Brett Shayler releases A Missing Future in print and e-book

Author Brett Shayler has released A Missing Future: A Cade Mercer Thriller, the next book in his Cade Mercer mystery series, with print and e-book editions now on sale through major booksellers. He will mark the launch with a public signing on Nov. 21 at Heim Barbecue in Weatherford, Texas.

Why it matters: - A Missing Future extends Brett Shayler’s Cade Mercer series and targets readers of Western suspense, horse culture, and mystery fiction. - The release expands a series built around cutting-horse competition and Texas ranch life, with a new story centered on theft, corruption, and a murder investigation.

What happened: - Brett Shayler announced that A Missing Future: A Cade Mercer Thriller is now available in print and e-book formats. - The novel continues the story of Cade Mercer, first introduced in Blood on the Reins. - Shayler will host a public book signing on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Heim Barbecue, 1910 S. Main St., Weatherford, Texas 76086. - Readers can meet Shayler, buy the book, and have copies signed at the event.

The details: - The story begins with the disappearance of High-Dollar Remedy, a champion stallion taken from a horse trailer at a truck stop. - Evidence in the case points to a planned theft, including possible sedation, a manipulated transport route, and compromised security systems. - Cade Mercer teams with Deputy Lila Boone as the search leads to hidden laboratories, altered bloodlines, financial corruption, and secrets tied to the Rusk family. - The investigation also forces Cade to confront unresolved questions about Dalton Rusk’s death and a tragedy from years earlier. - The novel is set in the cutting-horse world and the Texas Panhandle. - Shayler says the book explores precision, trust, instinct, and the partnership between horse and rider. - Shayler also says Cade’s edge comes from his ability to read horses and people and notice what others miss. - The book is available through purchasing information and through booksellers including Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon. - An audiobook edition will be available soon through Apple Audiobooks. - Readers may also check The Full Cup in Weatherford and The Reading Rabbit in Azle for Shayler’s books, though store inventory can change. - Blood on the Reins is also available through online booksellers and digital platforms, including Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Everand, Smashwords, Tolino, Gardners, Fable, and Bookshop.org. - Blood on the Reins may also be available through library services including OverDrive, cloudLibrary, BorrowBox, Hoopla, and Vivlio Libraries.

Between the lines: - Shayler is leaning into authenticity from his own background in ranch life and cutting-horse competition. - The series pairs genre suspense with specialized horse-world detail, which may help it stand out in a crowded Western-mystery market. - The release position suggests Shayler is building Cade Mercer into a continuing franchise rather than a one-off title.

What's next: - The audiobook edition of A Missing Future is expected soon on Apple Audiobooks. - Shayler says additional Cade Mercer mysteries are planned. - The Nov. 21 signing gives the launch a local, in-person promotion tied to Weatherford’s horse and barbecue culture.

The bottom line: - A Missing Future adds a new chapter to Brett Shayler’s Cade Mercer series and combines Western setting, horse-industry detail, and murder mystery into a broader push for the franchise.