Parting Shot

Brian Gaffney, a confused young man who was picked up by the police wandering around downtown Promise Falls, has a strange tale to share with Det. Barry Duckworth, in bestseller Barclay’s outstanding fourth thriller set in the upstate New York town (after 2016’s The Twenty-Three). Brian has no idea where he has been for two days, and someone has tattooed a threatening message onto his back. Meanwhile, PI Cal Weaver has recently returned to town, and one of his first clients, Madeline Plimpton, wants his advice on how to safeguard her 18-year-old great-nephew, Jeremy Pilford. Jeremy is receiving death threats via revenge websites because he received only probation after being convicted of killing a young woman while driving drunk, based on the defense that he was too pampered to know right from wrong. Barclay adroitly blends themes of internet vitriol and simmering societal rage with a taut plot full of sly hints, unexpected twists, and red herrings. With access to both investigations, readers can make some connections before the characters do, but Barclay has surprises in store for readers and his leads alike. [em]Agent: Helen Heller, Helen Heller Agency (Canada). (Oct.) [/em]