The Vanishing Point
(Author) Val McDermid"Young Jimmy Higgins is snatched from an airport security checkpoint while his guardian watches helplessly from the glass inspection box. But this is no ordinary abduction, as Jimmy is no ordinary child. His mother was Scarlett, a reality TV star who, dying of cancer and alienated from her unreliable family, entrusted the boy to the person she believed best able to give him a happy, stable life: her ghost writer, Stephanie Harker. Assisting the FBI in their attempt to recover the missing boy, Stephanie reaches into the past to uncover the motive for the abduction. Has Jimmy been taken by his own relatives? Is Stephanie's obsessive ex-lover trying to teach her a lesson? Has one of Scarlett's stalkers come back to haunt them all?"--Www.fantasticfiction.co.uk (viewed Aug. 6, 2013).
Val McDermid
Val McDermid is a Scottish crime writer known for her gritty and suspenseful novels. She has written several popular series, including the Tony Hill and Carol Jordan series and the Lindsay Gordon series. McDermid's literary style is characterized by complex characters, intricate plots, and a keen eye for detail.
One of McDermid's most notable works is "The Mermaids Singing," which won the Crime Writers' Association Gold Dagger award for best crime novel of the year. McDermid's impact on the crime fiction genre is significant, as she has been credited with helping to popularize the genre of Tartan Noir, a subset of crime fiction set in Scotland.
Overall, Val McDermid is a prolific and influential writer who has made a lasting contribution to the world of crime fiction. Her work continues to captivate readers around the world with its compelling storytelling and engaging characters.