Say You're Sorry (#6) by Michael Robotham

4.0 out of 5 stars -- "There is a void in the world...somebody not coming home."

Two missing girls -- they had disappeared 3 years previously after not returning home from the Bingham Summer Festival at the end of August. After an intial frenzy of searching and media blitz, the months passed and the story sort of faded from the headlines. Except for the families of the two girls, most everyone else in town had moved on with their lives. The rumor and speculation continued over the years, but absent any witnesses or evidence, there were no new leads to pursue.

Joe O'Loughlin, still keeping the Parkinson's Disease at bay with medication, is due to give a talk at a mental health symposium up in Oxford and he's taking is olderst daughter, Charlie, along. The weather is dreadful and as they approach the station, Joe sees police along an embankment by a frozen lake. After his talk, he's met in the foyer by two detectives from the local constabulary -- it seems that Detecitve Chief Inspector Drury wants to talk with Joe about a double homicide at a local farm. They have a suspect in custody and DCI Drury is asking for advice about the interrogation to come. Joe agrees, somewhat unwillingly, to get involved. After a visit to the farmhouse, Joe realizes that this is not a home invasion and that there is a lot more to the story. Eventually his good friend, ex copper Vincent Ruiz, is called in to assist in a very complicated investigation.

The story is told in alternating points of view between Joe and one of the missing teenage girls. Great plot with multiple red herrings and excellent pacing. The way Robotham writes definitely grabs my attention and Joe's "observations" about humanity are spot on and quite interesting. I really like the series and this book, in my opinion, is back on track with the usual psychological and police procedural style (after going a bit off track in The Wreckage). The characters are interesting and it's best to have read the previous books to get the full measure of Joe and Vincent. I still despise Julianne and wish she'd disappear from the pages. Charlie is annoying. What I love is that most all have their foibles and imperfections but I care about them anyway (except for Julianne).

I'm ready to start #7 and dread knowing that even though I'll be all caught up, I'll probably be sorry it was all done so soon.