One Boy Missing

Stephen Orr’s One Boy Missing is a story about a detective, Bart Moy, who, after a series of tragic life circumstances has recently moved to the small town of Guilderton to help his elderly and problematic father, George. After a butcher witnesses a man stashing a young boy into the boot of a car to in a supposed kidnap attempt, Detective Moy faces a case that will change his life.

Bart Moy is a something of a likeable character, not least because he is imperfect, fallible and troubled. Middle-aged, overweight, depressed and suffering from sleeping disturbances, Moy possesses an over-active imagination, a fascination with death and a work ethic that is driven by his obsessive and scrutinizing mind. 

While the rest of the town appears oblivious to the loss, Bart Moy struggles with the case of the missing child. Moy identifies personally with the mystery, relating the case of the missing boy to the loss of his own son, Charlie. The detective becomes increasingly obsessive and driven towards finding answers about the boy’s disappearance.

Mental illness is not explicitly mentioned in the novel, although symptoms of insanity, such as those typical of schizophrenia and paranoia are frequently expressed in Moy’s character. The detective hallucinates several times, visualising scenes of his deceased child. Perhaps these scenes are flashbacks or memories. Unfortunately, like most of the text, these sections are largely unclear. 

I found myself frequently wondering whether Detective Moy was the main culprit of the boy’s disappearance, and, as a result of poor mental health, he had simply forgotten he committed the crime. Alternatively, I speculated whether the case existed in reality at all or was actually entirely invented in the detective’s mind.

Orr’s writing is unsentimental, non-descript, matter-of-fact and sometimes abrupt, tending not to linger on disturbing, upsetting or emotionally taxing events. As the chapters unfold, however, interweaving plotlines and characters are uncovered, leaving the reader inquisitive and hungry for more.

One Boy Missing is not only a mystery and crime story but also a reflection on love, loss, change, health and personal transformation. The writing is fluid, consistent and readable for most ages, and encourages us to meditate on the responsibilities parenthood and remind us of the importance of family values.