Gingerbread Man / Maggie Shayne / 307 pages

Detective Vince O'Malley is put on leave of absence when he cannot stop obsessing about a case.  Two children have been abducted and were later found dead.  He had assured Sara Prague that he would do everything he could to find her children.  He did not want to find them like he did.  When he returns to the scene of the crime, he discovers a library book, The Gingerbread Man, under some floor boards.  The words Dimun Public Library, Dilmun, New York were stamped on the library card pocket, along with a series of dates.  Could there possible be a connection between the murdered kids and this book.  In his rogue investigations Detective O'Malley is assisted by a most unlikely person, Holly Newman, a victim herself.  This is an engaging read, especially apropos for Halloween.  Beware, the author skillfully leads you to believe you know who the murderer is...bet you're wrong!