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Get Lost
Not yet published
Expected 7 Jul 26Win a free print copy of this book!
6 days and 22:09:16
20 copies available
U.S. and Canada only
For fans of Carl Hiaasen and Elmore a fast-paced thriller about a young woman who reluctantly teams up with her deadbeat dad to find her missing mom, by the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Sh*t My Dad Says
When Lila Dixon gets a call that her mother has gone missing, she initially brushes it off—Mattie’s disappearances are a part of life, like earthquakes in their dusty California hometown. But this time the prime suspect is Lila’s larger-than-life the one-time baseball star, local hero, and fatal charmer John “Dix” Dixon. Dix’s main accomplishment as a dad was finding new ways to disappoint his daughter, but even Lila knows he’s not behind this. And when they uncover a $250,000 deposit to Mattie’s bank account, and someone slips a threatening note under Lila’s motel door, they realize Mattie may be in real danger. Now they’re heading down a trail marked by unsavory Russian thugs, fat-cat farmers, and an unseen enemy who’s always a step ahead.
With crackling banter and characters that leap off the page, Get Lost is a fast-paced and emotionally layered mystery. Justin Halpern tells a story that’s by turns hilarious and about fractured families, grudges that last a lifetime, and the unexpected ways we find our way back to the people we thought we’d lost for good.
When Lila Dixon gets a call that her mother has gone missing, she initially brushes it off—Mattie’s disappearances are a part of life, like earthquakes in their dusty California hometown. But this time the prime suspect is Lila’s larger-than-life the one-time baseball star, local hero, and fatal charmer John “Dix” Dixon. Dix’s main accomplishment as a dad was finding new ways to disappoint his daughter, but even Lila knows he’s not behind this. And when they uncover a $250,000 deposit to Mattie’s bank account, and someone slips a threatening note under Lila’s motel door, they realize Mattie may be in real danger. Now they’re heading down a trail marked by unsavory Russian thugs, fat-cat farmers, and an unseen enemy who’s always a step ahead.
With crackling banter and characters that leap off the page, Get Lost is a fast-paced and emotionally layered mystery. Justin Halpern tells a story that’s by turns hilarious and about fractured families, grudges that last a lifetime, and the unexpected ways we find our way back to the people we thought we’d lost for good.
256 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication July 7, 2026
About the author
Justin Halpern
7 books921 followersI'm 29. I live with my 74-year-old dad. He is awesome. I just write down shit that he says.
In the pic, I am on the far right and dad is one the far left. That's a friend between us.
In the pic, I am on the far right and dad is one the far left. That's a friend between us.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and to Grand Central Publishing for the ARC of Get Lost by Justin Halpern.
This book is perfect for fans of Carl Hiassen's books, the upcoming debut Killer Vibes by Jack Friday, or fans of Danny McBride TV shows. It's sharp, witty, dark, and funny all at once.
Halpern is known for a book about the witticisms of a parent, and he perfectly captures Dix in his verbiage, but he also really captures what a lot of people eventually have to grapple with -- their parents are not perfect people and those imperfections do impact their children in a myriad of ways. In this case, Lila has been fairly decimated by the actions of having a mother who is mentally unwell and a father who is the life of the party when you're in his line of sight but absent in everything else. She's armored in words and distance. She hates herself as much as she hates everything else, and she's wrapped in a lifetime of abandonment and self-protection. We learn about her past and Dix's past in snippets, which were, at times, a bit jarring in how they appeared in a chapter, but did help for the overall depth of the story. In Dix we see a man who peaked with early career success and faced consequences for his own immaturity, but he buries everything between a veneer of joviality instead of ever really acknowledging the ways he could change if the easy route wasn't always closer to his feet. I'm sure plenty of children reading this book will relate to Lila's feelings and Dix's actions and I think that's the part you take away with you from this book.
But when you aren't caught up in their familial mess, readers will be laughing at the dry humor and clever callbacks, and being caught up in the mystery of where Lila's mother has disappeared to this time. It's a darker story than I expected, but it all works all together,
It's a short book, and I finished it in one afternoon and was incapable of putting it down because the story kept twisting and turning in entertaining and unexpected ways -- the plot is tightly woven and doesn't have any dull spaces. I do feel like I would have been happy with one more chapter given how abrupt the ending felt, but it was still a sensible ending and one that gave more context to Lila and Dix, just not quite closure - but sometimes that's just how family is, right?
This book is perfect for fans of Carl Hiassen's books, the upcoming debut Killer Vibes by Jack Friday, or fans of Danny McBride TV shows. It's sharp, witty, dark, and funny all at once.
Halpern is known for a book about the witticisms of a parent, and he perfectly captures Dix in his verbiage, but he also really captures what a lot of people eventually have to grapple with -- their parents are not perfect people and those imperfections do impact their children in a myriad of ways. In this case, Lila has been fairly decimated by the actions of having a mother who is mentally unwell and a father who is the life of the party when you're in his line of sight but absent in everything else. She's armored in words and distance. She hates herself as much as she hates everything else, and she's wrapped in a lifetime of abandonment and self-protection. We learn about her past and Dix's past in snippets, which were, at times, a bit jarring in how they appeared in a chapter, but did help for the overall depth of the story. In Dix we see a man who peaked with early career success and faced consequences for his own immaturity, but he buries everything between a veneer of joviality instead of ever really acknowledging the ways he could change if the easy route wasn't always closer to his feet. I'm sure plenty of children reading this book will relate to Lila's feelings and Dix's actions and I think that's the part you take away with you from this book.
But when you aren't caught up in their familial mess, readers will be laughing at the dry humor and clever callbacks, and being caught up in the mystery of where Lila's mother has disappeared to this time. It's a darker story than I expected, but it all works all together,
It's a short book, and I finished it in one afternoon and was incapable of putting it down because the story kept twisting and turning in entertaining and unexpected ways -- the plot is tightly woven and doesn't have any dull spaces. I do feel like I would have been happy with one more chapter given how abrupt the ending felt, but it was still a sensible ending and one that gave more context to Lila and Dix, just not quite closure - but sometimes that's just how family is, right?
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
This is a review of an ARC from Edelweiss.
Lila Dixon is working as a baseball scout in Southern California when she gets a call that her mother Mattie has gone missing. Normally she would ignore this, as her mother's long history of going on walkabout dates back to her childhood (and is one reason Lila spent a lot of that time in foster care). But the sheriff says Lila's father Dix, a washed-up minor leaguer who has been largely absent from their lives, is being held on suspicion of murder, she has to figure things out. When she and her Dad discover that Mattie recently deposited $250,000 in her bank account, and the police have no interest in investigating further, they try to solve the mystery on their own.
The promos I saw for this were pitching it as a dark humor thriller, in the mode of Carl Hiassen or Elmore Leonard. And there were funny bits to this, with a mad-cap thriller with Russian gangsters, evil farmers, and corporate greed did make for some scenes that I can envision being funny in a movie or TV show (Halpern has written and produced for sitcoms).
But the overall book was much darker, and the heart of the story is the relationship between Lila and Dix. We see their strained past through flashbacks and watching him try to reach out to her, and her deal with the scars of her childhood, was truly moving. That part felt like the main focus of the story, with the chase scenes and quips just added in to lighten up what is other a very sad story.
Lila Dixon is working as a baseball scout in Southern California when she gets a call that her mother Mattie has gone missing. Normally she would ignore this, as her mother's long history of going on walkabout dates back to her childhood (and is one reason Lila spent a lot of that time in foster care). But the sheriff says Lila's father Dix, a washed-up minor leaguer who has been largely absent from their lives, is being held on suspicion of murder, she has to figure things out. When she and her Dad discover that Mattie recently deposited $250,000 in her bank account, and the police have no interest in investigating further, they try to solve the mystery on their own.
The promos I saw for this were pitching it as a dark humor thriller, in the mode of Carl Hiassen or Elmore Leonard. And there were funny bits to this, with a mad-cap thriller with Russian gangsters, evil farmers, and corporate greed did make for some scenes that I can envision being funny in a movie or TV show (Halpern has written and produced for sitcoms).
