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When Things Go Missing
When Things Go Missing is a masterful exploration of loyalty, loss, and knotty, dysfunctional families, told through the viewpoints of Kay, Cal, and Walter. It reveals the subtle and dramatic ways addiction affects the bonds that hold a family together. This heartfelt meditation on family is wrapped up in a propulsive page-turner that you cannot help getting swept up in.
One day, Fran Albright heads toward the grocery store and keeps going till she reaches the tip of South America, leaving an empty hole in the lives of her family. Kay, a grad student studying archeology, mourns her mother’s absence and tries to
rally her reluctant family into action. Cal, a heroin addict living at home with a father he fears, is torn between guilt and rage when the mother he’s always depended upon goes missing. Walter, a devoted husband but distant father, pays his wife’s credit card bills, tracking her journey southward before heading north to Alaska.
Adding to the mystery of the mother’s disappearance are the “gifts” she sends her The elated messages she leaves on Kay’s landline, but never when she’s at home to pick up; the strange photographs she sends Cal, who studies them like pieces of a puzzle he must solve--to save her and save himself. How each family member copes with the mother’s disappearance and forges new relationships in her absence create the heart of this novel.
When Things Go Missing is catnip for book club readers. Brasket is a gorgeous writer who explores complex family dynamics in a raw yet sympathetic way.
-- Dianne Emley, Los Angelos Times bestselling author
Deborah Brasket exquisitely captures minute moments of human interaction and emotion. Amid the chaos is welcome humor and recognizable nuances of family life.
--Dana Isaacson, Career Authors
One day, Fran Albright heads toward the grocery store and keeps going till she reaches the tip of South America, leaving an empty hole in the lives of her family. Kay, a grad student studying archeology, mourns her mother’s absence and tries to
rally her reluctant family into action. Cal, a heroin addict living at home with a father he fears, is torn between guilt and rage when the mother he’s always depended upon goes missing. Walter, a devoted husband but distant father, pays his wife’s credit card bills, tracking her journey southward before heading north to Alaska.
Adding to the mystery of the mother’s disappearance are the “gifts” she sends her The elated messages she leaves on Kay’s landline, but never when she’s at home to pick up; the strange photographs she sends Cal, who studies them like pieces of a puzzle he must solve--to save her and save himself. How each family member copes with the mother’s disappearance and forges new relationships in her absence create the heart of this novel.
When Things Go Missing is catnip for book club readers. Brasket is a gorgeous writer who explores complex family dynamics in a raw yet sympathetic way.
-- Dianne Emley, Los Angelos Times bestselling author
Deborah Brasket exquisitely captures minute moments of human interaction and emotion. Amid the chaos is welcome humor and recognizable nuances of family life.
--Dana Isaacson, Career Authors
352 pages, ebook
Published September 22, 2025
1 person is currently reading
935 people want to read
About the author
Deborah J. Brasket
1 book5 followersAfter sailing around the world with her husband and children, teaching composition and literature to college students, and fighting for affordable housing as the leader of a nonprofit, Deborah J Brasket finally settled down among the golden hills and vineyards of California's central coast to write the kinds of novels she loves to read.
Her debut novel When Things Go Missing was featured in Indies Today with a 5-star review that said:
"If this novel were compared to an art form, it would be Kintsugi, the Japanese practice of repairing broken pottery with gold, embracing imperfections as part of the piece’s beauty. This philosophy of resilience mirrors the painstaking healing of Franny’s flawed yet deeply relatable family in When Things Go Missing.
Deborah J. Brasket’s eloquent, intimate prose draws readers into an introspective journey where a fluid narrative voice moves effortlessly between a son hardened by addiction, a father weighed down by regret, and a daughter fueled by anger. By withholding Franny’s direct perspective and allowing others’ memories to shape her, the story shifts attention from a single devastating choice to the deliberate choices of those she left behind.
Through compelling insights on addiction, homelessness, and creative ventures of the soul, readers become fully invested in the well-being of these realistically crafted characters, rooting for each to find the happiness, success, and fulfillment that have long eluded them.
Part mystery, part engrossing family drama, When Things Go Missing is a poignant reflection not just on what leaves a mark, but on what binds us back together."
When Things Go Missing is available for pre-order on Amazon, Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, and Indie Bound.
You can read more early reviews and an excerpt of this novel on her website at www.deborahjbrasket.com
Her debut novel When Things Go Missing was featured in Indies Today with a 5-star review that said:
"If this novel were compared to an art form, it would be Kintsugi, the Japanese practice of repairing broken pottery with gold, embracing imperfections as part of the piece’s beauty. This philosophy of resilience mirrors the painstaking healing of Franny’s flawed yet deeply relatable family in When Things Go Missing.
