<P> The novel was self - published but became a USA Today bestseller, having sold 1 million copies as of June 8, 2008 . It was the No. 1 paperback trade fiction seller on The New York Times Best Seller list from June 2008 to early 2010, in a publishing partnership with Hachette Book Group USA's FaithWords imprint (Hodder & Stoughton in the UK). In 2009 it was awarded the "Diamond Award" for sales of over 10 million copies by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association . </P> <P> The title of the book is a metaphor for "the house you build out of your own pain", as Young explained in a telephone interview . He also told radio host talk show Drew Marshall that The Shack "is a metaphor for the places you get stuck, you get hurt, you get damaged...the thing where shame or hurt is centered ." </P> <P> The novel is set in the American Northwest . The main character is Mackenzie Allen Phillips, a father of five called "Mack" by his family and friends . Four years prior to the main events of the story, Mack takes three of his children on a camping trip to Wallowa Lake near Joseph, Oregon, stopping at Multnomah Falls on the way . Two of his children are playing in a canoe when it flips and almost drowns Mack's son . Mack is able to save his son by rushing to the water and freeing him from the canoe's webbing, but unintentionally leaves his youngest daughter Missy alone at their campsite . After Mack returns, he sees that Missy is missing . The police are called, and the family discovers that Missy has been abducted and murdered by a serial killer known as the "Little Ladykiller". The police find an abandoned shack in the woods where Missy was taken . Her bloodied clothing is found, but her body is not located . Mack's life sinks into what he calls "The Great Sadness". </P> <P> As the novel begins, Mack receives a note in his mailbox from "Papa", saying that he would like to meet with Mack that coming weekend at the shack . Mack is puzzled by the note--he has had no relationship with his abusive father since he left home at age 13 . He suspects that the note may be from God whom his wife Nan refers to as "Papa". </P>

Who took the little girl in the shack