A master of the psychological thriller, American author Jonathan Kellerman has won fans worldwide with the adventures of one of the most compelling characters in noir literature: detective and psychologist Alex Delaware. In his stories—which are guaranteed to be on bestseller lists worldwide—Kellerman skillfully leads the reader through the secret chambers of psychopathology and the hidden labyrinths of criminal behavior. A perfect guide through the intricacies of the soul, its hidden and ambiguous contents, Delaware draws inspiration from the author's own professional experience, a PhD in psychology. Introduced to the Brazilian public in "The Book of the Assassin," detective Delaware returns in another story filled with mystery and violence. In "Vanished," his investigation will lead him into a terrain over which he has absolute mastery: the human psyche and all its complexity. Dylan Meserve and Michaela Brand, young lovers and drama students, disappear after a rehearsal. Three days later, they are found in the remote mountains of Malibu and claim to have been held captive by a sadistic kidnapper. As forensic details belie their version of events, the kidnapping is revealed to be a hoax, and they allege emotional problems. Delaware is called in to evaluate the young aspiring actress, and while her statements of depression and stress seem genuine, they don't shed any light on the lies she's been telling. The case takes a surprising turn when Michaela is found dead and Dylan disappears. Is he the culprit? Or just another victim? Delaware, accompanied by homicide detective Milo Sturgis, soon stumbles upon a series of identical crimes. What really happened to the couple? And what brutal epidemic is invading the streets of Los Angeles with terror, madness, and death? Another electrifying story from the Black Collection, DESAPARECIDOS is a relentless thriller with an ending so riveting and provocative that it will surprise even the most avid crime fiction readers.