Deborah J. Brasket’s eloquent, intimate prose draws readers into an introspective journey where a fluid narrative voice moves effortlessly between a son hardened by addiction, a father weighed down by regret, and a daughter fueled by anger. By withholding Franny’s direct perspective and allowing others’ memories to shape her, the story shifts attention from a single devastating choice to the deliberate choices of those she left behind.
Through compelling insights on addiction, homelessness, and creative ventures of the soul, readers become fully invested in the well-being of these realistically crafted characters, rooting for each to find the happiness, success, and fulfillment that have long eluded them.
Part mystery, part engrossing family drama, When Things Go Missing is a poignant reflection not just on what leaves a mark, but on what binds us back together."
When Things Go Missing is available for pre-order on Amazon, Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, and Indie Bound.
You can read more early reviews and an excerpt of this novel on her website at www.deborahjbrasket.com
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 18, 2025
Wow, just wow! I adored this book. Brasket (seemingly effortlessly) adds to a story two things that differentiate between a “good book” and a “great book” in my eyes. The first being an almost lyrical flow that feels as natural as breathing; feels warm and cozy to devour, yet captivating despite heavier themes. There were many moments while enjoying this book where I had to set it down to simply ponder the poignant messages beautifully concealed between the lines.
The second I consider a talent possessed by few authors of multi-POV authors, and that’s superb true-to-character perspectives. In between reading sessions, not once did I have to remind myself whose POV I left off on. Brasket’s aptitude for empathy shines here and emphasizes the complex nature of human beings. Each POV feels real, raw and reads powerfully true-to-character.
From the strife of suffering from addiction, to feelings of abandonment, to the potent reminder of how we lean on others (many times ungratefully), Brasket has shifted some very heavy topics from something to fear/avoid, into a wonderfully-written gem that inspires readers to dig inward towards the most authentic versions of ourselves.
The second I consider a talent possessed by few authors of multi-POV authors, and that’s superb true-to-character perspectives. In between reading sessions, not once did I have to remind myself whose POV I left off on. Brasket’s aptitude for empathy shines here and emphasizes the complex nature of human beings. Each POV feels real, raw and reads powerfully true-to-character.
From the strife of suffering from addiction, to feelings of abandonment, to the potent reminder of how we lean on others (many times ungratefully), Brasket has shifted some very heavy topics from something to fear/avoid, into a wonderfully-written gem that inspires readers to dig inward towards the most authentic versions of ourselves.
July 25, 2025
**GOODREADS DOES NOT ALLOW 3.5 STARS WHICH IS WHAT I ACTUALLY RATED THIS BOOK**
A family drama involving a mother trying to find who she once was, a father who loves but has a hard time showing it, a daughter who uses intimacy as a barrier, and a son fighting addiction. In the beginning of the story, I felt it was moving pretty slow. Sometimes seemed like there was too much information about each individual character in the story and it became difficult to stay engaged. HOWEVER, once the foundation of the story was laid, and the lives of each character started to pick up pace and evolved, I flew through the book.
This reading experience was very reflective for me. I have had first hand dealings with friends/family with drug addictions, and the character in this book was spot on. The miscommunications within the family, the ferociousness of love, the need for affection...all of this was relevant. The very beginning description of a mother who loves her family, but feels like she's lost herself...again, relevant. All in all, I enjoyed the book.
A family drama involving a mother trying to find who she once was, a father who loves but has a hard time showing it, a daughter who uses intimacy as a barrier, and a son fighting addiction. In the beginning of the story, I felt it was moving pretty slow. Sometimes seemed like there was too much information about each individual character in the story and it became difficult to stay engaged. HOWEVER, once the foundation of the story was laid, and the lives of each character started to pick up pace and evolved, I flew through the book.
This reading experience was very reflective for me. I have had first hand dealings with friends/family with drug addictions, and the character in this book was spot on. The miscommunications within the family, the ferociousness of love, the need for affection...all of this was relevant. The very beginning description of a mother who loves her family, but feels like she's lost herself...again, relevant. All in all, I enjoyed the book.
July 18, 2025
WOW! I absolutely loved When Things Go Missing. Every part of this thought-provoking novel was engaging and the voices that told the story really captured me. I went from seeing each individual’s perspective, to how those individual perspectives altered other’s perceptions and finally to each person’s viewpoints being pulled together to see the bigger picture. I really enjoyed seeing each of the three main characters grow into different versions of themselves. Many thanks to the author for letting me read the advanced copy. I have already recommended it to several people.
