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Promise Falls #1.5
Final Assignment
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...
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...
81 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 30, 2015
397 people are currently reading
2397 people want to read
About the author
Linwood Barclay
79 books7,073 followersLinwood Barclay is the #1 internationally bestselling author of seventeen novels for adults, including No Time for Goodbye, Trust Your Eyes and, most recently, A Noise Downstairs. He has also written two novels for children and screenplays.
Three of those seventeen novels comprise the epic Promise Falls trilogy: Broken Promise, Far From True, and The Twenty-Three. His two novels for children – Chase and Escape – star a computer-enhanced dog named Chipper who’s on the run from the evil organization that turned him into a super-pup.
Barclay’s 2011 thriller, The Accident, has been turned into the six-part television series L’Accident in France, and he adapted his novel Never Saw it Coming for the movie, directed by Gail Harvey and starring Eric Roberts and Emily Hampshire. Several of his other books either have been, or still are, in development for TV and film.
After spending his formative years helping run a cottage resort and trailer park after his father died when he was 16, Barclay got his first newspaper job at the Peterborough Examiner, a small Ontario daily. In 1981, he joined the Toronto Star, Canada’s largest circulation newspaper.
He held such positions as assistant city editor, chief copy editor, news editor, and Life section editor, before becoming the paper’s humour columnist in 1993. He was one of the paper’s most popular columnists before retiring from the position in 2008 to work exclusively on books.
In 2004, he launched his mystery series about an anxiety-ridden, know-it-all, pain-in-the-butt father by the name of Zack Walker. Bad Move, the first book, was followed by three more Zack Walker thrillers: Bad Guys, Lone Wolf, and Stone Rain. (The last two were published in the UK under the titles Bad Luck and Bad News.)
His first standalone thriller, No Time for Goodbye, was published in 2007 to critical acclaim and great international success. The following year, it was a Richard and Judy Summer Read selection in the UK, and did seven straight weeks at #1 on the UK bestseller list, and finished 2008 as the top selling novel of the year there. The book has since been sold around the world and been translated into nearly thirty languages.
Barclay was born in the United States but moved to Canada just before turning four years old when his father, a commercial artist whose illustrations of cars appeared in Life, Look and Saturday Evening Post (before photography took over), accepted a position with an advertising agency north of the border. Barclay, who graduated with an English literature degree from Trent University, in Peterborough, Ontario, was fortunate to have some very fine mentors; in particular, the celebrated Canadian author Margaret Laurence, whom Linwood first met when she served as writer-in-residence at Trent, and Kenneth Millar, who, under the name Ross Macdonald, wrote the acclaimed series of mystery novels featuring detective Lew Archer. It was at Trent that he met Neetha, the woman who would become his wife. They have two grown children, Spencer and Paige.
Three of those seventeen novels comprise the epic Promise Falls trilogy: Broken Promise, Far From True, and The Twenty-Three. His two novels for children – Chase and Escape – star a computer-enhanced dog named Chipper who’s on the run from the evil organization that turned him into a super-pup.
Barclay’s 2011 thriller, The Accident, has been turned into the six-part television series L’Accident in France, and he adapted his novel Never Saw it Coming for the movie, directed by Gail Harvey and starring Eric Roberts and Emily Hampshire. Several of his other books either have been, or still are, in development for TV and film.
After spending his formative years helping run a cottage resort and trailer park after his father died when he was 16, Barclay got his first newspaper job at the Peterborough Examiner, a small Ontario daily. In 1981, he joined the Toronto Star, Canada’s largest circulation newspaper.
He held such positions as assistant city editor, chief copy editor, news editor, and Life section editor, before becoming the paper’s humour columnist in 1993. He was one of the paper’s most popular columnists before retiring from the position in 2008 to work exclusively on books.
In 2004, he launched his mystery series about an anxiety-ridden, know-it-all, pain-in-the-butt father by the name of Zack Walker. Bad Move, the first book, was followed by three more Zack Walker thrillers: Bad Guys, Lone Wolf, and Stone Rain. (The last two were published in the UK under the titles Bad Luck and Bad News.)
His first standalone thriller, No Time for Goodbye, was published in 2007 to critical acclaim and great international success. The following year, it was a Richard and Judy Summer Read selection in the UK, and did seven straight weeks at #1 on the UK bestseller list, and finished 2008 as the top selling novel of the year there. The book has since been sold around the world and been translated into nearly thirty languages.
