What if – one day, without explanation – some of us simply vanished? Would we carry on, and act as we did before our world turned upside down? That’s what the bewildered citizens of Mapleton have to figure out. Kevin Garvey, Mapleton’s new mayor, wants to bring a sense of hope to this traumatised community, but his family has fallen apart in the wake of disaster. His wife has joined a homegrown cult, and his son is a disciple of the prophet Holy Wayne. Only Jill, Kevin’s daughter, remains, and she’s no longer the sweet student she once was. Written with a rare ability to illuminate our everyday struggles, The Leftovers is a startling novel about love, connection and loss.