Butterfly in the Shadows

Iris Blackthorn, a sharp-witted, pansexual high school senior, lives in the shadow of her missing older sister, Stella. A year after Stella's disappearance, Iris is still reeling, her life defined by grief, guilt, and the relentless need for answers. She's become the town's "other Blackthorn girl," the one left behind, and her pain is compounded by the indifference of the police, who have written Stella off as a runaway. Iris's world is colored by trauma—her mother's death, her aunt's reluctant guardianship, and the constant ache of not knowing. But Iris refuses to let Stella's memory fade. Instead, she channels her pain into action, forming a detective agency with her friends, determined to find the truth, even as the town's whispers and her own doubts threaten to swallow her whole.

Sapphic Sleuths Assemble

Iris, hacker Sammy, and costume designer Imani unite as a queer, amateur detective agency, taking on small cases in their Louisiana town. Their bond is forged in shared outsider status and a hunger for justice, each bringing unique skills: Iris's intuition, Sammy's tech savvy, and Imani's social intelligence. Their first big job comes from Heather Nasato, Iris's ex-girlfriend and the mayor's daughter, who suspects her boyfriend Nathan is cheating. The trio's investigation—full of stakeouts, disguises, and banter—reveals not just infidelity but the tangled web of secrets beneath Hillwood's surface. Their friendship is a lifeline for Iris, offering purpose and belonging, even as the specter of Stella's disappearance looms over every case.

The Queen Goes Missing

The town is rocked when Heather, the popular cheerleader and creator of a true-crime podcast about Stella, goes missing. The news breaks during a football game, sending shockwaves through the community and reigniting old wounds for Iris. The police, under pressure from Heather's powerful family, launch a high-profile search, but suspicion and fear ripple through Hillwood. Iris and her friends are drawn in, compelled by personal ties and the chilling parallels to Stella's case. As rumors swirl and the investigation stalls, the agency resolves to find Heather themselves, even as the risks—and the emotional stakes—mount. For Iris, it's a second chance to save a girl who matters, and maybe, to save herself.

Podcast Echoes and Ghosts

Heather's podcast, "How to Find a Missing Girl," becomes both a clue and a curse. Through interviews and speculation, it exposes the town's secrets and the failures of the police, but also sensationalizes Stella's disappearance, reopening Iris's grief. The podcast's latest episode hints at new evidence and implicates people close to Heather, including Nathan and the enigmatic teacher Mr. Cooper. As Iris listens, she's forced to confront painful truths about her relationships—with Heather, with her friends, and with the sister she couldn't save. The podcast becomes a battleground for memory, justice, and the right to tell the story of the missing girls.

Secrets Behind Locked Doors

Desperate for answers, the agency breaks into Heather's house, risking arrest to search for evidence. They discover encrypted flash drives labeled "For Iris," hidden in a double-potted plant—a message from Heather, meant to be found if she disappeared. The drives are locked behind complex passwords, and the recovery keys are missing. As they search, they narrowly avoid being caught by Delphine, Heather's friend and rival, who is also looking for something. The break-in deepens the mystery: Heather was paranoid, gathering secrets on her friends, and possibly close to exposing something dangerous. The agency's actions put them in the crosshairs of both the police and the real perpetrator.

Doxxed and Distrusted

Delphine retaliates by doxxing Iris, leaking her phone number and outing the agency on social media. The group faces harassment, suspicion, and growing isolation. Tensions rise as secrets come to light: Imani and Sammy withhold information about Arden, another cheerleader, while Iris hides the extent of the police's threats. The pressure strains their friendship, and the investigation stalls. Meanwhile, the town's appetite for scandal grows, fueled by Heather's podcast and the media circus. Iris feels the weight of responsibility and betrayal, questioning whether she's helping or hurting those she loves. The case becomes personal, and the cost of the truth grows higher.

The Case Fractures

As the agency digs deeper, suspects emerge: Nathan, the cheating boyfriend; Delphine, the manipulative queen bee; Arden, haunted and self-destructive; and even Mr. Cooper, the charming teacher with hidden ties. Each has motive and secrets, and the lines between friend and foe blur. The group uncovers evidence of drug dealing, forbidden relationships, and blackmail, but every answer leads to more questions. Arden's erratic behavior and Delphine's desperation point to a larger conspiracy. The agency's unity falters, and Iris is forced to confront her own limitations as a detective and a friend. The case threatens to consume them all.

