Graduates of the prestigious Blackburne Prep School in Virginia expected to have successful futures, but Matthias Glass has struggled in life ever since his best friend, Fritz, disappeared just before they graduated. Ten years later, Matthias returns to teach literature after a failed attempt to be an acclaimed novelist. When he digs into the decade-old mystery, he unearths hidden truths that have wide-ranging impacts.

On its face, this book is a mystery begging to be solved. Matthias, with the help of allies, both willing and unwilling, uncovers clues that point to his friend’s fate. And those who don’t want a solution create obstacles, some quite heinous, to thwart his efforts.

In a larger way, the book is a critical examination of the expectations and pressures placed on adolescents and their pursuit of our commonly-held beliefs of success. As Matthias reconnects with his former classmates to solve the mystery, he is also surprised to discover what they have done with their lives.