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mrsbooknerd's review against another edition
4.0
I love Linwood Barclay’s novels. The everyday man is drawn from his normal, comfortable life and thrown into chaos and crime. When I saw ‘Broken Promise’ on the library shelf, I made a little noise that can only be described as a purr of content.
Unfortunately I started ‘Broken Promise’ with somewhat of a negative attitude. When I recognised the name of our leading hero, I felt a tad disappointed because my greatest criticism of Barclay’s last novel, “No Safe House.” Was that he had used characters from previous novels. A series, you say. Well, no. This wasn’t really a continuation of their story, because that was barely mentioned. This was a whole new story, with new characters and a new plot. But the same leading family…
This added absolutely nothing to the plot, or the emotional impact.
When I started ‘Broken Promise’ I thought, blast! Why has he done this again? Has he run out of names that he likes for characters and therefore keeps using old ones? Can’t he invent a Joe or a Daniel or even a Fernando?! What is with the recycling?!
I stand by the fact that, once again, ‘Broken Promise’ could have easily been written with a new family and set of characters. David Harwood could have been any John Doe and the book would still have played out exactly as it did. So I’m not sure why he was resurrected from the world of novels-past.
With all these negative thoughts roaming through my readers mind, I found that I couldn’t commit. I picked it up, I put it back, I read or or two pages, back down it went…
Then one sunny Saturday afternoon, I picked it up with a determined attitude. Either I would finish it, or I would call a halt. Either way, the book wasn’t making it to Sunday.
I’m not sure I put the book down again…
As a reader you were bombarded with new characters and subplots. Were they connected? Did this person know that person? Ooh, a connection… tell me more!
Some of the subplots led wonderfully into the main plot, thickening and developing plot, yet others seemed too distant to grab and connect… where would they lead? I kept waiting and waiting for the next twist to come. The next link to the wider puzzle.
To put it simply, I was absorbed. Even though I had worked out the ‘big twist’ it still came as a jolt. Moreso, when some of those loose ends were left for the next book…. I went through the final pages about four times before I had to accept that the ending was really the ending.
How dare Barclay keep me in this constant state of suspense until next publication day?!
I can’t wait!
Promise Falls, it seems, is the American ‘Midsomer Murders’.
Unfortunately I started ‘Broken Promise’ with somewhat of a negative attitude. When I recognised the name of our leading hero, I felt a tad disappointed because my greatest criticism of Barclay’s last novel, “No Safe House.” Was that he had used characters from previous novels. A series, you say. Well, no. This wasn’t really a continuation of their story, because that was barely mentioned. This was a whole new story, with new characters and a new plot. But the same leading family…
This added absolutely nothing to the plot, or the emotional impact.
When I started ‘Broken Promise’ I thought, blast! Why has he done this again? Has he run out of names that he likes for characters and therefore keeps using old ones? Can’t he invent a Joe or a Daniel or even a Fernando?! What is with the recycling?!
I stand by the fact that, once again, ‘Broken Promise’ could have easily been written with a new family and set of characters. David Harwood could have been any John Doe and the book would still have played out exactly as it did. So I’m not sure why he was resurrected from the world of novels-past.
With all these negative thoughts roaming through my readers mind, I found that I couldn’t commit. I picked it up, I put it back, I read or or two pages, back down it went…
Then one sunny Saturday afternoon, I picked it up with a determined attitude. Either I would finish it, or I would call a halt. Either way, the book wasn’t making it to Sunday.
I’m not sure I put the book down again…
As a reader you were bombarded with new characters and subplots. Were they connected? Did this person know that person? Ooh, a connection… tell me more!
Some of the subplots led wonderfully into the main plot, thickening and developing plot, yet others seemed too distant to grab and connect… where would they lead? I kept waiting and waiting for the next twist to come. The next link to the wider puzzle.
To put it simply, I was absorbed. Even though I had worked out the ‘big twist’ it still came as a jolt. Moreso, when some of those loose ends were left for the next book…. I went through the final pages about four times before I had to accept that the ending was really the ending.
How dare Barclay keep me in this constant state of suspense until next publication day?!
I can’t wait!
Promise Falls, it seems, is the American ‘Midsomer Murders’.
avidreadergirl1's review against another edition
4.0
Stunning!
Somehow, I would not be tempted to move to Promise Falls since it appears to be the strong hole of some of the craziest people on the continent.
Somehow, I would not be tempted to move to Promise Falls since it appears to be the strong hole of some of the craziest people on the continent.
eshaw27's review against another edition
3.0
Barclay was a new author to me and I'm not too big of a fan of this genre, but Stephen King recommended this trilogy on Twitter, so I thought I'd give the first one a try. It was good, but not great. Certainly not as good as I thought it would be, considering where the recommendation came from. To me, it seemed like all the other books in this genre - someone gets murdered, the police come, there's an investigation, then we figure it out. Maybe it's just me though, because I'm not a big fan of these kinds of books. I did like how the author left many plots unfinished. It does make me want to read the second and third....just eventually after I've read other books that capture my attention first.
petra_reads's review against another edition
4.0
I've never read a book by Linwood Barclay before. No idea why it's taken me this long, but hey, better late than never. At least now that I have waited this long, I've got the second book in his Promise Falls trilogy ready to read straight after. I really enjoyed Barclay's style of writing. Although this wasn't an intense thriller, I was totally hooked right from the start all the way through. With multiple story lines, several different perspectives and intriguing characters, this was a well-plotted multi-layered mystery with sufficient suspense and a good dose of humor. I listened to the audio version read by Quincy Dunn Baker and Brian O'Neill, which was narrated brilliantly. It made David's point of view distinct from the rest as he was given his own narrator. Although one of the mysteries got solved, there are plenty of things left open at the end of this first installment. As it is a trilogy, I can't really complain too much about that. Highly recommended, as this was a very entertaining and enjoyable listening/reading experience.
showmeyourpages's review against another edition
4.0
Even though I had figured out what had happened early in the book (I actually sat up straight and said "I was right," and then continued reading), it was still a great read! Sometimes, if done properly, it's just as satisfying to confirm suspicions as it is to be taken completely by surprise. I enjoyed seeing how different characters came to the same conclusion in different ways. It was good. I recommend.
ktglick's review against another edition
2.0
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I gave it two stars ("it was okay") mainly because the main plot suffers from the fact that this is more a set-up to a series of books than a stand-alone story in itself.
The protagonist is a journalist who returns to his small hometown of Promise Falls in order to spend more time with his son. Unfortunately, his small hometown is the most mess up small town in all of America (except perhaps, Twin Peaks). Every resident seems to have a terrible tragedy, dark secret or violent crime in their past.
As for our protagonist, he immediately loses his job and gets swept up into a crime that has entangled his cousin. He doesn't seem to get any more time to spend with his son, either, so that's fantastic.
Unfortunately, the plot twists of the main mystery are telegraphed very early on, and it's fairly easy to figure out what's going on. You're left just waiting for it all to unfold. If you're like me, your attention is caught instead by some intriguing side plots that offer up more tantalizing mysteries. So it was with disappointment that I came to end only to realize that yes, the main mystery played out pretty much exactly as I expected and the side plots, were not side plots at all, but set ups for future plots of books in the series.
If you don't mind that the most interesting plot points are not resolved in this book and are eager to settle in for a series, you will probably enjoy this book more than I did. One of the reasons that Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone series is so accessible is that while it's a very long series of books, a reader can pick up any of the books and enjoy them as a standalone, while regular readers will come to know the main character and the central coast town where she lives. Broken Promise seems an attempt to force you to keep up with the series in order to find out what happens with the many cliffhangers in the first book, but this has the opposite effect for me. Since the main plot was so lackluster in comparison with these cliffhanger mysteries, I worry that those stories too will suffer once they become the main plot of future books.
I gave it two stars ("it was okay") mainly because the main plot suffers from the fact that this is more a set-up to a series of books than a stand-alone story in itself.
The protagonist is a journalist who returns to his small hometown of Promise Falls in order to spend more time with his son. Unfortunately, his small hometown is the most mess up small town in all of America (except perhaps, Twin Peaks). Every resident seems to have a terrible tragedy, dark secret or violent crime in their past.
As for our protagonist, he immediately loses his job and gets swept up into a crime that has entangled his cousin. He doesn't seem to get any more time to spend with his son, either, so that's fantastic.
Unfortunately, the plot twists of the main mystery are telegraphed very early on, and it's fairly easy to figure out what's going on. You're left just waiting for it all to unfold. If you're like me, your attention is caught instead by some intriguing side plots that offer up more tantalizing mysteries. So it was with disappointment that I came to end only to realize that yes, the main mystery played out pretty much exactly as I expected and the side plots, were not side plots at all, but set ups for future plots of books in the series.
If you don't mind that the most interesting plot points are not resolved in this book and are eager to settle in for a series, you will probably enjoy this book more than I did. One of the reasons that Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone series is so accessible is that while it's a very long series of books, a reader can pick up any of the books and enjoy them as a standalone, while regular readers will come to know the main character and the central coast town where she lives. Broken Promise seems an attempt to force you to keep up with the series in order to find out what happens with the many cliffhangers in the first book, but this has the opposite effect for me. Since the main plot was so lackluster in comparison with these cliffhanger mysteries, I worry that those stories too will suffer once they become the main plot of future books.
synne's review against another edition
There were things I didn't like but overall, it hit the spot and I'll definitely be looking for more Linwood Barclay to read/listen to.
nickieandremus's review against another edition
5.0
*** I received an advanced copy from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review
I am a huge of Linwood Barclay's books and this one did not disappoint. Lots of fast-paced action and suspenseful story keep you guessing. Definitely a must-read!
I am a huge of Linwood Barclay's books and this one did not disappoint. Lots of fast-paced action and suspenseful story keep you guessing. Definitely a must-read!
googleberry1811's review against another edition
4.0
I guessed some of the plot about half way through but this didn’t stop my enjoyment of this book! I was willing Jack to nap for just a bit longer so I could read just one more chapter
emmasbookishself's review against another edition
3.0
For such a large book this was such a quick read. The plot was constantly changing/evolving, and it was fast paced. At times there seemed to be a lot going on, and that some of the information was filler or irrelevant but everything was connected.
The cliffhanger at the ends has you thinking you had got the right person for the crime, but the similarities to another crime are hard to ignore.
The cliffhanger at the ends has you thinking you had got the right person for the crime, but the similarities to another crime are hard to ignore.