Among the Missing (novel)

Among the Missing is a crime novel by American author Richard Laymon. It was first published in 1999 by Headline Publishing. The book is a detective story about an investigation into the murder of a woman whose decapitated body is found on a beach.

Plot summary
The novel takes place in Sierra County, California, primarily around the Silver Lake area. The story begins with a man and woman visiting a section of the Silver River referred to as 'the Bend', apparently with the intention of engaging in a romantic tryst. The next day, the woman's decapitated body is discovered by a young couple, Bass and his girlfriend Faye. Sheriff Rusty Hodges and his daughter-in-law, Deputy Mary "Pac" Hodges, are called in to investigate.

The pursuit of the killer leads to a complicated series of events involving Merton (a homosexual drug dealer who was seen running from the scene of the crime), the dead woman's husband, and a revenge scheme involving two of the main characters.

Adult themes
Like many of Laymon's other works, the book features strong adult content. Themes of sex and rape are present.