Final Assignment (Promise Falls Trilogy 1.5) by Linwood Barclay

**Stephen King has called him “a suspense master.” Now the *New York Times* and #1 international bestselling author of *Broken Promise* delivers a taut thriller about a crime that will give the town of Promise Falls a punch to the gut...** Private investigator Cal Weaver doesn’t know what to expect when he’s called to the home of Chandler Carson. The sixteen-year-old has been suspended for writing a violent story about a bat-wielding teen who beats his best friend to death over a girl. Much to Chandler’s mother’s surprise, there’s nothing that Cal is willing to do—or can do—about it.
Soon after, Chandler’s best friend is found murdered—beaten to death by a bat. Cal knew the victim, and now he knows the prime suspect. But there’s more to this story than anyone could have imagined...