Hello, everyone. I’m Maggie Lawson, the dean of Pelican University. If you’re not familiar with Pelican, it’s a boutique liberal arts college in New Orleans. Prior to this position, I was the chair of the English department at Tulane. Prior to that, I was a crime-beat reporter for The Advocate, Louisiana’s largest newspaper. That life didn’t suit me in the least, but it was how I met my husband Josh. My ex-husband. Who at this very moment is lying in a hospital bed because he’s been shot. I’m not panicking over that. As a crime reporter, he’s been shot before and survived. But I am panicking a bit because I’ve been trying to reach our son, our adult son who is a senior at Tulane, but he’s not responding to texts or answering his phone. Aiden’s a good kid. He loves me, but he thinks I’m a helicopter mom, so he’s been pushing back lately.

Breathe, Maggie.

Where was I? Right. Hello, everyone. A day in my life? Well, as the dean, I have to put my personal life on hold so I can deal with what’s on the schedule. I am not looking forward to the budget meeting via Zoom that Gregory Watley muscled his way into it. The man gives me a headache. But I have to tolerate him. He’s our biggest donor. After that, I have to deal with a legal issue with one of our coaches. Then a couple of students want a private meeting. I’m sure it’s to talk about their grades. At lunch, I’ll check in with the remediation people who are taking care of the flooding in my Victorian. Yes, flooding. It’s been quite a week of surprises, I can tell you. All I can say is thank heavens for my assistant. She keeps me on track.

“Anything from Aiden?” I call to Yvonne.

“Nothing yet.”

Crud. I hate the gnawing in my gut. I wish I could talk to my parents, but my mother checked out mentally a few years ago, and my dad, well . . . he’s gone for good. I miss him. Josh is the one who was supposed to be help me raise our son, but he and I—

“Watley’s here in person. He wants to see you,” Yvonne called.

Swell. I draw in a deep breath, rise to my feet, smooth the lapels of my jacket, and force a smile. A smile goes a long way in my job. Patience is also beneficial. I could be more patient if my son, my emotionally overwhelmed artistic son, would touch base. Wish me luck.

The Son’s Secret
Genre: Domestic Thriller
Release: January 2024
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link

What if you’re the only one who believes your son is missing? A chilling, twisty psychological suspense novel, perfect for fans of Laura Dave and Gillian Flynn.

Maggie Lawson is the smart, capable dean of a boutique college, but even the most confident mother has a weakness – her child. When Maggie can’t reach her college senior son, Aiden, to tell him that his father has been shot, she starts to panic. She texts. She calls.

Is Aiden ghosting her, or have the dangerous stories Aiden’s father, her investigative journalist ex-husband, pursues finally brought trouble to her door? Maggie is sure that something is very wrong, but no one believes her. As dark events unfold, she must rely on her own investigative instincts to find Aiden. But when Maggie uncovers a devastating secret, she faces a race against time to save him.

About the author
Agatha Award-winning, nationally bestselling author Daryl Wood Gerber’s latest thriller is The Son’s Secret from Severn House. Daryl has also published the Aspen Adams Suspense Novels and standalone thrillers. As a mystery author, she pens a number of popular cozies including the Fairy Garden Mysteries and the Cookbook Nook Mysteries. Sidenote: Daryl has jumped out of a perfectly good airplane and hitchhiked around Ireland by herself. Her website is darylwoodgerber.com.