Still Missing

One day, Susan Selky sends her almost-seven-year-old son Alex off to school. He disappears, seemingly without trace, and the following nine months, while Susan, her ex, the police, and many others conduct a manhunt for Alex. The novel contains a pretty strong statement about a mother’s long-lasting hope and belief that her son is still alive somewhere, and not dead, as many people fear.

There’s also a pretty strong statement here about how well we really know the people around us: our neighbors, and the people we let into our homes. The strength of this book lies not so much in plot (though that in and of itself is very good), but in character development and the emotional impact the subject matter has on its reader. Tension abounds show more throughout the book, especially in the days following Alex’s disappearance—there’s a great scene where they all sit and wait for hours for the phone to ring. Susan proves herself to be strong and capable, when most people would simply fall apart if put in her position. Even the cynical Detective Memetti is well developed. There’s a fabulous amount of tension between Susan and her ex, Graham: they’re married, but separated; they’ve hurt each other in the past, but they’re clearly still in love with each other (she still refers to him as her husband; he’s dating a girl who looks just like Susan).

Be warned that there’s a fair amount of graphic violence and sex described in this novel, as well as some crude language that seemed a bit overmuch at times. There’s a very strong homophobic undercurrent to the book, too. The situation with Graham seemed to fizzle out at the end, and the ending seemed very rushed and inconclusive. Other than these reservations, however, I thought this was a pretty taut, fast-paced thriller. This book certainly is completely different from some of the other books that Persephone has reprinted; but it’s definitely one of those novels that make you think about it long after you’ve put it down. show less

I enjoyed the story and the determination of this mother. I can' imagine losing a child, but I would like to think I would have the same perseverance as Susan. It is interesting how the world around Susan views her as times goes on. First she is a tragic figure, then she is viewed as a depressed, grief stricken hysterical woman, then she represents the bad fortune that can befall us all. Friends and family turn away and the police stop taking her seriously. I loved watching Susan's character go through all these stages. This is a very haunting story.

When a 6 year old boy goes missing in Boston, USA, the country is on alert. Local volunteers, the police setting up an office in the family home, sympathetic friends and family. But as the months roll by, compassion fatigue sets in...friends, overwhelmed by the situation, turn their backs; the detectives, tired of pursuing fruitless leads..even the mother's employer, inconvenienced at her lengthy absence. There's the doubts that the mother...and the reader...begin to have over family members, notably the recently estranged husband. But with no body, Susan Selky rides out the accusations of not moving on with her life and livesa in hope...

Quite a readable, interesting novel.

Originally published in 1981, this novel, now re-issued by Persephone, is a relatively modern offering from them. It is however a fantastically paced, hard to put down novel. The story is a simple one – One day Susan’s six year old son Alex goes missing. This is the story of what is to be the mother of a child who is missing. The accusations, the press attention, the false hopes, the bereavement like existence she lives. It is a poignant and gripping account. Susan’s desperation and frustrations become the readers too, as we are drawn into the search for young Alex. Juxtaposed with Susan’s friends and family, and their concerns, are those of Lieutenant Menetti the senior investigator – who has a family of his own, his youngest show more son being almost the same age as Alex. Beautifully written, with just the right amount of tension to keep you reading late into the night. show less

On an ordinary day, Susan Selky allows her almost 7-year-old son, Alex, to walk the two blocks to school by himself. He never makes it, and so begins the horrifying tale told from several view points, Susan's, the detective Menetti, even Alex himself, all of them heart wrenching. You fear for Susan and Alex, but you can't stop turning the pages.

A little boy, just shy of seven, turns the corner on his way to school and disappears from the face of the earth. The story deals with the aftermath of this disappearance and the reaction of the mother, the separated father and his girlfriend, the mother's friends. Well written

Still Missing is a thrilling escapist read and well worth being re-published. It is a parent's worst nightmare, a child disappearing into thin air on the way to school.