Since it's a 'private' novel, it might also focus on the personal stories and emotions of those related to the missing persons. For example, how a family member deals with the uncertainty and grief, and how they might take matters into their own hands to find their loved ones. It could explore themes of love, loss, and the lengths people will go to for the truth.
I'm not sure specifically as I haven't read it. But generally, a novel about missing persons might revolve around the mystery of people who have disappeared, the search efforts, and the impact on their families and the community.
I don't know who the author of this 'Missing Persons A Private Novel' is. You could try searching for it in a library database or an online book catalog.
I would recommend 'The Girl on the Train' by Paula Hawkins. It follows the story of a woman who becomes involved in the mystery of a missing person she observes during her daily train commute. The unreliable narrators add an extra layer of intrigue to the story.
Another theme is deception. Often, the people around the missing person are not as they seem. In 'The Girl on the Train', the narrator's unreliability shows how deception can play a big role in a missing persons story. People may be hiding secrets or lying about their relationship with the missing person.
In 'Of Missing Persons' short story, the theme often revolves around the mystery and impact of people disappearing. It might explore the emotional turmoil of those left behind, like their confusion and grief. For example, the characters in the story could be constantly searching for answers, which reflects the human need to find closure in such situations.
In the older detective stories about missing persons, the plot was usually quite complex. There were often many false leads and red herrings. For example, in Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories, Holmes has to sift through a lot of information that seems relevant but is actually misleading. Also, the characters in these stories were not always what they seemed, which added another layer of complexity to the mystery of the missing person.
I'm not sure specifically as I haven't read the exact 'Of Missing Persons' short story you mentioned. But generally, in a story about missing persons, there could be the family members of the missing person, like a worried mother or a desperate husband. There might also be a detective - like figure who is trying to solve the case.
One common factor is the determination of the family. For example, in many cases like Elizabeth Smart's, her family never stopped looking for her. They kept her case in the public eye. Another factor is the work of the police. They use various resources like forensic evidence, witness statements, and surveillance to track down the missing person.
These novels often explore the emotions of the families and friends left behind. By depicting the pain, the search, and the hope in the fictional context, readers can empathize more easily. They might then be more likely to support real - life initiatives to find missing persons or contribute to organizations that deal with such cases. For instance, in 'The Lovely Bones', the family's anguish is so vividly described that it makes the reader understand the importance of not giving up on a missing person.
One great book in this genre is 'Gone Girl' by Gillian Flynn. It's a psychological thriller that involves a woman who goes missing, and as the story unfolds, there are many twists and turns.
The disappearance of Elizabeth Smart is also a significant missing persons true crime story. In 2002, she was abducted from her home in Utah. She was held captive for nine months before being rescued. Her captors had kept her in various locations and subjected her to a great deal of mental and physical abuse. The case highlighted the importance of community awareness in finding missing persons.