The Missing is a novel set in the rugged landscape of the New Mexico frontier, 1886, Maggie Gilkeson, a strong-willed healer and single mother, faces her worst nightmare: her daughter has been kidnapped by a band of outlaws trafficking girls across the Southwest. With no one else to turn to, Maggie must join forces with her estranged father, Samuel Jones—a mysterious man who abandoned his family years ago to live with the Apache.
Together, they embark on a harrowing search across a violent, unforgiving land, confronting their past, their pain, and a savage world where mercy is rare. The Missing is a powerful, beautifully written Western infused with emotion, grit, and redemption—and the inspiration for the film directed by Ron Howard.
 
🌵 Why You’ll Love It
A Western with literary richness and emotional complexity.
Features a powerful female lead in an often male-dominated genre.
Explores themes of family, cultural conflict, and frontier justice.
Offers a father-daughter redemption arc that’s both heartbreaking and hopeful.
Perfect for fans of Cormac McCarthy, Larry McMurtry, and historical fiction with edge.