How to write

Cynthia Bigge awakes one day to find her family, father, mother and brother, have vanished. Both family cars are gone and there is no trace of violence. Twenty five years later, Cynthia agrees to have her story told on news show, Deadline, still hopeful someone will come forward with information. After the show airs, strange occurrences begin and Cynthia’s husband, Peter, begins to wonder if Cynthia is behind it all.

First there is a mysterious man in a brown car that seems to be watching when Cynthia takes her daughter to school. Then a phone call in which the caller tells Cynthia her family has forgiven her and finally, her father’s hat appearing in the family’s living room. Cynthia is frantic to find the person who is leaving her these clues, believing it could be her father. One day during a family outing to the mall, Cynthia is certain she sees her brother Todd. So certain in fact, she chases the stranger down and demands to see his identification. Terry can only stand by and watch his wife’s descent into madness.

Terry’s inability to mask his doubt drives Cynthia to leave the house taking her daughter with her. She leaves Terry a note, “I don’t hate you. But when I see the doubt in your eyes, it tears me apart.” Terry decides to find Cynthia and bring her home. Once he starts searching for Cynthia, he begins to unravel her mysterious past.

The mystery of Cynthia’s family is well told and suspenseful, however the story does become a bit contrived with subplots and supporting characters. This doesn’t detract from the crisp and humorous writing. Nor does it detract from the great character development. Cynthia’s anguish over her family’s disappearance drips with realism, as does Terry’s frustration. No where is the emotion more realistic then in the couple’s disgust with opportunistic psychic.

“Cynthia grabbed the woman by the hair and yanked her right off the couch, dragged her screaming to the front door…. Before Cynthia slammed the door, she shouted, “Leave us alone, you opportunistic, bloodsucking bitch.”"

Linwood Barclay certainly has his finger on the pulse of his characters; his strength as a writer.