September 3, 2025
I really enjoyed this engaging novel about family, independence, and love. I really connected to the characters and it explored an idea that I have thought about many times--what if the lynch-pin of the family was suddenly not there anymore. In many families there is that one person who just seems to hold everything and everyone together-for better and sometimes for worse. The dynamic is paradoxically needed, blameless, and harmful all at the same time. This is a book about the complexities of family life and growing to adapt around them. I was touched by it. The writing was evocative yet straightforward. This was my first from Brasket and I will read this writer's work again.
September 25, 2025
Deborah Brasket’s debut novel, When Things Go Missing, amazed me with its gorgeous writing, significant and densely woven themes and images, and how strongly the book made me feel.
This novel is the story of a traditionally structured family of four and how the pieces that are the individuals fit together—smoothly, imperfectly, and jaggedly. The mother leaves one day without saying goodbye or providing a destination. At that point, daughter, son, and husband all respond differently, depending on their relationship with Mom/Frannie. As might be expected, they feel as if the center of the family is gone, leaving them with only tenuous connections to each other.
When Franny leaves town, her son, Cal, is a heroin addict who relies on the help of a rotating roster of enablers—including his mother—to give him money or a place to stay. The younger child, Kay, is a graduate student in archaeology, focused on finding a place for herself in her field. They both rely on their mother emotionally, but with the maternal tenderness spigot suddenly all but closed tight, they struggle to discover who they are and how they can succeed in life whether their mother is a part of their day-to-day lives or not.
The character portraits are carefully drawn. Brasket captures not only Cal’s addictive personality, but his sister’s love wrapped in resentment for the way he siphons attention for negative reasons. Even if the characters and their fascinating evolution throughout the book were all When Things Go Missing has to offer, it would be enough. I couldn’t look away for an instant. Every moment was a surprise and yet each new action made absolute sense for these people and their troubles and their conflicted emotions for each other.
Anyone who has an addict in their lives will be able to relate to this book at a profound level. Anyone who is part of a dysfunctional family group will be compelled to learn from the psychology at work here. And, finally, any parent who ever wanted to just get away from everyone and everything to search for peace and to find themselves, will feel a connection with the character who is missing throughout the novel—Franny herself. Where Franny finds herself will surprise and please you. The character her husband and children find within themselves will gratify you. I promise.
When Things Go Missing made me cry. I could not stop thinking about it when I finished reading. Frankly, I was stunned by the beauty and the brilliance.
This novel is the story of a traditionally structured family of four and how the pieces that are the individuals fit together—smoothly, imperfectly, and jaggedly. The mother leaves one day without saying goodbye or providing a destination. At that point, daughter, son, and husband all respond differently, depending on their relationship with Mom/Frannie. As might be expected, they feel as if the center of the family is gone, leaving them with only tenuous connections to each other.
When Franny leaves town, her son, Cal, is a heroin addict who relies on the help of a rotating roster of enablers—including his mother—to give him money or a place to stay. The younger child, Kay, is a graduate student in archaeology, focused on finding a place for herself in her field. They both rely on their mother emotionally, but with the maternal tenderness spigot suddenly all but closed tight, they struggle to discover who they are and how they can succeed in life whether their mother is a part of their day-to-day lives or not.
The character portraits are carefully drawn. Brasket captures not only Cal’s addictive personality, but his sister’s love wrapped in resentment for the way he siphons attention for negative reasons. Even if the characters and their fascinating evolution throughout the book were all When Things Go Missing has to offer, it would be enough. I couldn’t look away for an instant. Every moment was a surprise and yet each new action made absolute sense for these people and their troubles and their conflicted emotions for each other.
Anyone who has an addict in their lives will be able to relate to this book at a profound level. Anyone who is part of a dysfunctional family group will be compelled to learn from the psychology at work here. And, finally, any parent who ever wanted to just get away from everyone and everything to search for peace and to find themselves, will feel a connection with the character who is missing throughout the novel—Franny herself. Where Franny finds herself will surprise and please you. The character her husband and children find within themselves will gratify you. I promise.
When Things Go Missing made me cry. I could not stop thinking about it when I finished reading. Frankly, I was stunned by the beauty and the brilliance.
