'A Map for the Missing' entwines the personal and the political as Tang Yitian, a Chinese émigré and professor in America, is summoned back to his family's village in China by the mysterious disappearance of his estranged father. Navigating through a labyrinth of bureaucratic obstacles and haunting memories, Yitian reconnects with Tian Hanwen, a childhood friend and lost love—a woman shaped by the Cultural Revolution that once swept them both away. Together, they unravel the truth of past tragedies and Yitian's father's secrets, embarking on a journey that transcends geography and time. Against the backdrop of a China scarred by political upheaval, this poignantly crafted novel examines complex familial bonds and the indelible imprint of our choices.