Missing, Presumed

For readers of Kate Atkinson and Tana French comes a page-turning literary mystery that brings to life the complex and wholly relatable Manon Bradshaw, a strong-willed detective assigned to a high-risk missing persons case.

At thirty-nine, Manon Bradshaw is a devoted and respected member of the Cambridgeshire police force, and though she loves her job, what she longs for is a personal life. Single and distant from her family, she wants a husband and children of her own. One night, after yet another disastrous Internet date, she turns on her police radio to help herself fall asleep—and receives an alert that sends her to a puzzling crime scene.

Edith Hind—a beautiful graduate student at Cambridge University and daughter of the surgeon to the Royal Family—has been reported missing for nearly twenty-four hours. Her home offers few clues: a smattering of blood in the kitchen, her keys and phone left behind, the front door ajar but showing no signs of forced entry. Manon instantly knows this case will be big—and that every second is crucial to finding Edith alive.

The investigation starts with Edith's loved ones: her attentive boyfriend, her reserved best friend, and her patrician parents. As the search widens and press coverage reaches a frenzied pitch, secrets begin to emerge about Edith's tangled love life and her erratic behavior leading up to her disappearance. With no clear leads, Manon summons every last bit of her skill and intuition to close the case, and what she discovers will have shocking consequences not just for Edith's family, but for Manon herself.

Suspenseful and keenly observed, Missing, Presumed is a brilliantly twisting novel of how we seek connection, grant forgiveness, and reveal the truth about who we are.

Praise for Missing, Presumed

“Detective Manon Bradshaw is appealing, multifaceted, and unforgettable. She charges throughMissing, Presumed with twin goals—to find the body, and to find durable love. The resolution of this gripping novel astonishes, and leaves a long afterglow.”—Amity Gaige, author ofSchroder

“Manon Bradshaw is a messed-up, big-hearted detective in the best tradition.”—Harriet Lane, author ofHer

“Missing, Presumed is a gripping, suspenseful, gratifyingly unpredictable detective novel, with enough plot twists to satisfy fans of the genre. But it's also a beautifully written reflection on loneliness, and that's what will stay with you long after you've turned the last page. I hope we'll see more of Steiner's prickly, all-too-human DS Manon Bradshaw!”—Maggie Mitchell, author ofPretty Is

“Within a chapter, DS Manon Bradshaw announces herself as a detective to follow through books and books to come. Here's a treat for those who love their crime fiction rich in psychology, beautifully written, and laced with dark humor. Dive in.”—Lucie Whitehouse, author of Before We Met

“There is a secret pulsing at the heart of this police procedural–slash–family thriller, and it isn't only the truth about where beautiful young Edith Hind has gone. In heroine Manon Bradshaw, readers will find a character so real she bleeds. As Manon exposes the mystery behind Edith's disappearance, she also reveals the truth about her own loneliness and life.”—Jenny Milchman, author ofCover of Snow

“Missing, Presumed hits the sweet spot between literary and crime fiction. The plot is thrilling, with a twist that knocked me sideways, swiftly followed by another one that knocked me back in the other direction.”—Erin Kelly, author ofBroadchurch

Susie Steiner is a former Guardian journalist. She was a commissioning editor for the paper for eleven years and prior to that worked forThe Times, The Daily Telegraph, and the Evening Standard. Her debut novel,Homecoming, was published to wide acclaim. She lives in London with her husband and two children.