Barclay was born in the United States but moved to Canada just before turning four years old when his father, a commercial artist whose illustrations of cars appeared in Life, Look and Saturday Evening Post (before photography took over), accepted a position with an advertising agency north of the border. Barclay, who graduated with an English literature degree from Trent University, in Peterborough, Ontario, was fortunate to have some very fine mentors; in particular, the celebrated Canadian author Margaret Laurence, whom Linwood first met when she served as writer-in-residence at Trent, and Kenneth Millar, who, under the name Ross Macdonald, wrote the acclaimed series of mystery novels featuring detective Lew Archer. It was at Trent that he met Neetha, the woman who would become his wife. They have two grown children, Spencer and Paige.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews
March 13, 2017
I usually do not like to read the novella's in a series but noticed that a several of my GR friends rated this a 4 or a 5, so of course I had to read it. I was surprised how much I loved it.
Chandler writes a story for a school assignment and the teachers at school find it to be very disturbing. The teachers feel that he needs to get help for writing something like this and has a meeting with his parents to talk them into getting an appointment with a psychologist.
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.
I really did love this short story. It was a quick fast read with full of suspense. I read it in one sitting.
Chandler writes a story for a school assignment and the teachers at school find it to be very disturbing. The teachers feel that he needs to get help for writing something like this and has a meeting with his parents to talk them into getting an appointment with a psychologist.
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.
I really did love this short story. It was a quick fast read with full of suspense. I read it in one sitting.
February 23, 2023
Final Assignment packs a big punch in this thrilling short. Somehow, in less than 80 pages, Barclay manages to lead the reader in several heart-pounding different directions. In this Promise Falls edition, PI Cal Weaver and Promise Falls Detective Barry Duckworth work to find the killer of a High School student, who was brutally beaten with a baseball bat. In true Barclay form, just when I thought I was certain of who the culprit was, there is one twist right after the other all the way up till the jaw-dropping very ending. Barclay is a master at not only keeping the suspense at maximum velocity, but also consistently writing realistic and believable conclusions.
This is a great one for a fast and very entertaining read.
This is a great one for a fast and very entertaining read.
October 16, 2025
Short review for a short story!
Well this just reminded me why I really like this author so much! This was an extremely good novella that grabbed my attention from the very first page.
I will be reading the next book in the Promise Falls series very soon as FINAL ASSIGNMENT just lured me in to read FAR FROM TRUE sooner than later!
FINAL ASSIGNMENT by LINWOOD BARCLAY was a worthwhile mystery that was suspenseful, fast-paced, and a quick and easy read with a satisfying ending.
Well this just reminded me why I really like this author so much! This was an extremely good novella that grabbed my attention from the very first page.
I will be reading the next book in the Promise Falls series very soon as FINAL ASSIGNMENT just lured me in to read FAR FROM TRUE sooner than later!
FINAL ASSIGNMENT by LINWOOD BARCLAY was a worthwhile mystery that was suspenseful, fast-paced, and a quick and easy read with a satisfying ending.
July 7, 2019
I’m generally not a big fan of novellas unless they serve a purpose (i.e., expanded epilogue, introduce a new character). Most of the time they’re too short to do much with character and story development. However, in the right hands, they can be very good and Barclay definitely has the talent for getting it right.
This was a really good story! I only recognized two characters, Cal Weaver, a private detective who does most of the investigating and Barry Duckworth, a Promise Falls police detective. In a few pages, Barclay set up the scenario, gave us a few suspects, delivered a police procedural and threw a twist in for good measure. It was definitely worth my time and reintroduced me to the town. And, Cal has some skills.
It’s short but extremely entertaining. I’m jumping right into the next book.
This was a really good story! I only recognized two characters, Cal Weaver, a private detective who does most of the investigating and Barry Duckworth, a Promise Falls police detective. In a few pages, Barclay set up the scenario, gave us a few suspects, delivered a police procedural and threw a twist in for good measure. It was definitely worth my time and reintroduced me to the town. And, Cal has some skills.
It’s short but extremely entertaining. I’m jumping right into the next book.
January 31, 2016
In this novella, a murder has been committed and there are lots of twists before its sorted out. Detective Barry Duckworth, from previous books, appears in this book although the main protagonist is Cal Weaver, a PI who politely declines a job offered by Mrs. Carson. The author has an easy way of writing that includes tongue-in-cheek humor even in terrible circumstances. For instance, this quote:
'“You want to blackmail your son’s teachers so they leave him alone,” I said.
