Madeline Dare returns once again as a wise cracking ex-debutante in The Invisible Boy.

Madeline is living in a small Union Square, New York City apartment with her husband Dean, a sister, and a friend. She is not especially happy with her living arrangements but would not return to her former life of spoiled little rich girl.

Madeline runs into her cousin Cate Ludam and learns that Cate is leading an effort to clean up a local cemetery. She soon finds herself roped into helping clean up Prospect Cemetery in Queens where some of her ancestors are buried.

While clearing the plots and pulling weeds Cornelia makes the gruesome discovery of the bones of a tiny body. It is soon discovered that the bones belong to a child, Teddy Underhill, who had been reported missing while the boyfriend of the mother slept on the couch.

After investigation it appears that the child died a horrible death from child abuse, beaten severely. Both the deadbeat mother and her boyfriend are considered suspects as there was evidence of prior child abuse.

Madeline refuses to let the case rest and refuses to back down from a system that allows a small child to be treated like a throw away toy.

Cornelia Read is a gifted writer who never fails to satisfy. She evokes the area and the time period expertly and makes the reader a part of the fight for the small child who can no longer fight for himself.