September 6, 2025
Deborah Brasket's debut novel, When Things Go Missing (Sea Stone Press 2025) is unlike any book I've read. From Page 1, readers can tell this is not an ordinary book. We meet Fran, long-time wife, mother of two adult children, who decides on the spur of the moment to run away from home rather than run the daily errands. We leave her at the end of the Prologue in Mexico to consider her future in blissful happiness. From there, we are introduced to the family she fled as they realize Mom is not returning to make their dinner, answer their questions, or tell them everything will work out. Her son is an unrepentant druggie who doesn’t mind lying to those who care for him or living on the street when that’s his only option or tearing down any semblance of family that exists without mom to provide foundation. Her husband doesn't bother to report his wife missing, believes she deserves her space. All the family's members are adults and not his responsibility to tell what to do. The almost-college graduate daughter depends on her mom but hasn’t helped her cope with the family issues and now doesn’t know what to do about Mom's absence. As she tries to decide, months pass. Readers are left curious--maybe worried--how a fifty-something lady who's always been sheltered by family will survive in the wilds of the world. But that isn't the theme or the purpose of this book and we see Mom only tangentially through the messages and gifts she sends, the credit card receipts that tell an almost disinterested husband where she has been.
This is an unusual study of a dysfunctional family. They all think about mom's absence though no one wonders if she was kidnapped or left of her own choice, why, or when she might return, or if she's safe. Those questions are left to readers to decode via clues provided through the characters. There is a plot, but it is a vehicle to character growth, not what we traditionally think of as action, crises, and resolution. (Many) Parts are depressing as we search for decisions. The right reader will find this a book they can't put down and will never forget. For that, I award it 5/5.
This is an unusual study of a dysfunctional family. They all think about mom's absence though no one wonders if she was kidnapped or left of her own choice, why, or when she might return, or if she's safe. Those questions are left to readers to decode via clues provided through the characters. There is a plot, but it is a vehicle to character growth, not what we traditionally think of as action, crises, and resolution. (Many) Parts are depressing as we search for decisions. The right reader will find this a book they can't put down and will never forget. For that, I award it 5/5.
October 11, 2025
This is Brasket’s debut novel, and my-oh-my, you wouldn’t know it. I read the book in one sitting and was mesmerized throughout.
In the novel’s prologue, Franny is a middle-aged wife and mother who, one day, on her way to the grocery store, just keeps driving. And driving. On occasion, she lets her family know she’s okay, but in every other way, she’s “gone missing.”
The rest of the story is about how her family deals with her absence/abandonment, how they cope (or don’t), and how they eventually, out of necessity, forge new and different lives for themselves. One thing I loved about the read was the story’s lack of judgment about Franny’s decision. Was her departure cruel, selfish, just what was needed, or none of the above? The results of her choice to leave were unpredictable, which made the book immensely compelling and kept me glued to the pages.
The POV characters (Franny’s husband, Walter, and her kids, Kay and Cal) are complex, realistic, their relationships nuanced. They reminded me of “families” with all their strengths and flaws, old wounds, judgments, hopes, anger, and love. Without their mother to depend on, to manage their relationships and smooth over their mistakes, they are forced to take charge of their lives (or not).
Cal is a junkie who’s served time and, for me, the trainwreck of his life was the most interesting to watch. Walter, the father who let his wife handle the family, is the most detached and the slowest to shift, and Kay is the most emotional and controlling.
The book could be a story about “anyone.” There’s a universal feel to the choices and outcome that felt fascinating, heartbreaking, poignant, and hopeful. No judgment. Just people finding their way. Highly recommended to readers of literary fiction who enjoy a compelling story about families that is hard to put down.
In the novel’s prologue, Franny is a middle-aged wife and mother who, one day, on her way to the grocery store, just keeps driving. And driving. On occasion, she lets her family know she’s okay, but in every other way, she’s “gone missing.”
The rest of the story is about how her family deals with her absence/abandonment, how they cope (or don’t), and how they eventually, out of necessity, forge new and different lives for themselves. One thing I loved about the read was the story’s lack of judgment about Franny’s decision. Was her departure cruel, selfish, just what was needed, or none of the above? The results of her choice to leave were unpredictable, which made the book immensely compelling and kept me glued to the pages.
The POV characters (Franny’s husband, Walter, and her kids, Kay and Cal) are complex, realistic, their relationships nuanced. They reminded me of “families” with all their strengths and flaws, old wounds, judgments, hopes, anger, and love. Without their mother to depend on, to manage their relationships and smooth over their mistakes, they are forced to take charge of their lives (or not).
Cal is a junkie who’s served time and, for me, the trainwreck of his life was the most interesting to watch. Walter, the father who let his wife handle the family, is the most detached and the slowest to shift, and Kay is the most emotional and controlling.
