by Set in a 1950s North Carolina neighborhood, the novel examines how one childhood tragedy shaped generations in this evocative southern mystery.
New York City, New York, United States, 20th Jan 2026 – Acclaimed southern author Laurie Byrne Smith is proud to announce the release of her captivating new mystery, Petey Vanished! A Novel of Southern Proportions, now available on Amazon in ebook, audiobook, paperback, and hardcover editions. This thought-provoking mystery draws readers into the nostalgic world of a 1950s southern town where innocence and tragedy intertwine in unforgettable ways.
In Petey Vanished!, the small-town charm of the post-war South hides an unspoken pain that has haunted an entire neighborhood for decades. When JoBeth returns to her childhood home to prepare it for sale, she discovers a long-forgotten travel trunk filled with family mementos, and the echoes of a painful past. The memories bring back the summer when life was simple, children played freely in the humid air, and the community seemed picture-perfect. But beneath that surface of neighborly warmth lies a dark event no one can forget: the day young Petey Shiner disappeared.
As JoBeth reconnects with her childhood friend Billy, long-buried emotions and questions resurface. Together, they begin retracing the threads of the past, searching for truth in a town that learned to look the other way. Their journey through memory and mystery takes readers back to an era when childhood games, southern manners, and front-porch gossip defined daily life, and where silence became the heaviest burden of all.
Laurie Byrne Smith’s writing is both heartfelt and unflinching. Her attention to detail brings the mid-century South to life with vivid clarity, the sticky summer air, the voices of neighbors calling across yards, and the quiet power of family bonds. Through JoBeth’s eyes, readers witness how the disappearance of one child can shape generations, leaving questions that demand to be answered. Petey Vanished! is not just a mystery about a lost boy, it is also a tender exploration of how communities heal, how love survives, and how the truth, though painful, can set the heart free.
The mystery unfolds with perfect pacing, blending suspense with emotion. Readers who enjoy southern fiction rich with atmosphere and character will find this story deeply satisfying. Laurie Byrne Smith invites readers to walk through the old neighborhoods of memory, where laughter and loss coexist, and where each clue uncovered brings JoBeth closer to both resolution and renewal.
About the Author
Laurie Byrne Smith grew up in New Bern, North Carolina, during the 1950s, surrounded by the timeless traditions of southern life, sweet tea, porch swings, and the smell of barbecue in the summer air. Her upbringing in this close-knit community shaped her storytelling voice, giving her a deep appreciation for family, memory, and the charm of small-town living. Laurie’s eastern North Carolina roots reach from Cedar Island to the Outer Banks, and her sense of place runs deep in every story she tells.
After moving to Florida in 1995, Laurie began writing a humor-based newspaper column that captured the wit and warmth of southern living. Her essays on family, tradition, and everyday joys were later compiled in her Kindle collection, Observations of a Transplanted Southern Belle. Petey Vanished! marks a new chapter in her writing career, offering readers a layered mystery that combines nostalgia with suspense and emotional depth.
Laurie now lives in the North Carolina mountains with her husband, Byron F. Smith, a fellow New Bern native. Together, they continue to draw inspiration from the beauty and history of the South, a place that remains at the heart of all Laurie’s work.
A Southern Story Worth Remembering
With Petey Vanished! A Novel of Southern Proportions, Laurie Byrne Smith captures the enduring spirit of a generation that valued community and tradition while facing its hidden sorrows. The mystery of Petey’s disappearance echoes far beyond a single family, touching the lives of all who grew up on Governor’s Road. For readers who love rich storytelling, vivid southern settings, and emotional journeys of discovery, this novel delivers a satisfying balance of suspense and heart.
Petey Vanished! is now available on Amazon. Join JoBeth and Billy as they revisit the past, unravel long-held secrets, and discover that sometimes the greatest mystery is not what was lost, but what remains.
Ebook Version
Audiobook Version
Paperback Version
Hardcover Version
For Media Inquiries, Please Contact:
Laurie Byrne Smith
Email: classicink@aol.com
Media Contact
Organization: Universal Book Publications
Contact Person: Arlo Ayden
Website: https://universalbookpublications.com/
Email: Send Email
Contact Number: +12092370866
Address:27 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10010, United States
City: New York City
State: New York
Country:United States
Release id:40339
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