Missing After Midnight

by Shelby Shaw

A small-town missing girl thriller. A cold case disappearance. A wrongful accusation. A copycat abduction. A daughter determined to clear her stepfather’s name.I was fifteen when Waverly Martin vanished from my rec room during a birthday sleepover.

One open window.
One silent house.
One missing girl.

By morning, she was gone—taken while we slept three feet away.

The police blamed my stepfather.
The town believed them.
And over the next ten years, I watched a broken man drown under the weight of suspicion, gossip, and an accusation he could never outrun.

A disgraced family.
A public scandal.
An unsolved cold case disappearance.

Now another girl is missing.

Same town.
Same window entry.
Same method.
Same unanswered questions.

A copycat crime—or proof the real killer was never caught?

I’m done waiting for the truth.

I’ve returned to Granite Wake with one
clear my stepfather’s name and expose the real predator hiding in plain sight.

A buried town secret.
A fractured group of former friends.
A night none of us has ever fully explained.

The girls who slept beside Waverly that night have built new lives. New reputations. New narratives.

But memories don’t disappear.
And neither do killers.

As I reopen the cold case investigation, I uncover inconsistencies. False statements. Timelines that don’t align. Friendships built on silence instead of loyalty.

Every cage in this town rattles when I start asking questions.

And something inside is starting to growl.

Because some secrets defend themselves.
Some lies evolve.
And some predators don’t appreciate being hunted.

The closer I get to the truth, the clearer it

Waverly wasn’t the only target.

And this time, I’m not just chasing a killer.

I might be next.

🔥 Tropes &

🏘️ Small-Town Secrets
🧩 Cold Case Reopened
👧 Missing Girl Mystery
🪟 Locked Room / Window Abduction
⚖️ Wrongful Accusation
🕰️ Ten Years Later
🧠 Psychological Suspense

This small-town psychological thriller explores wrongful accusation, buried secrets, and the long shadow of an unsolved disappearance. With escalating tension, fractured friendships, hidden predators, and relentless twists, it builds toward a final confrontation where truth comes at a devastating cost.

249 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 27, 2026

Reviews

[Stefanie Verhelst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four girls at a sleepover… one of them disappears… One of the girls’ stephfather is accused and she’s trying to prove his innocence.


Gripping psychological thriller with a shocking twist at the end!

As in all her books, Shelby surprises again!!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a rideeeee!!! This story starts out with a missing child that has disappeared, triggering memories of a similar event that occurred a decade before. Ellie, Alyssa, Keely & Waverly attended a sleepover at Ellie’s house & when Waverly disappears, these teens and their loved ones lives are changed forever, especially Ellie. This story took many twists & turns before revealing the true sinister shadows lingering that were taking place. Shelby Shaw does it again and I am truly enjoying her work!.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Beth Stromberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four best friends, happy 15-year-old girls, at a sleepover, by morning their lives are changed. One of the girls, Waverly , has disappeared. The stepfather of the hostess, Ellie, is accused.
This is the story of Ellie trying to prove her stepfather's innocence.
Shelby Shaw has written another psychological thriller. She takes us through Ellie's investigation, keeping us on the edge of our seats until the shocking conclusion. Once again, I highly recommend her books .

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this book in just two days. It’s well-written, with a great pace that keeps you hooked from start to finish. While I guessed the killer early on, the motive and the unexpected accomplice still caught me off guard. At its heart, the story is also about never giving up on something you truly believe in. Well, done, Ms. Shaw! I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily sharing my review.

[Tianna Meeks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy crap, the suspension and mystery was top notch, the storytelling and the charters were so though out. You had me guessing until the end and the end had me questioning everything, my jaw was on the floor. So good, I would recommend this to everyone.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy crap, the suspension and mystery was top notch, the storytelling and the charters were so though out. You had me guessing until the end and the end had me questioning everything, my jaw was on the floor. So good, I would recommend this to everyone.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mandi Dawes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy reading this authors books they always keep me on the edge of my seat. The books are the type that make me want to curl up with a blanket , a cup of tea and to be lefted alone.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.