Where’s Molly by H.D. Carlton

Description

When Aaron Bishop wakes up and sees that his wife Molly is missing and that her lipstick is smeared on the kitchen floor but there is no other sign of her, he immediately thinks the worst. He thought their marriage was the envy of their quiet suburban neighborhood. They were two loving parents raising twin preschoolers, active church members, and friends who had BBQs and playdates together. But as Detective Reyes starts her inquiry, she nonchalantly asks Aaron, “Are you sure Molly didn’t leave on her own?” This is the first time she plants a seed of suspicion that would soon grow into a nightmare.

As news of Molly’s abduction spreads, with a billboard photo and a viral appeal on social media, Aaron goes through every element of her life. He reads her journal and finds strange entries about a woman named Lena, “the one who listens” and “the only person she can trust.” Text exchanges show that they met late at night in an empty park and talked about “closure,” which Molly said Aaron didn’t need to know about. Vigilante bloggers spread tales about hidden affairs, and Molly’s close-knit group of yoga buddies doesn’t say anything when asked.

Aaron won’t tolerate half-truths, even though the police and tabloid reporters are putting a lot of pressure on him. He breaks into Molly’s locked desk drawer and finds unmarked envelopes from a support group that can’t be traced. He looks over blurry video from a petrol station that shows her in a region of town where she never volunteered: an upscale area with private clinics and quiet offices. When Aaron goes to these clinics, he learns about experimental treatments for people who have been through trauma. This makes him wonder if Molly’s past had a dark side that she kept from him.

Every fresh lead turns out to be a lie: neighbors who say they saw Molly and “Lena” drive away together, a private investigator who says Molly paid him for “protection,” and a dying woman who says Aaron’s name is the key to the truth in her last breath. With each new piece of information, Aaron’s goal changes from saving Molly to figuring out what really happened, since he realizes that the Molly he loved may not have been who he thought she was.

Aaron is haunted by memories of their early relationship and the playful Molly who left beautiful notes in his lunchbox. He is racing against time and his own sanity. He has to deal with family members who say Molly never told them anything, friends who pull away, and a church group that is quick to blame him for being desperate. Even the twins can feel the stress and ask innocent inquiries like “Where’s Mommy, Daddy?” that break his heart.

Aaron puts together Molly’s last steps in a heart-stopping conclusion on a rain-soaked highway. They lead him to an abandoned wayside motel where truth and betrayal meet. He finds out if Molly is alive or dead and if the secrets he finds will tear his family apart or bring them back together.

H.D. Carlton’s Where’s Molly? is his most exciting thriller yet. It is a masterclass in building suspense, complicated emotional stakes, and shocking plot twists. It asks the scary issue that is at the heart of every relationship: how well can you really know someone else? And what happens when their past comes hunting for you?

About the Author

H.D. Carlton is a bestselling author of psychological and domestic suspense known for her taut plotting and emotionally charged narratives. With multiple top-ten thrillers to her name, she lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family and rescue dog, crafting stories that linger long after the last page.

Product Details

• Title: Where’s Molly? 
• Author: H.D. Carlton 
• ISBN-13: 9781957635156 
• Publisher: KCP Loft Publishing 
• Published: May 2022 
• Pages: 350 
• Binding: Paperpack