I guess it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, and there are usually very sad and tragic stories attached to them, but there’s a very interesting TV series about missing people, called “Reported Missing”. I have been watching the different episodes out of general interest but also because it’s a theme in a couple of my Radwinter books.
In my next novel, as yet untitled, Thomas Radwinter has been asked by a close friend, Sylvie, to try and find out what happened to her husband who vanished ten years ago. He reflects “Missing people are of great interest in the news and social media, there are loads of programmes about them. It’s very different for sad friends and family forever waiting for news.”
Later, when he is trying to find more background about another missing person, an old lady who seems to have vanished, he “met four friendly and pleasant ladies in the tearoom. I’m not much good at judging the age of older ladies but they were in their sixties or seventies I guess. They barely concealed a certain excitement – missing people are fascinating and intriguing to those who aren’t actually missing them. For Sylvie and others who have a lost loved one it’s the most awful experience, frightening, anxiety inducing and wearying, yes, worry is enervating.”
The programmes I have been watching are in a BBC series, and there are many different people with many different reasons for unexpectedly leaving home, sometimes leaving partners and family without a word, not going to work or social engagements and inadvertently causing stress and worry. Sometimes the reason for vanishing is that they feel they are at risk or in danger – even in their own home and sometimes with good reason. Some go missing because they have other issues, whatever the cause or reason, it is incredibly difficult, worrying and stressful for those who are missing them.
Here is a link to the BBC programmes: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08mp809
…and here is a link to my Radwinter book #6 – not about a missing person, but about a found person:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Saltpans-Radwinter-Lois-Elsden/dp/1983363553
Lois Elsden 