Lois Larken, an elementary school teacher in Corpus Christi, Maine, takes her class on a field trip to Bedford
where they were to examine some flora, get a lesson on the history of paper mills, have some lunch, and then
head back to Corpus Christi. Lois had mainly chosen Bedford for the field trip because she was curious to see
the place since the fire there had destroyed half the town. Most of those left in Bedford had become sick in the
aftermath of the fire. The wildlife and vegetation died too and the animals that had survived had lost their
instincts. Most had fled Bedford, so it was like a real life ghost town and the kids would love it.
Upon returning from the field trip Lois discovers one of the students, James Walker, is missing. Somehow he
was left behind in the woods they had explored.
James had always been bad inside, forgetting to do the right thing. Now James is infected with the virus and
is visiting the homes of his fellow classmates - passing the virus on to them. Sometimes he bites them, other
times he just spits on them. The virus continues to spread.
Almost everyone in Corpus Christi was coughing themselves red in the face and breaking out in rashes all over
their bodies. Overnight more kids James’ age disappeared.
The town looked as perfect as a Norman Rockwell painting, but something was dreadfully wrong. The town was a
petri dish full of mystery cough and rash.
The Centers for Disease Control and The Environmental Protection Agency were called in to investigate this
baffling virus affecting most of the town. The virus caused chest congestion, light sensitivity, a rash,
foul-smelling breath and an altered personality.
The virus began to spread beyond Maine into New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Soon the infected
outnumbered the healthy and still the virus continued to spread.
The Missing is a well-written thriller that will hold your attention from the first page to the last.
It is best read following Sarah Langan's first novel The Keeper for a better understanding of the towns
and what had previously taken place.