On July 4, 1953, in the town of Serena Station, Violet Sullivan left for the annual fireworks display and was never seen again. Some say she ran off with one of her many lovers in her new Chevrolet Bel Air; others say she was murdered by her abusive husband. But for her 6-year-old daughter, Daisy, Violet's disappearance has never been explained...and her absence never forgotten. Now, 34 years later, Daisy wants the solace of closure and hires Kinsey...

"When Irene Gersh asks PI Kinsey Millhone to locate her elderly mother Agnes, whom she hasn't heard from in six months, it's not exactly the kind of case Kinsey jumps for. But a girl's gotta pay her bills, and this should be easy money or so she thinks. Kinsey finds Agnes in a hospital. Aside from her occasional memory lapses, the octogenarian seems fine. And frightened."