The Evidence Hunt

The search for the flash drive recovery keys leads to a Halloween party, a car chase, and a harrowing night in the swamps. Arden, unraveling under guilt and addiction, steals evidence and flees, pursued by the agency. In the darkness, they find Heather's body—dead, not missing, her secrets silenced. The discovery shatters the group and the town, and the police quickly rule it a suicide. But Iris knows better: the evidence points to murder, and the killer is still out there. The flash drives, Heather's diary, and a trail of threats become the only hope for justice, even as the agency falls apart.

The Vigil and the Diary

At Heather's vigil, Iris is haunted by loss and betrayal. She confronts Arden, who is dying from alcohol poisoning and guilt, and receives Heather's diary—a trove of secrets implicating Delphine, Mr. Cooper, and others. The diary reveals Heather's suspicions about forbidden relationships and her own fear for her life. As Iris and Lea, her estranged best friend, piece together the clues, they realize the danger is closer than ever. The diary's coordinates point to Deveraux Industries, the town's powerful chemical plant, and the heart of the conspiracy. The past and present collide, and the final act begins.

The Truth in the Swamp

Iris and Lea race to Deveraux Industries, only to be ambushed and nearly killed. The true villains are revealed: Ms. Eastwick, the beloved chemistry teacher, and Mr. Cooper, the charming teacher and secret Deveraux heir. Eastwick, driven by desperation to save her father, became the supplier in a student drug ring, recruiting girls like Stella and Delphine. Mr. Cooper, her accomplice and blackmailer, seduced students and killed to protect his secrets. Together, they covered up Stella's death, murdered Heather, and framed Nathan. In a final, violent confrontation, Iris is shot but manages to livestream the confession, bringing the truth to light and saving Lea.

The Chemistry of Betrayal

With the killers exposed, the town reels. The police, led by Detective de Rosa, finally acknowledge Iris's role in solving the case and drop charges against her. The agency reunites, but the scars remain: friendships tested, innocence lost, and the weight of those they couldn't save. Iris reconciles with her aunt, finding a fragile peace and a sense of belonging. The town begins to heal, but the legacy of violence and silence lingers. Iris learns that justice is messy, forgiveness is hard, and the truth is never simple. She is no longer just the girl left behind—she is a survivor, a detective, and a friend.

The Final Confession

As the dust settles, Iris visits Stella's grave, laying flowers for all the girls lost to Hillwood's secrets. She reflects on the journey—the pain, the love, the mistakes, and the victories. The agency, now including Lea, looks to the future, ready to keep fighting for justice. Iris embraces her identity, her friendships, and her place in the world, no longer defined by loss but by resilience. The story ends not with perfect healing, but with the promise of new beginnings, the power of chosen family, and the enduring hope that even in the darkest places, girls like her can find the light.

Characters

Iris Blackthorn

Iris is the heart of the story—a pansexual, trauma-scarred teen whose life is defined by the loss of her sister, Stella. She is sharp, cynical, and driven by a need for justice that borders on obsession. Her relationships are complicated: she's estranged from her best friend Lea, still aching from her breakup with Heather, and struggles to connect with her aunt Megan. Iris's detective work is both a coping mechanism and a calling, giving her purpose in a world that feels indifferent to girls like her. She is deeply loyal to her friends, but her secrecy and self-destructive tendencies threaten those bonds. Over the course of the story, Iris learns to trust, to forgive, and to accept help, transforming from a girl defined by loss into a survivor who claims her own narrative.

Heather Nasato

Heather is the missing girl at the story's center—a popular cheerleader, the mayor's daughter, and the creator of a true-crime podcast about Stella. She is both a victim and an investigator, driven by guilt over her role in Stella's case and her complicated feelings for Iris. Heather's need for control and attention masks deep vulnerability; her podcast is both a search for truth and a cry for help. She gathers secrets on her friends, makes powerful enemies, and ultimately pays the price for getting too close to the truth. In death, Heather becomes a symbol of all the girls failed by the system, but her legacy is the evidence she leaves behind and the courage she inspires in Iris.

Lea Li Zhang

Lea is Iris's former best friend, a driven journalist with a biting wit and a deep well of empathy. Their friendship fractured after Stella's disappearance, but Lea's loyalty never wavers. She is both a foil and a complement to Iris—analytical, ambitious, and unafraid to challenge her. Lea's involvement in Heather's podcast and her own investigation put her in danger, but also make her indispensable to solving the case. Her relationship with Iris is a slow-burn rekindling, marked by hurt, forgiveness, and the possibility of love. Lea's arc is one of redemption, as she learns to balance ambition with care and becomes part of Iris's chosen family.

