Get Lost

 

Get Lost by Justin Halpern
7/7/26; 256 pages
Grand Central Publishing 

Get Lost by Justin Halpern is a very highly recommended humorous mystery, for the right reader. This is a hilarious thriller following an adult daughter and her deadbeat father as they look for her missing mother. It is a lightning-fast-paced novel with twists and turns galore, however the use of profanity, mainly by Lila, is prolific. 

Lila Dixon is a baseball scout, and not necessarily pleased about it, when she receives a call about her mother Mattie Wilkerson who is missing from her apartment in Los Armarios, California. Lila isn't too concerned because her mother has a history of mental health issues and has been taking off and disappearing as long as Lila can remember. This time, however, her charming but deadbeat dad John “Dix” Dixon, former minor league baseball player and local hero is the prime suspect. Knowing her mother likely took off on her own and her father would not have murdered Mattie, Lila takes off for Los Armarios to get to the bottom of the mess.

When she arrives things are more complicated than she anticipated. The local cops are clueless, so Lila ends up getting Dix out of jail and investigating Mattie's disappearance while Dix invites himself to tag along to find Mattie. In their efforts Lila uncovers a large monetary pay out to Mattie and money subsequently changing hands. Then it appears that Mattie may actually be in real danger when Lila receives a threatening note. Lila provides the brains, cynicism, and foul mouth to the investigation and Dix has the connections, the charisma, and people skills.

Lila may be a disagreeable, foul-mouthed, and irritable cynic, but she is also intelligent, realistic, and determined. Along the way in the novel we learn more about her childhood and her attitude becomes understandable and will be relatable to some people. Dix is an optimist who "likes to see conflicts as simply a detour on the road to friendship," and likes to point out that "the sun shines on a dog's butt every once in a while." With their complicated history and Lila's lifelong disappointment, strife is expected in their collaboration. 

The well-written and planned plot moves very quickly with no down time. In spite of Lila's inability to utter a sentence without some expletive and Dix's denseness at times, I admittedly like this duo. The two end up working well together in their own unique dysfunctional way. The cast of characters they encounter is unique. With the dangers they encounter and the plot twists, the novel most certainly has dark overtones along with poignant moments. This would make an excellent movie (perhaps with some of the language toned down).

Get Lost is an excellent choice for those who enjoy humorous, fast-paced thrillers that also have a somber side and won't mind the expletives. Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.