The Twenty-Three

September 26, 2016
Bizarre incidents continue to maim and kill the residents of Promise Falls, N.Y., in Barclay’s fast and furious conclusion to the trilogy that began with 2015’s Broken Promise. Many believe a serial killer is at work, while others are perplexed and refuse to believe such a thing could happen in their beloved burg. But then the next calamity hits with brute force: townspeople—young, old, rich, poor—begin to drop like flies from a mysterious ailment. Symptoms such as dizziness, blurred vision, and a racing heartbeat come on suddenly, and most victims are dead within hours. Others linger, comatose in a hospital crammed with bodies and helpless nurses and doctors. As the death toll rises, a pattern finally emerges, and Det. Barry Duckworth races to save the town and his own loved ones. Though some readers may feel befuddled by the sheer number of characters and relationships, Barclay skillfully juggles all the different plot lines right up to the stunning conclusion. Author tour. Agent: Helen Heller, Helen Heller Agency (Canada).