Anna Miller wants to keep her son, and she will do anything to keep him. When a court awards custody to his mean-spirited father, she abducts the 5-year-old, flies to Italy and disappears into her native homeland. The boy’s father launches an investigation and as he comes closer to finding Anna, his true nature is revealed and the question of what’s in the child’s best interest becomes not so clear anymore. Author Steven Lee Gilbert explores themes of self-discovery and the search for self-worth as well as deeper custody issues in this literary thriller. Gilbert, who lives in Wake Forest, is a member of Wake EMC. Softcover, 274 pages, $10.95; or e-book, $4.99.

www.stevenleegilbert.com