The little New England town where I grew up is a long way from Miami – 1552 miles to be exact – but they both edge on the Atlantic Ocean and that’s what originally drew me to the exotic, sun-blasted landscapes of Florida. Having explored parts of the Everglades years ago in canoe and on foot, I always had it in the back of my mind to use the eerily beautiful locale in a thriller. Endless sun, a hundred-mile-wide river of grass equipped with panthers, alligators, and the most dangerous creature of all – a human being with evil intent.

The notion of ‘Lost’ – a single-mother desperately trying to find her runaway daughter  – originally took form as a conversation with my wife Lynn, as we sat out under the tropical stars, riffing on ideas, interesting characters we’ve known, and the very essence of suspense. A motorcycle went by, splitting the night, and it suddenly became obvious the missing girl would last be seen waving goodbye from the back of speeding motorcycle, one hand on the waist of the daredevil boyfriend she’s been keeping secret from her worried mom.

Other elements soon fell in place – skydiving, a million dollar airplane hidden at a remote runway, the gaming industry, warring factions of a small Native American tribe, and, most crucial to the story, a former FBI Special Agent with dark secrets of his own.

‘Lost’ begins about as far from the Everglades as you can get, in suburban Long Island, where single mom Jane Garner has her hands full, running her small business and dealing with her bright, rebellious sixteen-year-old daughter. When Kelly fails to come home one night, the local cops assume she’s taken off with her new boyfriend. They’ll be on the lookout, of course, but it’s not exactly a top priority, running down teenagers who leave home of their own free will.

Jane, convinced that Kelly is in terrible danger, hooks up with former agent Randall Shane, a complicated, dedicated man who specializes in lost causes. Shane knows there’s only one thing to do – follow the money, no matter where it leads them.

It’s a daring move that will rock Jane Garner’s world, sending her deep into the heart of darkness with only one, desperate thought in mind: To save her daughter, no matter what it takes.