Release Date: April 30, 2019

The Dixon’s live in rural Georgia where a music festival is being held in the summer of 1971.  Over a three day period the family endures blaring music with shrieking crowds leading to frayed nerves and sleep deprivation. As the festival winds down Rachel Dixon forgets to lock her back door and wakes to find her baby missing from her crib.

Vicki Robart is attending the festival with her boyfriend after arriving from Kentucky. The last night of the event is getting stormy so they decide to head home. They are hungry after non-stop partying but find all the local stores are already closed for the evening. Desperate for food, they decide to loot one of the local houses. Vicki spots baby bottles in the kitchen and sneaks a bit further to view the child.  In her weakened/crazed mind she believes that this is the baby she lost seven months ago and takes the girl from her home.

Emily Gone by Bette Lee Crosby is the emotional story of a family coping with loss.  The book is told with the differing point of views from Rachel and Vicki while showing how each coped with this spur of the moment crime.   The raw sensitivity and courage shown leads the reader to sympathize with both women. I look forward to Bette’s next novel.