A survivor of childhood trauma, recently separated Aubrey “Bree” Finch doesn’t fit in with the other suburban mommies. Her three-year-old daughter, Charlotte, lives with her ex, Paul, a defense attorney. Living in a shabby temporary apartment and working at the library, Aubrey struggles to build a new life—and not for the first time. One weekend at the playground with Charlotte, she briefly connects with another single mother, a younger woman with a five-year-old son. Just a few days later while jogging in the park, she sees the boy wander into the playground’s parking lot, his mother nowhere to be seen. Concerned for his safety, she follows, only to see him get pulled into a van that immediately speeds off. Aubrey calls 911 and reports the kidnapping.

In the days that follow, Aubrey can’t get the incident out of her mind. She urges the police to step up their investigation. There’s just one problem. No one has reported a child missing. With the cops treating her as a crank and warning her not to get involved, Aubrey launches her own investigation, one that draws on hidden talents from previous times in her life. Her activities annoy the police and jeopardize her job and her amicable relationship with Paul, but Aubrey is determined, convinced that the boy is in danger. His disappearance may be connected to organized crime—and murder. How far can she go to save a child without putting her own child in danger?

Wherever She Goes features a complex, relatable heroine, well-drawn characters, unexpected plot twists, dramatic action, and a nuanced portrayal of family relationships. The briskly paced narrative carries the reader along through one surprise after another to a thoroughly satisfying conclusion.