The book could be a story about “anyone.” There’s a universal feel to the choices and outcome that felt fascinating, heartbreaking, poignant, and hopeful. No judgment. Just people finding their way. Highly recommended to readers of literary fiction who enjoy a compelling story about families that is hard to put down.
July 22, 2025
Deborah Brasket’s “When Things Go Missing” is a must-read, a beautifully crafted story about the kaleidoscopic facets within families.
As paradoxical as it sounds, Brasket reveals a truth often overlooked about life and relationships. No matter how much we love one another, coming together and retreating – actions that might seem callous at the surface can be fertile ground for growth. With characters expertly drawn, “When Things Go Missing” expresses the power of giving space and creating distance in order for individuals – flawed as we all are – to flourish.
As a licensed therapist with years of experience assisting others with mental health and addiction challenges, I was struck by the power of Brasket’s prose. Deftly drawing the reader into the often unspoken, shameful episodes that individuals and families face. As the reader learns about each compelling character, their voices and perspectives are distinct. Real and raw; engaging and endearing.
There is a normalizing quality throughout “When Things Go Missing” that will empower readers. Reminding us that while our connections to those we love are omnipresent, distance can provide enlightenment – if we are brave enough.
Brasket deftly describes the dangers when relationships – like strings – are pulled taut. Learning how to love from afar might be the greatest gift we can offer ourselves and those we hold dear.
Cheers to Deborah Brasket and a family – Walter, Franny, Cal and Kay – who will reside in my heart forever more.
-Dr. Vicki Atkinson, Ed.D, LPC and author of “Surviving Sue”
As paradoxical as it sounds, Brasket reveals a truth often overlooked about life and relationships. No matter how much we love one another, coming together and retreating – actions that might seem callous at the surface can be fertile ground for growth. With characters expertly drawn, “When Things Go Missing” expresses the power of giving space and creating distance in order for individuals – flawed as we all are – to flourish.
As a licensed therapist with years of experience assisting others with mental health and addiction challenges, I was struck by the power of Brasket’s prose. Deftly drawing the reader into the often unspoken, shameful episodes that individuals and families face. As the reader learns about each compelling character, their voices and perspectives are distinct. Real and raw; engaging and endearing.
There is a normalizing quality throughout “When Things Go Missing” that will empower readers. Reminding us that while our connections to those we love are omnipresent, distance can provide enlightenment – if we are brave enough.
Brasket deftly describes the dangers when relationships – like strings – are pulled taut. Learning how to love from afar might be the greatest gift we can offer ourselves and those we hold dear.
Cheers to Deborah Brasket and a family – Walter, Franny, Cal and Kay – who will reside in my heart forever more.
-Dr. Vicki Atkinson, Ed.D, LPC and author of “Surviving Sue”
August 9, 2025
I have been following Deborah’s blog, Writing on the Edge of the Wild, for many years on WordPress. (She now has a Substack version as well.) I have always found her insights about art, literature, truth, beauty, and the human dilemma to be evocative and profound. I always want to hear what she has to say.
So I was thrilled to read When Things Go Missing, a gorgeous novel that I think is so relevant to personal family dynamics and the way we live today in our larger culture. Please read and enjoy my review of Deborah's book on my blog, Books Can Save a Life. https://bookscansavealife.com/2025/08...
So I was thrilled to read When Things Go Missing, a gorgeous novel that I think is so relevant to personal family dynamics and the way we live today in our larger culture. Please read and enjoy my review of Deborah's book on my blog, Books Can Save a Life. https://bookscansavealife.com/2025/08...
October 8, 2025
A beautifully told unique story where the the main character abruptly leaves her family. We then realise it is actually the stories of her husband, her son and her daughter and how they cope in different ways. As a reader we also experience her absence along with her journey.
The authors writing draws the reader in. Narrated in a way we get full images of surroundings and each characters personality. The characters seem real and relatable.....in different ways to different readers I'm sure!
This book themed around identity, complex relations, and the emotions involved, is a must read for any thought-provoking literary fan
The authors writing draws the reader in. Narrated in a way we get full images of surroundings and each characters personality. The characters seem real and relatable.....in different ways to different readers I'm sure!
This book themed around identity, complex relations, and the emotions involved, is a must read for any thought-provoking literary fan
July 21, 2025
I truly loved this book! The writing was beautifully done and full of emotional depth. From the first page I was drawn into the story and invested in the characters that the author brought to life! I found myself rooting for them, feeling their struggles and celebrating their triumphs. This book will stay with me, compelling characters and well crafted storytelling. It was a joy to read!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews