Although 13 years have passed in the real world since Charlaine Harris wrote Aurora Teagarden #8, only a few weeks have gone by in Lawrenceton, Georgia. The story opens on a happy note. Roe (Aurora) Teagarden has married her lover, Robin Crusoe, and the two are expecting a baby. Roe's teenaged half-brother, Philip, is settling down in his new home with the newlyweds. He had run away from his parents in California and hitchhiked across the country. Philip had made some friends and was getting ready to start at the local high school after the Christmas break. But things never stay peaceful in Roe's life. Philip and three other young people mysteriously disappear. Two police departments and the FBI are searching for the missing children. The desperate families are losing hope as the days pass with few clues as to their whereabouts. And Roe's father shows up at her doorstep to add to her problems. I am so glad that I only discovered this series very recently. I would hate to have had to wait so long to continue reading Roe's story. Rumor has it that another book will appear sometime this year. I hear that I have the Hallmark movie channel to thank for the reawakening of the series. So, thank you Hallmark.