As Jax moves into high gear at the home of Emily Krueger, the mother of missing teen Allison, he can't help but remember a case from his early days, one where a pair of missing kids turned into one dead and one barely surviving, and on his watch, no less. The culprit was never found, which left a certain kind of sting on the lawman. Now he has a chance to redeem himself, if he can only find Allison in time.
As he starts to dig into the case, his attention is pulled in several directions, especially towards the farm next door where some not-so-savory men work. One of them claims to have found Allison's backpack in the ditch, but he has a shady past and is hesitant to help with the investigation, so can he be trusted? And then there's Allison's boyfriend, Dylan Marks, the son of a local politician. He seems to be harboring secrets, but his dad is blocking Jax's investigation at every turn. Seems a bit ridiculous when a local girl's life could be at stake.
Then there's the family angle. Allison's relationship with her mother has been very strained lately, with her mother screaming at her in the yard more often than not, and Allison wanting to move in with her dad. There's the fact that her father, Daniel, was previously partnered with a psychiatrist named Elena Massey and living in Portland, but they've since split up. That missing/murdered kids case from Jax Turner's past? Elena was the survivor back when she was Allison's age. Could the kidnapper/killer have struck again, all these years later? As the clues roll in, it sure seems that way.
Of course, Elena wants to help as much as she can with Allison's case, since she was like family to Allison when she and Dan were together. However, she is dealing with her own demons, as the anniversary of her sister Madeline's death looms large, while her older brother, Steven, is having one of his episodes. Despite her trying to reach him, he won't answer the phone, and due to one of his mental disorders, he has once more retreated into severe isolation. But could it be something more?
Between the two of them, Elena Massey and Jax Turner are putting together puzzle pieces and chasing ghosts in two separate mysteries that appear interconnected, but sometimes finding the truth brings revelations you never wanted to know. The only thing that matters is finding Allison before it is too late, but at what cost?
Once again, Mary Keliikoa knocks it out of the park with Hidden Pieces. I can honestly say that while I had a few things figured out, the ending twist took me by complete surprise and I loved it for that. If you are looking for a dark, new mystery series, look no further. As for me, I'll be anxiously awaiting Jax Turner's next mystery, Deadly Tides, which is already in the works.
