Lynn Slaughter

“Missing Mom beautifully illustrates the power of relationships and the connections we forge. Just as Noelle learns to lean on her friends and family, this book reminds us that the people we meet and the bonds we create enrich every adventure.”

—Midwest Book Review

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About Missing Mom

Devastated by her mom’s sudden disappearance and the evidence pointing to suicide, seventeen-year-old Noelle, an aspiring ballet dancer, doesn’t believe her mom would ever have taken her own life. She undertakes her own investigation to find out what really happened to her mother.

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About the Author

I’m addicted to reading and writing novels—not to mention chocolate, romance, and my husband’s cooking. Spoiler Alert about my bio: It’s not about how I always knew I wanted to be a writer. Instead…

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Praise for Missing Mom

"...a dual-time mystery with endearing characters and a twisty plot that will keep you turning the pages... a rich tale that will keep young readers' interest and inspire them to follow their dreams... I loved this book!"

–Lee Tobin McClain, New York Times bestselling author

"...a suspenseful mystery and a movingly rendered coming-of-age story... Missing Mom... hits every mark... Like a virtuoso ballerina, it twists, turns, and leaps to an unexpected and deeply moving conclusion."

–Lori Robbins, Amazon bestselling author of the On Pointe and Master Class mystery series

"Lynn Slaughter takes you on a dance through mystery and romance in this page-turner. MISSING MOM is a story of family, friendship, love, and loss, all amidst a tangled investigation. It gave me all the feels."

— Cindy Callaghan, award-winning author of JUST ADD MAGIC and MY BIG HEART-SHAPED FAIL

"...Slaughter keeps the readers guessing in a story of family trauma, dance, and love told with sensitivity and intelligence. A must read from a skilled author!"

–Ellen Birkett Morris, award-winning author of Beware the Tall Grass: A Novel and Lost Girls: Short Stories

"Lynn Slaughter's latest... sparkles with colorful characters and dialogue... Lynn uses her strong background in dance as a... duet that becomes more complex as the story unfolds. I could not put this book down!"

–Connie Bergstein Dow, Award-Winning Author of Tap and Rap, Move and Groove

"As a Young Adult mystery writer, Lynn Slaughter is... at the top of her game... she describes in word and action, the emotions of the young woman who does not believe that her mom committed suicide. A must-read for all lovers of mystery and good writing!"

—Mary Popham, Author of Back Home in Landing Run and Emmalene of Landing Run

Essay

For as far back as I can remember, music made me want to move, and there was always music playing at my house. I was ten when I finally convinced my father to let me take ballet lessons. My passion for dance grew over the years, but my father was so opposed to my pursuing dance as a career that I was not allowed to take dance classes during my senior year in high school or apply to a college with a dance major...

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Latest Project

DEATH IN THE END ZONE is a sequel to MISSED CUE. Homicide detective Caitlin O’Connor is faced with another puzzling case: the murder of two star football players whose bodies are discovered in a compromising position in the end zone of their high school’s football field. While Caitlin identifies several suspects who might have had reasons to want to harm the boys, no clearcut evidence points to the culprit.

Meantime, Caitlin deals with her partner’s alcoholism at work, continuing fears of commitment in a new relationship at home, and her conflicted feelings about her widowed mother’s new relationship—all while worrying that she may get pulled off the case if she doesn’t figure out who killed the boys left in the end zone.

Latest Blog Posts

From Journalist to “Contemporary Cozy” Author: Gerri Lewis Talks About Her Latest Mystery and Her Writing Journey

November 13, 2025

Having made the transition from writing nonfiction to fiction, I’m always fascinated by the experiences of other writers who’ve done the same. For award-winning journalist Gerri Lewis, it turns out that making up stories has been something she’s done all…

Joanne Guidoccio, Author of HIPPY MERMAID, Advises Authors to Do More “Moodling”

November 6, 2025

I’ve always adored mermaids, so Joanne Guidoccio’s HIPPIE MERMAID, is right up my alley! In her guest essay, she advocates for writers to take time to imagine and daydream, a good reminder for those of us who feel guilty when…

How to Make a Writer’s (or Anyone Else’s) Day

November 2, 2025

Years ago, when I was a dance teacher, I made a point of saving the notes and cards I’d received from appreciative students. Whenever I was having a bad day, I’d get them out and re-read them. They were a…