But the overall book was much darker, and the heart of the story is the relationship between Lila and Dix. We see their strained past through flashbacks and watching him try to reach out to her, and her deal with the scars of her childhood, was truly moving. That part felt like the main focus of the story, with the chase scenes and quips just added in to lighten up what is other a very sad story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I loved this book! I wasn't sure what to expect going in, but I was hoping it would be a lighthearted humorous story. Well, it was definitely funny, but it was also darker than I expected! Which was not a bad thing. This book has a lot going on. It has a locked room mystery, car chases, shootouts, great plot twists, hilarious banter and a whole lot of heart. Get Lost centers around the relationship between Lila and her father and the flashbacks throughout help explain why it has fractured. Dix and Lila are both kind of awful, but you can't help but love them and root for them too. The mystery of what happened to her mom is compelling and takes unexpected twists and turns. The only complaint I have is how abrupt the ending is. It was a fitting ending but it also felt like there should be a bit more. I wasn't ready to say goodbye to these characters yet. I would love to see them again! I highly recommend Get Lost and I will definitely be looking to see what Justin Halpern comes up with next! As much as I enjoyed this book, I do have to say that there's a lot of swearing and dirty humor, so if that offends you, this is not the book for you.
Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC.
Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you #Netgalley for the advanced copy!
I have previously enjoyed this author's books and as excited to read his first novel. Typical to Halpern's writing style, there are so many funny moments even though the book involves finding our main character, Lila's lost mother. Lila receives a call that her mother is missing, though this has happened before, she drops everything to go home to investigate. With this adventure, Lila is faced with connecting with her father, Dix, who has not been a stable or reliable figure in her life. During the quest to find her mother, they connect, reflect on the past and use each other to find out where her mother is. There are quite a few twists throughout the read as they investigate the days leading up to the disappearance and the interactions between others in their small town. Overall, I found this book interesting, another good one from Halpern, just wish the ending was a bit different, it left us wanting more or more resolution to the characters.
I have previously enjoyed this author's books and as excited to read his first novel. Typical to Halpern's writing style, there are so many funny moments even though the book involves finding our main character, Lila's lost mother. Lila receives a call that her mother is missing, though this has happened before, she drops everything to go home to investigate. With this adventure, Lila is faced with connecting with her father, Dix, who has not been a stable or reliable figure in her life. During the quest to find her mother, they connect, reflect on the past and use each other to find out where her mother is. There are quite a few twists throughout the read as they investigate the days leading up to the disappearance and the interactions between others in their small town. Overall, I found this book interesting, another good one from Halpern, just wish the ending was a bit different, it left us wanting more or more resolution to the characters.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I won this ARC from a giveaway.
From the start, I thought this was an easy read. I liked the style of writing and the characters seemed genuine.
It was a humorous mystery that told the story of a disconnected father and daughter trying to find the missing ex-wife/mother. It took you through the daughter’s traumatic childhood all while trying to piece the connections together to find the mom. I appreciated the insight it gave to understand the main characters feelings towards her dad.
I liked the twists and turns, it really felt like I was on a roller coaster but in a good way.
I do feel like the plot could’ve been streamlined slightly to be more cohesive, there were some parts that could’ve been left out as they caused more confusion than contributing to the overall plot.
For the most part though, it was an enjoyable and easy read. Definitely a lighthearted mystery compared to some of the other books I read.
From the start, I thought this was an easy read. I liked the style of writing and the characters seemed genuine.
It was a humorous mystery that told the story of a disconnected father and daughter trying to find the missing ex-wife/mother. It took you through the daughter’s traumatic childhood all while trying to piece the connections together to find the mom. I appreciated the insight it gave to understand the main characters feelings towards her dad.
I liked the twists and turns, it really felt like I was on a roller coaster but in a good way.
I do feel like the plot could’ve been streamlined slightly to be more cohesive, there were some parts that could’ve been left out as they caused more confusion than contributing to the overall plot.
For the most part though, it was an enjoyable and easy read. Definitely a lighthearted mystery compared to some of the other books I read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Okay. That was funny. Now listen, Mr. Halpern. Crass doesn’t equal funny. You are funny without it so there are some of the things you can clean up a bit. But this novel was funny.
It’s a quick short read. The situation is funny with the daughter and estranged father that everyone, but her, dearly loves. He could charm anyone. The dynamics between the two of them is brilliant on the page, but I kept thinking about how much fun it would be to see it played out on the big screen with the right actors. The premise isn’t groundbreaking, but it sure is fun.
Oh yeah, there is a mystery, but honestly, it’s just the setting for some pretty witty conversations and situations.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.
It’s a quick short read. The situation is funny with the daughter and estranged father that everyone, but her, dearly loves. He could charm anyone. The dynamics between the two of them is brilliant on the page, but I kept thinking about how much fun it would be to see it played out on the big screen with the right actors. The premise isn’t groundbreaking, but it sure is fun.
Oh yeah, there is a mystery, but honestly, it’s just the setting for some pretty witty conversations and situations.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing an ARC for an unbiased review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Get Lost is the book to pick up if you want a little mystery, a lot of laughs, and a genuine relationship between an adult child and her highly flawed parents, particularly her estranged father. As the story of a charismatic, washed up baseball player and his curmudgeonly, emotionally guarded daughter, trying to solve the disappearance of her mother in a small California town progressed, I found myself ever more attached to, and rooting for, the characters. Even more than my curiosity about the expanding mystery, this is what kept me turning the pages (and because I love dialogue that make me laugh) — and while the end wasn’t the outcome I had in mind, it was exactly right. I’ve already got a handful of friends in mind who I know will enjoy it as much as I did.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The blurb compared this book to Carl Hiaasen, whose work I love, but I must say that the author takes us way past the amusing, special kind of stupid that criminals seem to embody, into the genuine pain they might feel from their bad choices. The central character is tough and sassy, but also clearly hurt by her dysfunctional father. The relationship grows to dominate the story, without harming a terrific mystery to be solved. I think of this as "sunny California noir." The exposition is beautifully wrapped up with the characters' past. I had to stop reading at times, to try to process events in light of my own sometimes dysfunctional fathering - but that's another story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a free DRC of this book through Netgalley and the publisher. This book was a bit darker than I expected, but it does balance that with some lighter moments. Lila has had a crappy childhood, in and out and foster care, but she is still semi-connected to each of her parents. She ends up working with her father, Dix, to try to find out where her mother has disappeared. This is not a feel-good cozy story, but perhaps a more realistic view of an estranged parent-child relationship. I did not feel connected to either main character, but the story is good about letting you see some of the history.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was hilarious. I couldn’t put it down! I was obsessed with the banter between Lila and her father. The story and plot was great, fast-paced, and such a great ending! I thoroughly enjoyed this! I loved that I still had suspense and a murder mystery with some really funny moments.
The father-daughter relationship, while it was wildly entertaining, it was also sad, & I liked how we got some back story here and there to really help build the story and reasonings for so much of the disconnect in Lila’s part.
The father-daughter relationship, while it was wildly entertaining, it was also sad, & I liked how we got some back story here and there to really help build the story and reasonings for so much of the disconnect in Lila’s part.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Justin Halpern’s daddy issues continue in the best way possible as he effortlessly makes a jump into fiction. “Get Lost” has hit sitcom level jokes in the midst of a beach read mystery that ends with all the satisfaction of your favorite blockbuster. The action sequences jump off the page and even the smallest characters are wonderfully and hilariously drawn. A great read if you like comedy, rooting for complicated characters, and… baseball?
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was an amusing story. Lila is blunt and rude and doesn’t care what anyone thinks about her. And that includes her absentee father, Dixon, who is a charming loser. Mattie, Lila’s mother and Dixon’s ex-wife, has disappeared, which is not necessarily unusual, as she is mentally ill and prone to disappear unexpectedly. However, this time she is gone for longer than usual, and a sizable amount of unexplained money seems to be involved.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The characters were funny and flawed, just as I would expect from Justin Halpern. The ending felt a bit abrupt though, I wanted more there. Just a fun story (or as much fun as a missing person story can be) and overall a decent read.
Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This mystery chugs right along the border of mysterious and silly. Horrible things happen, but so do many funny things. If you like your mystery with a large portion of action and a good dose of humor, pick this one up. Recommended for fans of Carl Hiaasen.
NetGalley provided me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
NetGalley provided me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley for a chance to peruse this book. Elmore Leonard or Carl Hiaasen it is not. This is a straightforward story with characters who are neither likable nor hateable. I'm not sure why I finished it.
January 1, 2026
I could not put this book down. It was suspenseful, thrilling, heartwarming and so freaking funny. Highly recommend it and I cannot wait until the world gets to read it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
It was a funny book. It made me laugh out loud interesting story, and interesting characters.
March 29, 2026
This was probably one of the funniest books I’ve read, it felt like I was reading a sitcom. Pretty good beach read material.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
a madcap "caper" novel full of ne'er do wells and losers, but also surprisingly tender and touching. And very very funny. Honestly, it ticks ALL my boxes.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Almost a buddy-comedy of a small-town mystery, but with a daughter and dad reconnecting. Maybe.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews