Abducted - by Patrick Barb (Paperback)

About the Book

Nineteen years after the cold-case abduction of a local boy, a man returns claiming to be the victim, but something about his story isn't adding up. Now, the police sergeant first assigned to the case has a second chance at learning the truth.

Book Synopsis

A Mysterious Small-Town Crime with Cosmic Repercussions. In 2005, Police Sergeant Stacy Keppler worked her first big case: the abduction of Matt Freeman, a young boy taken from his bedroom in the dead of night. The only witness to the crime: Matt's older sister, whose story of "Gray Men" was dismissed by almost everyone, causing the case to eventually go cold. Now, nineteen years later and on the eve of her retirement, Stacy receives news she never expected to get: they've found Matt Freeman alive. But the young man who has returned is...different. Changed. And things about his story just aren't adding up. Skeptical of the official narrative and determined to learn the truth, Stacy heads down the rabbit hole of conspiracy theories and cover-ups in an effort to finally solve the case that has haunted her for decades.

2025 IngramSpark(R) Editorial Selection - Horror

Review Quotes

"Abducted is multifaceted, surreal, and weird in the best way. With hints of an absurdist tone, it explores the desperation of human nature and the way we convince our minds of both dangerous truths and untruths. Barb weaves a tale akin to true crime shows, meditating on the power of grief and loss and the way trauma might change us both physically and psychologically. For fans of Parasyte: The Grey and NOPE-this unsettling and uncanny story will have readers gasping for breath on every page." -Ai Jiang, Bram Stoker and Nebula Award-winning author of Linghun

"In Abducted, Patrick Barb takes what is best in investigative, conspiracy-riddled science fiction and grabs the reader with a page-turning and dreadful journey deep into the most obnoxious things both humans and non-humans can do. An extremely recommended read for fans of supernatural horror, sci-fi, and the weird mysteries life sometimes throws at us." -Renan Bernardo, Nebula Award finalist and author of Disgraced Return of the Kap's Needle

"Compelling mysteries, gritty police detective work, terrifying adversaries, and otherworldly places-Abducted has it all. A must-read for fans of alien horror." -Stephen S. Schreffler, author of The Bleed

"Patrick Barb has crafted a deeply unsettling and visceral entry into the alien abduction horror genre. Full of mystery and twists, Abducted keeps you guessing and pulls no punches." -Jendia Gammon, Nebula and BSFA finalist author of Atacama and Doomflower