“I wouldn’t put it that way,” she said. “I’d think of it as leverage.”
As I moved toward the door, the woman trailed after me and said, “Aren’t you going to help us?” “No,” I said. “Although I think there’s no doubt you need help, Mrs. Carson.”'
At 82 pages, this was another quick read that, while a teaser, was a pleasant visit with Linwood Barclay.
'“You want to blackmail your son’s teachers so they leave him alone,” I said.
“I wouldn’t put it that way,” she said. “I’d think of it as leverage.”
As I moved toward the door, the woman trailed after me and said, “Aren’t you going to help us?” “No,” I said. “Although I think there’s no doubt you need help, Mrs. Carson.”'
At 82 pages, this was another quick read that, while a teaser, was a pleasant visit with Linwood Barclay.
October 6, 2015
In a wonderful short story that expands on his new series, Barclay brings the reader back to Promise Falls, examining events within the town from a new perspective, using new and interesting characters. Cal Weaver was once a member of the Promise Falls Police Force, but left for a time, only recently returning. Now, acting as PI, he is forced to handle those cases that are not yet at the level of legal transgressions. Case in point, the suspension of young Chandler Carson, who wrote a highly descriptive short story about killing a friend. While Weaver tries to extricate himself from the banality of this, he is summoned to help another family whose son has gone missing. Investigating this case, something in which he sees merit, Weaver discovers that sometimes literature has a way of playing out in reality. What started as a story about free expression turns into something far deeper and more troubling. Is Chandler guilty of murdering his friend over a girl, or is there more to the story that Weaver has yet to uncover? Barclay allows the story to unravel so effectively that he needs few pages to bring it to life and offers the reader a treat in under an hour.
Having been a long-time fan of Linwood Barclay, I thought I would take some time to fly through one of his short stories. Having been enthralled with BROKEN PROMISES, I was sure that this shorter tale would captivate me just as much. I was not disappointed, as the town fleshes itself out, with new and interesting characters ready to offer their own angle to life in a smaller city. The story was succinct and the development flowed nicely. I could see Barclay building up to a grand finale, only to have everything come crashing down in the end. Stellar work all around.
Kudos Mr. Barclay for this lovely addition to the series. i cannot wait to see what else befalls Promise Falls in the coming months.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Having been a long-time fan of Linwood Barclay, I thought I would take some time to fly through one of his short stories. Having been enthralled with BROKEN PROMISES, I was sure that this shorter tale would captivate me just as much. I was not disappointed, as the town fleshes itself out, with new and interesting characters ready to offer their own angle to life in a smaller city. The story was succinct and the development flowed nicely. I could see Barclay building up to a grand finale, only to have everything come crashing down in the end. Stellar work all around.
Kudos Mr. Barclay for this lovely addition to the series. i cannot wait to see what else befalls Promise Falls in the coming months.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
October 15, 2018
FINAL ASSIGNMENT
(PROMISE FALLS: #1.5)
Written by Linwood Barclay
2016; Doubleday Canada (77 Pages)
Genre: series, fiction, mystery, suspense, novella
RATING: ★★★★
In this novella we see Cal Weaver, a private investigator, hired by a mother looking to get back at the school that wants to punish her son for writing a disturbing short story. As Cal tries to to tell the mother that there is nothing he can really do the young man's story comes to life with the death of his best friend. The dead teenager's parents are Cal's friends, and along with his curiosity, he soon finds himself trying to find the murderer. I enjoyed this story as it was very concise and suspenseful. I am hoping that this is good news for the second book, Far From True. My one thing about the first book was that it was too long and too drawn out. This short story is like Barclay's other standalone novels that I love.
My Novelesque Blog
(PROMISE FALLS: #1.5)
Written by Linwood Barclay
2016; Doubleday Canada (77 Pages)
Genre: series, fiction, mystery, suspense, novella
RATING: ★★★★
In this novella we see Cal Weaver, a private investigator, hired by a mother looking to get back at the school that wants to punish her son for writing a disturbing short story. As Cal tries to to tell the mother that there is nothing he can really do the young man's story comes to life with the death of his best friend. The dead teenager's parents are Cal's friends, and along with his curiosity, he soon finds himself trying to find the murderer. I enjoyed this story as it was very concise and suspenseful. I am hoping that this is good news for the second book, Far From True. My one thing about the first book was that it was too long and too drawn out. This short story is like Barclay's other standalone novels that I love.
