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Nyes Landing Crime Mystery #1
The Lost Boy
Winner of the Literary Titan Book Award
America Writing Awards Finalist in LGBTQ Fiction
"The Lost Boy, by S. F. Williams, is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant tale that combines mystery, introspection, and heart. It's a story that stays with you and one that leaves readers eager for the next installment in the series. A truly remarkable debut." —Literary Titan
"A cozy hometown mystery to wrap yourself in when you need yourself a lovely cop to follow around."
–Reedsy Reviews
Can Officer Callum Nowak face his childhood phobia of the woods in time to catch a killer and save a missing boy?
When Callum “Cal” Nowak aged out of foster care at the age of eighteen, he fled his small hometown in the Catskill Mountains, hoping to leave his traumatic childhood in the past. Landing in New York City, he joined the police force.
Fourteen years later, while placed on administrative leave for roughing up a suspect, Cal returns home for a visit. Everywhere he turns, he’s reminded of his mother’s brutal murder, which he witnessed when he was a child.
When the husband of the woman he dated in high school before he came out dies in his arms from a gunshot wound, he must find the killer before she goes to prison for a crime she didn’t commit. Having no official jurisdiction in the town, though, he must be discreet, which proves no easy feat.
Aided by a handsome stranger who awakens feelings Cal didn’t know he could have, he ventures into the woods where he spent five of the worst days and nights of his life hiding from his mother’s killer, and together they uncover important evidence in the case.
But when a local boy goes missing, can Cal face his phobia alone and save the boy? Or will his childhood trauma defeat him?
Set in 2002, The Lost Boy is the first novel in the Nyes Landing Crime Mystery series. If you enjoy small town murder mysteries that feature a gay romance, like Joseph Hansen’s Fadeout, Michael Nava’s Lay Your Sleeping Head, or Pretty Pretty Boys by Gregory Ashe, don’t miss this gripping and emotional read that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
America Writing Awards Finalist in LGBTQ Fiction
"The Lost Boy, by S. F. Williams, is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant tale that combines mystery, introspection, and heart. It's a story that stays with you and one that leaves readers eager for the next installment in the series. A truly remarkable debut." —Literary Titan
"A cozy hometown mystery to wrap yourself in when you need yourself a lovely cop to follow around."
–Reedsy Reviews
Can Officer Callum Nowak face his childhood phobia of the woods in time to catch a killer and save a missing boy?
When Callum “Cal” Nowak aged out of foster care at the age of eighteen, he fled his small hometown in the Catskill Mountains, hoping to leave his traumatic childhood in the past. Landing in New York City, he joined the police force.
Fourteen years later, while placed on administrative leave for roughing up a suspect, Cal returns home for a visit. Everywhere he turns, he’s reminded of his mother’s brutal murder, which he witnessed when he was a child.
When the husband of the woman he dated in high school before he came out dies in his arms from a gunshot wound, he must find the killer before she goes to prison for a crime she didn’t commit. Having no official jurisdiction in the town, though, he must be discreet, which proves no easy feat.
Aided by a handsome stranger who awakens feelings Cal didn’t know he could have, he ventures into the woods where he spent five of the worst days and nights of his life hiding from his mother’s killer, and together they uncover important evidence in the case.
But when a local boy goes missing, can Cal face his phobia alone and save the boy? Or will his childhood trauma defeat him?
Set in 2002, The Lost Boy is the first novel in the Nyes Landing Crime Mystery series. If you enjoy small town murder mysteries that feature a gay romance, like Joseph Hansen’s Fadeout, Michael Nava’s Lay Your Sleeping Head, or Pretty Pretty Boys by Gregory Ashe, don’t miss this gripping and emotional read that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
- GenresMystery
285 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 12, 2024
20 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
S.F. Williams
2 books1 followerS. F. Williams is a member of the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), the Mystery Writers of America (MWA), and the NYC Writers Critique Group. He has a diverse portfolio that ranges from published short stories and poetry to reflections on fatherhood as a single gay man, but his roots lie in the theater. Williams holds a BFA from the University of Oklahoma and membership in the Actor’s Equity Association, and he has acted in, directed, produced, and written over a hundred productions for the stage.
Williams’s novels, characterized by their fast-paced narratives and resilient protagonists, reflect the diverse tapestry of our world.
A Fatal Affair releases June 2025!
Williams’s novels, characterized by their fast-paced narratives and resilient protagonists, reflect the diverse tapestry of our world.
A Fatal Affair releases June 2025!
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 28, 2025
I'm so pleased to find a decent new series to start in the new year with. This going back home blended with a murder mystery suited my weekend indulgence nicely. I'm hoping the author will bring forth the next book sooner rather than later. 3.5 stars.
January 15, 2025
Callum "Cal" Nowak fled the confines of foster care and his small-town upbringing in the Catskill Mountains when he turned eighteen. In New York City, he joined the police force, determined to escape the shadows of his traumatic past and carve out a new life. Fourteen years later, after being placed on administrative leave, Cal reluctantly returns to his hometown, where every street and memory resurrects the pain of his mother’s murder. When the husband of his ex-girlfriend dies in his arms, Cal finds himself thrust into a gripping investigation. Convinced of her innocence, he’s determined to uncover the truth and expose the real killer before she’s wrongfully imprisoned.
