As Frank begins investigating Janelle’s disappearance, he questions her friends and family only to learn that there was a lot more to Janelle than her widowed father knew. Through Janelle’s schoolwork, Frank tracks her to a local religious community. The charismatic leader claims Janelle had been there of her own free will and then left of her own accord. There the trail grows cold. As friends and neighbors continue to frantically search for Janelle, Frank fears she is closer than they realize and that the danger she may be in is also closer than she realizes.

Take the Bait is a suspenseful novel that brings every small town’s fear to light: a child missing and the uncertainty of whether a stranger is among them or if the disappearance has local roots, and which scenario is more terrifying. Through careful, methodical, and sometimes unusual (Janelle’s schoolwork) investigating, Frank is able to learn quite a bit about the young girl, which ultimately helps him trace her tracks.

The characters in the novel are for the most part, skittish and wary of Frank, an outsider. Frank in turn is respectful of the close-knit community, but knows he must find a way in if he hopes to find Janelle. He is also viewed with a bit of suspicion when he suggests Janelle may have left of her own free will, or worse, that someone known to her is behind her disappearance. Some of the characterizations seem a bit sketchy and more general types rather than developed individuals.

The small-town atmosphere and fear add a lot to the overall feel of the novel and Frank is a very likable character, though there appears to be a lot more to learn about him than is revealed. Though the investigation is slow and methodical, the book has a good pace making it an easy and enjoyable read.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry