Good idea behind the book but the main character Beth is extremely annoying. Beth is not a very happy person and uses her son's kidnapping as an excuse to be an even more miserable individual. She takes it out on her family, a lovable bunch.Beth is the woman of the 90's you love to loath, selfish and narcissistic. In stark contrast her husband Pat is Ward Cleaver all over again. His heart attack gets her attention and sympathy but only briefly.Don't waste your summer reading on this one--you'll spend way too much time waiting for it to get interesting.