In 'Beautiful Children', Charles Bock weaves a haunting tapestry of interconnecting lives set against the neon backdrop of Las Vegas. Twelve-year-old Newell Ewing's disappearance on a seemingly innocent Saturday night sends ripples through the city, affecting his grieving parents and an ensemble of urban nomads each grappling with their own demons. As these characters' stories intersect, their quests for salvation pull the reader into a deep exploration of heartache, intimacy, and the quest for redemption within a culture saturated with sex, drugs, and the allure of chance. Bock's masterful prose captures the spirit of contemporary America with piercing insight and dark humor, making his debut novel a profound journey into the fissures of the human experience.