There’s Been a Little Incident, by Alice Ryan

After leaving a London party early Molly Black has disappeared. Her family in Dublin are only moderately concerned, as Molly makes a habit of running away from her problems. But there could be something more to it this time. The police think Molly could be a witness in the disappearance of another young woman and want to talk to her. Her best friend B flips between thinking she has left to give him space in a new phase of his life and feeling abandoned. Short chapters give the reader snapshots of each family member and their relationship with the errant Molly, as well as flashbacks to childhood and more recent escapades. A comic tone belies depths of darkness in aspects of each of Molly’s cousins, aunts and uncles, as well as in Molly herself. The story addresses various reactions to and consequences of grief and loss and how a family deals with it, taking a swipe at the mass media along the way. It’s an interesting and entertaining ride that is perhaps all wrapped up a little too neatly in the end.