riveting tale of a missing child, family jealousy, business skullduggery, and the deepest sort of betrayal. Hunter and Tate are a duo to root for. I'm looking forward to their next outing.-Vicki Delany, national bestselling author A wonderful book, beautifully written and engrossing. I was drawn in and carried along from the first chapter right through to the last page.-Alex Brett, Author of the Morgan O'Brien mysteries ... compelling characters, an interesting plot and a conclusion that one does not see coming.- Glebe Report Once again, Brenda Chapman serves up a compelling array of complex characters, disturbing situations and twisty plotlines. What's not to love?-Mary Jane Maffini, Author of the Charlotte Adams and Camilla MacPhee mysteries