My Novelesque Blog
November 20, 2017
Linwood Barclay returns following BROKEN PROMISE (Promise Falls #1), landing on my Top Books of 2015 with a teaser novella FINAL ASSIGNMENT (Promise Falls #1.5) -with more evil at play, in the small town of Promise Falls; where nothing is as it appears.
Set in a fictional upstate New York small town outside of Albany, called Promise Falls—a town slowly dying—quickly adding “people” as well as businesses to the demise.
With all the action and mysterious crime happening in Promise Falls—Final Assignment, makes its way to the high school with a group of teens and parents --bullying, social media, revenge, murder, and a damaging short story.
For all you fans-- some appearances with characters from Book #1 return.
Cal Weaver, PI has been called to one of the more upscale neighborhoods of Promise Falls from a frantic mom, Greta, requesting some dirt on the local high school staff. Their son, Chandler apparently had written a colorful short story for one of his classes—now he finds himself being treated like some sort of psychotic degenerate. Chandler’s English teacher asked them to write something creative, and imaginative.
His story was of one kid beating another kid to death with a baseball bat—the mom thought it was innovative thinking. There was a meeting at school, and they are questioning the writing and his mental state. They want him to go for counseling or psychiatric testing. The parents are appalled –plenty people write dark and creepy things—referring to writers, Poe, Lovecraft and King. Right?
Upon questioning, turns out there was some earlier problems. Chandler and his friend, Michael Vaughn had made fun of a gay guy at school - Joel. They took a photo of him with another guy and posted it. Joel was upset with the invasion of privacy as well as the family.
The mother wants to blackmail the son’s teachers so they will leave her son alone; (she uses the word, leverage). Fight fire with fire. Cal Weaver wants no part of this.
Michael’s mom is a friend of the family, and Suzanne is now calling Cal for help. Michael did not come home. He is missing. Now in the middle, he is trying to help.
However, soon thereafter an event occurs, identical to the short story. A murder. A baseball bat. The woods. Exactly like the story. Is someone trying to frame Chandler? Motive? Revenge? He and Michael had been fighting over a girl recently, or could it be Joel?
Police detective, Barry Duckworth, (donut lover) is back and on the case. Cal is one step ahead of some information. A baseball bat, a murder weapon, and a mystery case of whodunit.
We also meet Lucy Brighton, the head of the guidance department at the school. (Look out for more from Lucy and Cal in) FAR FROM TRUE. Get out your scorecard, as there is so much in store, it will keep your head spinning!
Highly recommend this entertaining crime thriller series, mixed with humor. Barclay is the "King" of creative cliffhangers.
JDCMustReadBooks
Set in a fictional upstate New York small town outside of Albany, called Promise Falls—a town slowly dying—quickly adding “people” as well as businesses to the demise.
With all the action and mysterious crime happening in Promise Falls—Final Assignment, makes its way to the high school with a group of teens and parents --bullying, social media, revenge, murder, and a damaging short story.
For all you fans-- some appearances with characters from Book #1 return.
Cal Weaver, PI has been called to one of the more upscale neighborhoods of Promise Falls from a frantic mom, Greta, requesting some dirt on the local high school staff. Their son, Chandler apparently had written a colorful short story for one of his classes—now he finds himself being treated like some sort of psychotic degenerate. Chandler’s English teacher asked them to write something creative, and imaginative.
His story was of one kid beating another kid to death with a baseball bat—the mom thought it was innovative thinking. There was a meeting at school, and they are questioning the writing and his mental state. They want him to go for counseling or psychiatric testing. The parents are appalled –plenty people write dark and creepy things—referring to writers, Poe, Lovecraft and King. Right?
Upon questioning, turns out there was some earlier problems. Chandler and his friend, Michael Vaughn had made fun of a gay guy at school - Joel. They took a photo of him with another guy and posted it. Joel was upset with the invasion of privacy as well as the family.
The mother wants to blackmail the son’s teachers so they will leave her son alone; (she uses the word, leverage). Fight fire with fire. Cal Weaver wants no part of this.
