Wordhunter by Stella Sands

 Maggie Moore is a part-time waitress getting a degree in forensic linguistics. She also has a brilliant facility with words and word patterns and dialects. So when the local police force in her small Florida town asks for her help identifying the guy who has been stalking a woman through the notes he left for the woman, Maggie jumps at the chance. When her assistance proves helpful, the chief calls her in again when the young daughter of a neighboring town's mayor goes missing while riding her bike. The kidnapper had left a note by her bike. This case is taking her down some unexpected paths and possibly putting her life in danger. Wordhunter is a fascinating story, especially if you love books and words. 

I'm hoping this is the beginning of a new series. One of the subplots involves Maggie looking for her best childhood friend, Lucy, who up and disappeared years earlier and was never found. The way the story ends, Maggie has a clue where Lucy might be. She also seems to be striking up a friendship--and maybe more--with a good cop named Jackson.