Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book.

Probably actually 4.5 stars. The only thing I didn't love was the rushed ending. I realize the story was finding the girl, but to condense the next, what, two years, into 2-3 pages kinda cheated me as a reader. And the sort of cliffhanger ending? I hope there are more from this author about these characters, because I enjoyed meeting and getting to know them.

When Ray Lansdale finishes a tour in Vietnam and re-enlists to attend OCS, he uses his leave to visit the hometown he left years ago and to try to find out what happened to his little sister, who left without a trace after she finished high school. His parents are both dead, but his uncle the sheriff and his wife were always more parents to the siblings than their own parents, so that is where he heads. He finally gets a clue that his sister may have been headed to Hollywood, so he gets in contact with an old WWII buddy of his uncle's, who has some time to help him in the search. But, despite getting tantalizingly close, he fails and has to leave to report for duty.

The book also follows his sister Barbara, who is not aware she has been reported missing as she says, she "just got away". She DID go to Hollywood, but found her lifelong love of horses led her to stables and ranches around LA, rather than into movies.

In the end, everyone finds who they are looking for, but the hunt is the main story and it is a good one.

Ray and Barbara grew up in the 1950s, imagining a place called The Long Ago that helped them escape the horrible reality of their home life. What saved them was the love and stability that their loving aunt and uncle provided. Ray joined the Army right out of high school, and found a life that suited him. But his sister Barbara left town after high school and disappeared. Her Uncle John, as sheriff, did everything in his power to find her. Ray made two trips home to Montana, when he could get leave, to search for her himself, finally tracing her to California, but never locating her.
This is a story of family, of home, and of surviving circumstances in order to create something better with your life. I really enjoyed McGarrity's writing, and will look for his other books as well.

Despite having high expectations for this thanks to an early review, I found it to be repetitious, uncompelling and unoriginal.