Michael’s mom is a friend of the family, and Suzanne is now calling Cal for help. Michael did not come home. He is missing. Now in the middle, he is trying to help.
However, soon thereafter an event occurs, identical to the short story. A murder. A baseball bat. The woods. Exactly like the story. Is someone trying to frame Chandler? Motive? Revenge? He and Michael had been fighting over a girl recently, or could it be Joel?
Police detective, Barry Duckworth, (donut lover) is back and on the case. Cal is one step ahead of some information. A baseball bat, a murder weapon, and a mystery case of whodunit.
We also meet Lucy Brighton, the head of the guidance department at the school. (Look out for more from Lucy and Cal in) FAR FROM TRUE. Get out your scorecard, as there is so much in store, it will keep your head spinning!
Highly recommend this entertaining crime thriller series, mixed with humor. Barclay is the "King" of creative cliffhangers.
JDCMustReadBooks
January 27, 2018
Fun little quick read, just ended rather abruptly for me even if it IS a shortie 😉
June 26, 2023
Chandler wrote an essay for school that he was suspended for. It was violent and when the story seems to come true, he is, of course, suspected of the crime. Cal, a private investigator, was originally called by Chandler’s mother to help fight the school suspension, but ends up helping solve the crime instead.
This is a short novella as part of Barclay’s “Promise Falls” series and I thought it was really good. I don’t always enjoy short stories, and although (like many other short stories), I would have liked this to be longer (in this case, to draw out the suspense a bit), the mystery was still done really well, though it was much sped up. Barclay continues to be one of my favourite thriller writers.
This is a short novella as part of Barclay’s “Promise Falls” series and I thought it was really good. I don’t always enjoy short stories, and although (like many other short stories), I would have liked this to be longer (in this case, to draw out the suspense a bit), the mystery was still done really well, though it was much sped up. Barclay continues to be one of my favourite thriller writers.
December 8, 2024
5 Stars
Very short novella but packed a punch. I love Cal Weaver. The main character of this series.
This was a short case about a teenage murder and who caused it.
Cal went to several houses before he finally pieced it together. With the help of Detective Barry Duckworth.
If you loved these two characters this is worth the read
Very short novella but packed a punch. I love Cal Weaver. The main character of this series.
This was a short case about a teenage murder and who caused it.
Cal went to several houses before he finally pieced it together. With the help of Detective Barry Duckworth.
If you loved these two characters this is worth the read
August 7, 2025
Novella set between books 1 and 2 of Barclay's Promise Falls series. You won't miss much if you don't read it, just a slight prior connection between 3 of the characters in book 2, but it's a fun short.
February 2, 2016
3.5 stars. Linwood Barclay is one of my favourite mystery writers. His stories are ones of domestic suspense involving ordinary people caught up in dangerous situations; the category of mystery for those who also enjoy Harlan Coben . His books have surprising twists, and are set in small town America. This novella is a quick read which fills the gap for those eagerly anticipating the second volume in his Paradise Falls series, Far From True coming in March.
I usually do not care for recent short books I have read. They usually feel too rushed or incomplete. Not so in this case. This is a well constructed story which stands alone, and can be enjoyed by those who have not read the previous book with the Paradise Falls setting. The book proceeds at a quick pace with a number of suspects for the brutal killing of a teenaged boy. This short book (about 81 pages) seemed more complete than his full sized book set in the same town. The mystery is solved with no loose ends.
Linwood Barclay is a Canadian author and have read most of his books. I just wish he would write one with set in a Canadian town.
I usually do not care for recent short books I have read. They usually feel too rushed or incomplete. Not so in this case. This is a well constructed story which stands alone, and can be enjoyed by those who have not read the previous book with the Paradise Falls setting. The book proceeds at a quick pace with a number of suspects for the brutal killing of a teenaged boy. This short book (about 81 pages) seemed more complete than his full sized book set in the same town. The mystery is solved with no loose ends.
Linwood Barclay is a Canadian author and have read most of his books. I just wish he would write one with set in a Canadian town.
February 3, 2017
3.5 loved it. My only complaint is that there wasn't enough of Duckworth.
July 26, 2017
Read in one sitting.... I can not get enough of Linwood's amazing mind and writing. A great short story to keep me incredibly interested in the Promise Falls Series!
December 21, 2018
Good story.
But it is becoming evident that Barclay really doesn't like mothers much. They all seem to be damaging their offspring one way or another in his stories.
