
About the Book

Book: The Missing Captive
Author: George Lapin
Genre: Historical Fiction
Release Date: February 28, 2025
An unforgettable journey of faith, courage, and personal transformation.
Swept into the treacherous French-allied territories of eighteenth-century Canada, a young English translator embarks on a dangerous quest through the wilderness to uncover the fate of his captive sister in this tale of survival, faith, and self-discovery.
Gideon Bates must confront his deepest fears, navigate complex tribal politics, and forge unlikely alliances as he searches for his sister seized during a devastating raid. Torn between his father’s missionary ambitions and his own yearning for freedom, Gideon’s journey will test his courage, challenge his faith, and lead to an unexpected reckoning with his past.
Rich in historical detail, The Missing Captive is a tale of love, loss, and the indomitable power of the human spirit. Don’t miss this saga of courage, self-discovery, and the transformative journey of one man in a time of colonial upheaval. It is a historical adventure that will captivate fans of colonial American history and transport you to a bygone era.
About the Author
George Lapin is a beginning writer with a focus on Christian Historical Fiction. His first book titled The Missing Captive is set in early colonial America in a tumultuous period decades prior to the French and Indian War. The story explores the struggles, faith and resilience of the individuals in this time period. With a passion for history and Christian values, George’s writing offers a unique perspective on the lives of early Americans and the spiritual challenges they faced.
George retired as a construction executive and discovered that he had a desire to write fiction. He possesses a vivid imagination and believes that he can use that gift to write an intricate plot.
George realized that most of the historical fiction novels he read centered on the French and Indian War or later. It seemed that there was such a rich history in early colonial America that was being overlooked, so George decided to write about that time period with all of its political and religious conflicts. The changes in North America during this era could help produce an interesting story.

More from George
I tried to make the story protagonist, Gideon Bates, unique in a different sort of humorous way. Born into a Puritan Missionary Family in early America, Gideon’s mother raised him to aide others when they were in need.
Gideon had no desire to be a missionary but desired to be in the military. He learned many fighting moves from his uncle who was currently a ranger in the New England Militia. He also participated in village wrestling matches and usually won.
However, whenever he got into a fight and the foe was vanquished, Gideon’s mother’s teaching kicked in. He would attempt to help his foe recover by giving him a helping hand or leaving a little money for lunch.
Devoted To Hope's Review of Missing the Captive
The Missing Captive took me into a part of early colonial history I really haven’t read much about, and I enjoyed that. Gideon’s search for his sister, the dangers surrounding that journey, the missionary presence, the cultural tensions, and the divided loyalties all gave me a lot to think about.
Rebecca was probably the part of the story I connected with most spiritually. Her faith felt much clearer to me, and I appreciated the conviction she brought to the story.
I did struggle a little with the faith element overall, mostly because of the subtitle, The Deep Commitment to Share the Gospel in Early Colonial America. I went in expecting the Gospel to be a much stronger part of Gideon’s story than it was for me. His journey felt much more centered on his relationship with his father, the anger he carried, and trying to figure out his own direction. I would have loved to see more of Gideon’s spiritual growth and more direct focus on Jesus and the Gospel throughout his journey.
There was still a lot here I appreciated, especially the historical setting and learning more about this time period. Readers who enjoy early American history, wilderness journeys, family conflict, and personal growth may really enjoy this one.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Celebrate Lit Publicity Group. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
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