ABANDONED. Mystery book with HUGE shocker in the middle. main character is a man and he has an old friend from a long time ago

[Kelley]

I am sorry that I don't have more details, but this is all I remember (my first "grown-up" book). The main character is a man and he has an old friend from a long time ago, and the main character is killed halfway through the book and the friend becomes the main character for the second half of the book. I know that the first main character is killed by being beheaded, and possibly the head is sent to the friend. I do remember it was a SHOCK that the main character was killed. Sorry that is all I remember! Thanks!

[Kelley]

I read this sometime in the mid 1990's.

[Dee]

it wasn't like an action adventure? because there is a beheading in Scarecrow

[Kelley]

No, it was more like a mystery, or thriller. Possibly a cop/detective book, but I don't think so. There is some sort of mystery surrounding it, and they guys are like high school friends. I don't think the beheading is actually part of the book, I just know that someone sees the head, so we know that the main character is dead. Sorry so vague, it is driving me absolutely insane!!!

[A book away from an episode of hoarders]

*bump*

[Michele]

Hm, this sounds intriguing. I hope someone solves it. The cops and the beheading sounds a bit like Seven but the rest doesn't match.

[Laina]

The Talented Mr. Ripley has a nearly identical plot, but, the death in the book is not by beheading.

(view spoiler)[Also, in Ripley, the main character Tom Ripley kills his wealthy friend specifically so he can assume his identity. (hide spoiler)]

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Kelley, are you still looking for this?

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Lobstergirl wrote: "Kelley, are you still looking for this?"

No response in 3 years. Moving to Abandoned.