Mackenzie “Mack” Allen Phillips

Mackenzie “Mack” Allen Phillips is the main character of this novel. He is the husband of Nan and father of Jon, Tyler, Josh, Kate and Missy. Phillips struggles with his faith and belief in God especially after the abduction and murder of Missy, his youngest daughter.

Even though he attended seminary as a young man, Mack never had a trusting relationship with God. When he was a child, Mack’s father abused alcohol. When he was drunk he beat his wife. To make matters worse, Mack’s father was an elder at the church the family attended. When Mack, at thirteen, admitted to one of the member of the church that he did nothing to help his mother when his father was drunk and beat her that church member told Mack’s father what Mack had said. As a result his father punished him by...