The Confession by John Grisham

When Travis Boyette, a convicted felon, walks into a church in small-town Missouri, he carries with him a terrible secret. Nearly a decade earlier Nicole Yarber, a high school senior with her whole life ahead of her, vanished. For two weeks, her home town stood still as thousands of volunteers combed the alleys and fields and ditches and abandoned buildings. But the search was futile. Nicoles body was never found. Now Donte Drumm, the young black athlete arrested for Nicoles murder, sits on death row. His execution date is set for less than a weeks time - and Robbie Flak, the lawyer whos been fighting to prove Dontes innocence for nine years, has spent every penny he ever had trying to get justice for his client. But now hes out of options - unless Travis Boyettes confession can put things right in time. The clock is ticking ...