Love Song (The McLaren Case Mysteries) (Volume 6)

One cold January evening Luke Barber disappears from his village. Despite search teams and a police investigation, he is never found, and his absence leaves a lot of holes in many lives. That was three years ago. Now Luke's father has employed ex-police detective Michael McLaren to find Luke. Luke had the unenviable dilemma of choosing to devote his life either to tennis or music, a difficult decision, for he excelled in both. Pressure from his tennis coach, as well as his music teacher, would probably be enough stress for any young man. But add to that his father's opinion he should work the family farm and his future mother-in-law's vocal view he should stay home, get a sensible job and support her daughter. It all may have proved too much for Luke to handle. But fear and jealousy may also have spurred Luke into flight or contributed to his death. There's the local gang that tried to strong-arm Luke into turning drug supplier. And his fiancee. Was she jealous of Bethany? Perhaps her husband resented the hours of rehearsal and performances that took her from home. It isn't until McLaren figures out a connection with a medieval stone carving and a local legend that he discovers what became of Luke and leads him to someone he dearly loves.