The Last Child -- John Hart

<p><b>Winner of the 2010 Edgar Award for Best Novel</b> <p/>John Hart's <i>New York Times</i> bestselling debut, <i>The King of Lies</i>, announced the arrival of a major talent. With <i>Down</i><i> River</i>, he surpassed his earlier success, transcending the barrier between thriller and literature and winning the 2008 Edgar Award for best novel. Now, with <i>The Last Child</i>, he achieves his most significant work to date, an intricate, powerful story of loss, hope, and courage in the face of evil. <p/>Thirteen year-old Johnny Merrimon had the perfect life: a warm home and loving parents; a twin sister, Alyssa, with whom he shared an irreplaceable bond. He knew nothing of loss, until the day Alyssa vanished from the side of a lonely street. Now, a year later, Johnny finds himself isolated and alone, failed by the people he'd been taught since birth to trust. No one else believes that Alyssa is still alive, but Johnny is certain that she is---confident in a way that he can never fully explain. <p/>Determined to find his sister, Johnny risks everything to explore the dark side of his hometown. It is a desperate, terrifying search, but Johnny is not as alone as he might think. Detective Clyde Hunt has never stopped looking for Alyssa either, and he has a soft spot for Johnny. He watches over the boy and tries to keep him safe, but when Johnny uncovers a dangerous lead and vows to follow it, Hunt has no choice but to intervene. <p/>Then a second child goes missing . . . <p/>U