Sammy Valdez-Taylor

Sammy is the agency's hacker—a queer, exuberant, and unapologetically herself coder who brings levity and resourcefulness to the group. Her skills are crucial to cracking the case, from tracking suspects to decrypting evidence. Sammy's humor masks her own insecurities, but her loyalty to Iris and Imani is unwavering. She is the glue that holds the agency together, even as secrets and danger threaten to tear them apart. Sammy's journey is one of self-acceptance and courage, as she steps out of the shadows and claims her place as a hero in her own right.

Imani Turner

Imani is the designer and social chameleon of the group, using their theater skills and connections to gather intel and craft disguises. They are calm, perceptive, and often the voice of reason, mediating conflicts and grounding Iris when she spirals. Imani's own struggles with identity and belonging mirror Iris's, and their friendship is a source of strength for both. Imani's arc is about learning to trust their instincts, stand up for themselves, and embrace the messiness of friendship and justice.

Delphine Fontenot

Delphine is the queen bee of Hillwood High—a cheer captain, academic star, and ruthless social climber. She is both a suspect and a victim, caught in the web of drug dealing, blackmail, and forbidden love. Delphine's need for control drives her to desperate acts, including doxxing Iris and breaking into Heather's house. Her relationship with Nathan and her rivalry with Heather fuel much of the drama, but beneath her icy exterior is a girl terrified of losing her power. Delphine's arc is a cautionary tale about the cost of ambition and the dangers of silence.

Nathan Deveraux

Nathan is Heather's boyfriend, the star quarterback, and the heir to the town's most powerful family. He is charming, entitled, and deeply flawed—cheating on Heather, hiding secrets, and ultimately framed for her murder. Nathan's relationship with his half-brother Mr. Cooper and his own guilt make him both a suspect and a victim. His arc is one of reckoning, as he confronts the consequences of his actions and the legacy of his family's corruption.

Arden Blake

Arden is the new girl who looks eerily like Stella, a cheerleader caught between loyalty and guilt. She is drawn into forbidden relationships, addiction, and the spiral of secrets that leads to her death. Arden's vulnerability and need for acceptance make her easy prey for predators like Mr. Cooper, and her inability to escape the past mirrors Iris's own struggles. Arden's fate is a stark reminder of the dangers facing girls who are overlooked and unheard.

Ms. Eastwick

Ms. Eastwick is the beloved chemistry teacher whose desperation to save her father leads her into the world of drug dealing. She recruits students like Stella and Delphine, rationalizing her actions as necessary sacrifices. When blackmailed by Mr. Cooper, she becomes complicit in covering up murders and manipulating evidence. Eastwick's arc is one of moral collapse, showing how good intentions can be twisted by fear and self-preservation.

Mr. Collin Cooper

Mr. Cooper is the story's hidden antagonist—a charismatic teacher, secret Deveraux son, and serial abuser. He seduces students, manipulates colleagues, and kills to protect his secrets. His relationship with Stella, Arden, and Heather is predatory, and his partnership with Eastwick enables his crimes. Cooper's arc is a study in power, entitlement, and the monstrousness that can hide behind a friendly face. His downfall is the result of the girls' courage and the refusal to stay silent.

Plot Devices

Dual Mysteries and Intertwined Timelines

The novel weaves together two central mysteries: the disappearance of Stella Blackthorn and the vanishing (and murder) of Heather Nasato. The narrative structure alternates between present-day investigation and the echoes of the past, using Heather's podcast as both a storytelling device and a source of clues. The podcast episodes, diary entries, and flashbacks provide exposition, foreshadowing, and emotional resonance, allowing the reader to piece together the truth alongside Iris. The use of encrypted flash drives, hidden diaries, and digital evidence grounds the mystery in contemporary technology, while the small-town setting and generational secrets evoke classic noir. The story employs red herrings, unreliable narrators, and shifting alliances to keep the reader guessing, and the final livestreamed confession is both a cathartic climax and a commentary on the power of girls telling their own stories.

Analysis

"How to Find a Missing Girl" is a fierce, contemporary queer mystery that interrogates who gets to be heard, who is believed, and what justice really means for girls on the margins. Through Iris's journey, the novel explores the trauma of loss, the corrosive effects of silence, and the power of chosen family. It critiques the failures of institutions—police, schools, families—to protect vulnerable girls, and instead centers the agency, intelligence, and resilience of queer youth. The story is as much about healing as it is about solving a crime: Iris's arc is one of reclaiming narrative, forging trust, and learning that survival is not the same as closure. The book's use of podcasts, digital evidence, and social media reflects the realities of Gen Z life, while its emotional core—grief, friendship, love—transcends genre. Ultimately, the novel insists that even in the darkest places, girls like Iris can find the light, and that justice, though imperfect, is worth fighting for.

Last updated: September 21, 2025