From the author of `Little Children` and now a major new TV series, `The Leftovers` asks what if one day some of us simply vanished? And some were left behind?Following the sudden disappearance of thousands of citizens, Kevin Garvey, Mapleton`s new mayor, wants to bring a sense of hope to his traumatised community, but his family has fallen apart in the wake of disaster. Kevin`s 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.