But it is becoming evident that Barclay really doesn't like mothers much. They all seem to be damaging their offspring one way or another in his stories.
March 26, 2021
Nice and fast
January 6, 2022
Good quick read. This is a novella, so it is short.
August 1, 2017
I'm not sure if I've read a novella before so the 3 star rating might be skewed. I just finished reading the first in the series, got into #2 book and saw there was a #1.5 (this book). I read this in 45 minutes. Just not used to it! Not something I would necessarily recommend at this point in the series, but maybe it will later on. Not really worth the $2.50 I paid for it...not bad, but so short...
March 19, 2025
Excellent short story with a nice twist at the end. Barclay’s novels have been consistently entertaining and even though this is but a very brief one, it is a well constructed tale.
Fans of the author will likely embrace it, and if you are new to Mr. Barclay, you could dip your toe in here.
Fans of the author will likely embrace it, and if you are new to Mr. Barclay, you could dip your toe in here.
August 7, 2016
An excellent short story from Linwood Barclay, but then that is just exactly what I expected. This takes place after A Tap on the Window, and shows Cal Weaver at his best. Just about the time you think you have things figured out, whoosh, a new clue appears, and changes everything! Like I said, exactly what I expected. If you have never read anything by Barclay, this is a good place to start, even if it isn't the start of the series. <><
September 15, 2017
Rip off!
I was a big Linwood Barclay far, now I'm a disgraced one! 30% of this book is the first chapter of Broken promise, which I already own. The entire book was 77 pages. This should have been free.
I was a big Linwood Barclay far, now I'm a disgraced one! 30% of this book is the first chapter of Broken promise, which I already own. The entire book was 77 pages. This should have been free.
July 30, 2015
I had a huge sense of deja vu reading this. I'm pretty sure I've read this before but I don't know where...
February 1, 2016
Nothing earthshattering, just a nice entry and diversion until I move onto something more significant.
September 23, 2016
Enjoyed this novella featuring Cal Weaver, a character from a previous book. Good twisty story development with touches of humour.
January 1, 2017
Inexplicable
This book seemed to be in two unconnected halves . The first remained unfinished and the second didn't even get started.
This book seemed to be in two unconnected halves . The first remained unfinished and the second didn't even get started.
December 13, 2020
Horrifying implications.
February 16, 2025
"Final Assignment" aka, "Promise Falls #1.5" is a story I have found only available on Kindle, only in a digital reading form with one of those readers you can buy and then download books. So, what did my girlfriend do? She bought me a reader for my birthday! And what did I do? I finished "Final Assignment" on my birthday! It is a story that fits snugly in between the first and second book of the Promise Falls trilogy ("Broken Promise" and "Far From True"). I actually read it after finishing the THIRD book of the trilogy, "The Twenty-Three". And although that meant I was reading a story with a character in it that "goes away" by the middle of the trilogy, it didn't spoil the chronology too much for me. But still, I would recommend reading "Final Assignment" after "Broken Promise" and before "Far From True". Who knows how it would have affected my feelings about the stories if I would've read them in order? But it might have.
"Final Assignment" is a terrifically fast read, not just because it's much shorter than the other books, but also because, just like the other books, it is a lightning fast page turner. Or in this case, page swiper. You take in the information easily thanks to the easy flow of the writing, even though I have to admit, the plot gets a little complicated.
Private Investigator Cal Weaver is back, having been the lead character in a couple of other Barclay domestic thrillers. He's a very relatable character, no gimmicks to him like you might find in other crime investigator series, especially on TV where it seems every detective/police consultant has to have a certain eccentricity. The asset here is that you think and probably talk just like Cal Weaver. There's no literary elitism in depicting a "special" character. Not to say that you'll figure things out at the same time he does--no, he'll be a step ahead of you, but that's because let's face it, he does this for a living.
I dealing with a family whose son is a prime suspect in a murder, he deals in a very mature and sensible manner, but if there's someone behaving a little uppity or self-righteously, he's not averse to delivering some dialogue with an air of wry observation, or genteel sardonic commentary.
"Final Assignment" is a terrifically fast read, not just because it's much shorter than the other books, but also because, just like the other books, it is a lightning fast page turner. Or in this case, page swiper. You take in the information easily thanks to the easy flow of the writing, even though I have to admit, the plot gets a little complicated.
