Deer Season by Erin Flanagan

In the small town of Gunthrum, Nebraska, no one's life is really private and secrets are hard to keep. When teenager Peggy goes missing, the residents immediately focus on Hal, a developmentally disabled man who had showed affection for Peggy. Hal works on the farm of Alma and Clyle Costagan and has become like a son to them, since they don't have any children of their own. Both Alma and Clyle believe that Hal had nothing to do with Peggy's disappearance, but accusations against Hal and local gossip are running high. Deer Season recounts the crime through the eyes of Alma, Clyle, and Peggy's younger brother, Milo. The book also won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel by an American Author this year.