Book ~ "Don't Tell a Soul" (2008) David Rosenfelt

From Goodreads ~ Tim Wallace's wife died in a boating accident several months ago. Tim was the only eye witness and one New Jersey cop is sure he killed her. He didn't but even if the police eventually clear his name, he'll never get over this terrible tragedy. 

On New Year's Eve, his two best friends and business partners finally convince him to go out for the first time since Maggie's death, and at their neighborhood pub just a few minutes before midnight, things in Tim Wallace's life go from bad to worse. "Can you keep a secret? A really big one?" a drunken stranger asks him. Before Tim can say anything or turn away, the man confesses to a months-old murder, even offering as proof the location of the woman's body. "Now it's your problem," he says and walks away. 

When the man turns out to have been telling the truth, Tim's life and work are put under the microscope again by the cops, and this time they're not giving up. But neither is Tim, even when things keep getting worse for him, and eventually he realizes he's the only person who can figure out what's really going on  - even if it kills him.

Tim finally convinced his bride, Maggie, to go on his beloved boat.  While on the water, the boat blows up, killing Maggie.  Novak, the investigating police officer, is convinced Tim had something to do with it.  Tim has been mourning many months later, throwing himself into his work.  His two best friends convince him to go out on New Years Eve to their favourite bar.  Tim's not in the mood and just before he's ready to head for home, a drunk stranger approaches him and unburdens him with a secret ... he murdered a woman a couple months go and buried her in a playground.  Being a good citizen, Tim tells Novak about it but Novak automatically thinks Tim did it.  When more people end up disappearing and/or getting killed, Novak continues to try to prove that Tim is the killer.  Tim realizes he must do whatever he has to to prove his innocence.

I've read many books by this author, mostly his Andy Carpenter series which I enjoy, and this is a stand alone.  I like the writing style and it is written in third person perspective.  I thought the story was really convoluted, though, and think the "whodunnit" and why could have gone in a more interesting direction.  And I am still confused as to why Tim's boat exploded in the first place.  There were lots of characters, many ended up dead.  The end wraps up rather quickly.  As a head's up, there is swearing.