Private Investigator Cal Weaver is back, having been the lead character in a couple of other Barclay domestic thrillers. He's a very relatable character, no gimmicks to him like you might find in other crime investigator series, especially on TV where it seems every detective/police consultant has to have a certain eccentricity. The asset here is that you think and probably talk just like Cal Weaver. There's no literary elitism in depicting a "special" character. Not to say that you'll figure things out at the same time he does--no, he'll be a step ahead of you, but that's because let's face it, he does this for a living.
I dealing with a family whose son is a prime suspect in a murder, he deals in a very mature and sensible manner, but if there's someone behaving a little uppity or self-righteously, he's not averse to delivering some dialogue with an air of wry observation, or genteel sardonic commentary.
January 8, 2020
Cal Weaver has been asked to read Chandler Carson's short story. The story has gotten Chandler suspended for three days and his mother is livid. The story tells the tale of two friends who go into the woods together, but only one comes out, the other lies in the woods beaten to death with a baseball bat.
Cal has a difficult time convincing Chandler's mother, Greta, that this is no job for a private investigator. But, she wants him to find dirt on someone at the school so she can provide them with an incentive to remove the suspension from Chandler's record.
Cal is determined not to be involved in the case, at least he is until he receives a call from a friend of his wife's, Suzanne Vaughn. Suzanne is concerned because her son, Michael, hasn't come home. Michael and Chandler are good friends. While there, the police arrive to tell them a body has been found in Clampett Park, a body they believe is the Vaughn's son, Michael.
Cal is asked to go and see if it is Michael. It is. The similarity to the death of Michael and Chandler's story are remarkable. Cal begins to suspect that the story is actually an accounting of the death of Michael and he is fearful that Chandler was the one wielding the bat.
As he begins to investigate the situation, he picks up on some clues that lead him down a different path. The path is circuitous and misleading. When we actually find out who is the responsible party, it is (or was to me) a surprise.
Mr. Barclay does a good job with the cliffhangers and misleading clues in this visit to Promise Falls.
Cal has a difficult time convincing Chandler's mother, Greta, that this is no job for a private investigator. But, she wants him to find dirt on someone at the school so she can provide them with an incentive to remove the suspension from Chandler's record.
Cal is determined not to be involved in the case, at least he is until he receives a call from a friend of his wife's, Suzanne Vaughn. Suzanne is concerned because her son, Michael, hasn't come home. Michael and Chandler are good friends. While there, the police arrive to tell them a body has been found in Clampett Park, a body they believe is the Vaughn's son, Michael.
Cal is asked to go and see if it is Michael. It is. The similarity to the death of Michael and Chandler's story are remarkable. Cal begins to suspect that the story is actually an accounting of the death of Michael and he is fearful that Chandler was the one wielding the bat.
As he begins to investigate the situation, he picks up on some clues that lead him down a different path. The path is circuitous and misleading. When we actually find out who is the responsible party, it is (or was to me) a surprise.
Mr. Barclay does a good job with the cliffhangers and misleading clues in this visit to Promise Falls.
October 16, 2025
Broken Promise is the first book in the Promise Falls mystery, which I read a few years ago. I read over a few review, including my own to refresh my memory of this series before reading Final Assignment. This is a novella that features Private investigator Cal Weaver, a retired cop. He is called by the mother of 16 year old Chandler, who has been suspended for writing a rather gruesome story about a bat-wielding teen who beats his best friend to death over a girl. Cal says there is nothing he can do for them, but when Chandler’s best friend is found murdered—beaten to death by a bat, he begins to investigate, especially as he knows the victim and his family.
This was a novella set in Promise Falls, but didn't connect with the first book much except for the setting, and letting us get to know Cal Weaver better. Barclay does a great job with this novella. We meet several new residents in Promise Falls that I assume will be in the next book. This is a complete story told in less than 100 pages. It is a combination of police procedural and twisty thriller. I enjoyed the investigation and conclusion of this one. It led nicely into the next book, Far From True.
This was a novella set in Promise Falls, but didn't connect with the first book much except for the setting, and letting us get to know Cal Weaver better. Barclay does a great job with this novella. We meet several new residents in Promise Falls that I assume will be in the next book. This is a complete story told in less than 100 pages. It is a combination of police procedural and twisty thriller. I enjoyed the investigation and conclusion of this one. It led nicely into the next book, Far From True.
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