Whereabouts Unknown

by Richard Probert

ONE OF TEN LONGLISTED IN THE 2021 SHELF UNBOUND BEST INDIE BOOK COMPETITION1993. For 18-year-old Beth Adamski, life is just starting to take shape. She's set to attend Indiana University in the fall, her boyfriend and her best friend are like family, and the graveyard shifts she works at Walmart will help her save up for an apartment of her own. But when her parents die in a tragic car accident, Beth not only discovers that she has a sister; she also finds that her parents weren't exactly who she thought they were. Determined to find her sister, Beth sets out on a journey that leads her to discover more about herself than she could have ever imagined.1953. Every day, Milwaukee-born Jim Robinson watches his mother wait for his MIA father to return home from the Korean War. As the years pass and his father never appears, young Jim grows lonely, resigned to a life of solitude, until Sal Conti—a crusty, old, Italian stone carver living nearby—takes Jim under his wing. As Jim grows older, his life's journey takes him from a sheltered and secure life in Milwaukee, to the war-torn jungle of southern Vietnam. Back in the U.S. after his service ends, Jim searches for a place to call home and the one thing he longs for connection.Spanning decades and continents, Whereabouts Unknown links two unlikely characters who may just have what the other one is looking for. Insightful, captivating, and timeless, Whereabouts Unknown is about the bonds of family—the family we're born with and the one we create.

306 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 29, 2022

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story with characters who have issues but they are able to persevere. How? They allow other people to help them and, in the process, find their inner strength. A hopeful, heart-warming story with a bit of sage advice.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had zero expectations. Started and read it in one sitting. Great location settings, main characters were thoroughly written . Loved it. Not world shattering but a nice read.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having grown up in Indiana and aware of the significance of limestone and carvers to my home state, I was willing to give some of the shortcomings a pass. I rounded up to three stars. The background was interesting, the plot was contrived, and the editing was atrocious. I ask once again: Is it because it's a Kindle book? Comma flaws, Mom versus mom, abrupt changes in tense, missing words, and more.

[Raymond Helfrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book; it is so well crafted. A real page-turner. I thoroughly recommend it.

[Lynn Morgan]

Excellent read!