How do we confront the weight of our past while forging a path forward? The Lost Boy: A Small Town Murder Mystery Gay Cop Romance by S. F. Williams explores this question poignantly. This enthralling series opener pulls readers in from the first page, weaving a narrative that balances the unraveling of Cal’s childhood trauma with the suspense of a high-stakes murder mystery. It’s a compelling, emotional, and unforgettable read.
What truly stands out is the nuanced portrayal of Cal. Through his perspective, readers are invited to reflect on their own struggles and resilience. Williams writes with a compassion that makes Cal not a perfect hero, but an authentic, flawed, and deeply human character. His journey is raw, relatable, and profoundly moving.
I do feel the storyline occasionally feels a little weighted with unnecessary details. Within the narrative, there seems to be a blending of genres which I believe can sometimes detract from the central storyline. Even so, these moments do not overshadow the book’s many strengths.
The Lost Boy's approach to representation is significant. The story offers a refreshing perspective, a gay protagonist whose challenges stem more from his personal history than his sexuality. This kind of storytelling is vital and refreshing, delivering both inclusivity and depth without resorting to clichés.
In the end, The Lost Boy, by S. F. Williams, is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant tale that combines mystery, introspection, and heart. It’s a story that stays with you and one that leaves readers eager for the next installment in the series. A truly remarkable debut.
How do we confront the weight of our past while forging a path forward? The Lost Boy: A Small Town Murder Mystery Gay Cop Romance by S. F. Williams explores this question poignantly. This enthralling series opener pulls readers in from the first page, weaving a narrative that balances the unraveling of Cal’s childhood trauma with the suspense of a high-stakes murder mystery. It’s a compelling, emotional, and unforgettable read.
What truly stands out is the nuanced portrayal of Cal. Through his perspective, readers are invited to reflect on their own struggles and resilience. Williams writes with a compassion that makes Cal not a perfect hero, but an authentic, flawed, and deeply human character. His journey is raw, relatable, and profoundly moving.
I do feel the storyline occasionally feels a little weighted with unnecessary details. Within the narrative, there seems to be a blending of genres which I believe can sometimes detract from the central storyline. Even so, these moments do not overshadow the book’s many strengths.
The Lost Boy's approach to representation is significant. The story offers a refreshing perspective, a gay protagonist whose challenges stem more from his personal history than his sexuality. This kind of storytelling is vital and refreshing, delivering both inclusivity and depth without resorting to clichés.
In the end, The Lost Boy, by S. F. Williams, is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant tale that combines mystery, introspection, and heart. It’s a story that stays with you and one that leaves readers eager for the next installment in the series. A truly remarkable debut.
September 17, 2025
I've never listened to a book read by AI before and I never will again. The voice follows a formula for inflection but that doesn't keep it from sounding completely emotionless. I did enjoy the hilarious mispronunciations (pits-uh-ria for pizzeria, for example.)
I'm trying to give the story the benefit of the doubt because the horrible reading didn't show it in the best light. Cal grew on me as the book went along and I saw some of his good qualities. I was pretty sure I knew whodunit about midway through the book, and I was right about that. I may try another book by this author but no more AI readers for me!
I'm trying to give the story the benefit of the doubt because the horrible reading didn't show it in the best light. Cal grew on me as the book went along and I saw some of his good qualities. I was pretty sure I knew whodunit about midway through the book, and I was right about that. I may try another book by this author but no more AI readers for me!
February 5, 2025
New author to me
I love mysteries with a side of romance and this one definitely had that going for it. The pacing of this book was good, and the side characters were pretty vivid. My main quibble with this book was the repetitive nature of the same characters doing the same things in a way that didn’t add much to the story. Your results may vary.
I love mysteries with a side of romance and this one definitely had that going for it. The pacing of this book was good, and the side characters were pretty vivid. My main quibble with this book was the repetitive nature of the same characters doing the same things in a way that didn’t add much to the story. Your results may vary.
May 21, 2025
Absolutely zero emotion is involved. It is written like: I ate the food. The food was good. I will have the food again later.
Extremely lacking in sentence formation and exceeds in drawing indifference from the reader. Both the plot and romance had much to be desired and I’m not totally sure why I finished the book.
Extremely lacking in sentence formation and exceeds in drawing indifference from the reader. Both the plot and romance had much to be desired and I’m not totally sure why I finished the book.
May 2, 2025
I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought that I would. It was not particularly long - just over 200 pages according to my ereader - and I felt that the second half of the book was a little rushed but everything tied together neatly.
You can read the synopsis elsewhere so I wont rehash it. I liked Cal although I am well aware of his many faults. He is one of the good guys. I am looking forward in the next book of finding out more about his back story. The murder of his mother affected him greatly but he may soon be able to find out much more about this.
The book is written in the present tense but this did not greatly worry me. There was a time that I would have said no to reading this but, obviously, this is no longer a problem for me.
Bring on book 2 - I am waiting.
Please note that the story is complete in this book and there is no cliffhanger.
You can read the synopsis elsewhere so I wont rehash it. I liked Cal although I am well aware of his many faults. He is one of the good guys. I am looking forward in the next book of finding out more about his back story. The murder of his mother affected him greatly but he may soon be able to find out much more about this.
The book is written in the present tense but this did not greatly worry me. There was a time that I would have said no to reading this but, obviously, this is no longer a problem for me.
Bring on book 2 - I am waiting.
Please note that the story is complete in this book and there is no cliffhanger.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews