Missing Boy

by Rick Polad

In this fourth installment of the entertaining Spencer Manning Mystery series, author Rick Polad focuses on the famous Riverview Amusement Park in Chicago. Set in the early 1980s, Spencer is a likeable, nice-guy P.I in the mold of his namesake from the Robert Parker detective series “Spenser”. In this tale, a 16-year-old amusement park worker fails to come home from work one day, and Spencer sets out to track him down. It’s great fun to spend a few days at the now-defunct Riverview Park, and Spencer makes numerous enemies as he attempts to solve a seemingly intractable mystery that seems to grow in complexity by the minute. Missing Boy is a rollercoaster ride of surprises for fans of great mysteries, and a worthy addition to this fine series.

262 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 28, 2015

About the author

With degrees in English and Earth Science, I have spent the last 20 years as an Environmental Geologist, college Earth Science Instructor, Editor, and author. After many years of 12-hour days in 95 or 10 degree weather, I hung up my hard hat and concentrated on teaching and writing for fun. For 15 years, I put in almost as many hours volunteering with the Coast Guard Auxiliary at Station Wilmette on Lake Michigan… a lot more rewarding and fun than digging holes! I also started working in 2019 at Fermilab, the countries largest particle accelerator, as an educator. I have read mysteries all my life and wrote the first Spencer Manning story about 10 years ago. Back then I wondered if I could write another. There are now 8 , and I wake up every morning wondering what's happening with my characters. Thanks to all who have read and enjoyed my books as much as I have writing them.

Reviews

[Matthew Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed

Your stories keep getting better with every book that I have read and I enjoyed your characters and the plot.

[Karen Bedore · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Missing Boy” is the latest in the Spencer Manning Mysteries series. The story is centered around Riverview Amusement Park and the mysterious disappearances of kids that work there. The loveable P.I. once again finds himself in deeper than he had anticipated, and with the wisdom of his father-figure Stosh, is able to not only get the job done, but to learn a few things about life in the process.

Outside of his detective work, Spencer’s relationship “issues” created a lot of tension, which even though it was only hinted at in the final chapters, begins to get resolved—and it’s about time! There were moments I wanted to reach into my Kindle and slap him for being such a ‘guy’!

Not going to lie here—I wanted more. The story was well told, and I love Polad’s mix of humor and seriousness to his mysteries. The historical facts and references to Chicago’s beloved Cubs add a personal touch which Chicago natives will truly appreciate (and bring non-‘natives’ a little extra Chi-Town to them personally).

I look forward to some more of Spencer Manning’s adventures!

[Mary Spanabel-weber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book, “Missing Boy,” by Rick Polad. It contained many memories of Chicago, which I remember from visiting that city as a young girl. The plot surpassed his prior books with twists and turns. I was sorry when it ended. I await Rick’s next book with anticipation.

[Chip Luonuansuu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent book in one of my favorite series. An amusement park has a dark side as kids go missing. Full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing.