This book was engrossing, perplexing, creepy and fun.  At certain points, I wasn't sure what the heck was going to happen, how all these people and story lines were all tied together.  What details were important?  Who was the narrator?  How did these people even know each other?  Why was Stella always left out?  Poor choices, weak character and youthful indiscretions all pile up to create a mystery.  Is it a murder?  A purposeful disappearance?

Right up to the end of the book, I thought I had figured out what had happened on that fateful day, when the desperate, sad, disgraced teacher vanished.  Needless to say, I was very wrong.  Koch is an expert at presenting moral ambiguity,  Are these people truly "bad" or have they been twisted by fate and fear?  Is it one situation, one event, that defines them, or is it the culmination of a lifetime of poor choices?  Either way, Dear Mr. M is a fantastic read, added to my list of favorites!