A tense psychological crime thriller by Jeffery Deaver, first published in 2020. It is the second novel in the Colter Shaw and follows the reward-seeking investigator Colter Shaw as he hunts one of his most chilling adversaries.

Colter Shaw travels to the small town of Rancho Madrina, California, after a young woman disappears under mysterious circumstances. The investigation points to a terrifying local legend known as the Goodbye Man—a shadowy figure said to appear before people vanish forever.

Most residents dismiss the story as folklore, but when more disappearances occur, Shaw discovers that someone is deliberately using the myth to conceal real crimes. As he digs deeper, he uncovers a web of deception involving manipulation, greed, family secrets, and calculated violence.

Racing against time, Shaw must separate superstition from reality while tracking an intelligent and ruthless killer who thrives on fear. The case becomes increasingly dangerous as every clue leads him closer to a carefully orchestrated scheme where appearances are constantly misleading.

Like Deaver's best novels, The Goodbye Man is packed with clever misdirection, intricate plotting, and unexpected twists. Rather than relying on graphic violence, it builds suspense through psychological tension, sharp investigative work, and escalating stakes.