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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
This book blended urban legend and small town life together very well. Each page kept your attention, and the McMahon had you wondering--is it super natural or real.
Some of it was good but the "ghost story" parts were kind of dumb...
this was a very interesting book to say the least. it was a fast paced read that dealt with small town murder, ghosts, & childhood friendships.
even though i gave this 3 stars I’d definitely still recommend if you’re wanting a quick read about a who done it murder mystery!
even though i gave this 3 stars I’d definitely still recommend if you’re wanting a quick read about a who done it murder mystery!
I legit cannot believe this was written by the same person as the other books I've loved by this author. This one is so casually, offhandedly offensive (r word usage, jokes about "Indians" etc) and at the same time completely ridiculous (I'm supposed to be afraid of a ghost that's called the potato girl?) that put together it just wasn't some personally readable for me. DNF at page 100.
As I am enamoured with Children on the Hill, I put all the former McMahon books as tbr and presto!
What I can say is this: the author has made a whole lot of progress over 9 books as this debut was decent but it couldn’t grab me. The ghost story aspect just didn’t work out.
The writing is ok and the characters are well crafted and I can spot the hint of greatness to come, it just isn’t there yet.
What I can say is this: the author has made a whole lot of progress over 9 books as this debut was decent but it couldn’t grab me. The ghost story aspect just didn’t work out.
The writing is ok and the characters are well crafted and I can spot the hint of greatness to come, it just isn’t there yet.
At first I found this book to be quite boring and confusing with the amount of characters and bouncing back and forth between the past and present. BUT… 1/4 of the way in I got hooked and couldn’t put it down!! I ended up really enjoying this read.
Very well written. Great characters, clear plot, moved between time periods gracefully. I enjoyed it.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
cliche, predictable, but entertaining (and at times a little spooky)
Well, this book was...okay, I guess. Maybe I expected more from the rating here on Goodreads and Amazon, but to each their own.
I picked this up because I was really intrigued from the first book I read from Jennifer McMahon, Don't Breathe A Word. I was a bit frustrated with that book (for slightly different reasons), but I saw a lot of promise - it was incredibly creepy, and it kept me turning the pages, even if I wasn't too jazzed with where it ended up. So I figured I'd give this novel a shot.
I found Promise Not To Tell strangely predictable. Maybe I'm just a bit too familiar with storylines from other books and movies that combine grounded-in-reality mystery/thriller with slightly supernatural aspects. I also really appreciate a twist you don't see coming, and I didn't get that here. It felt like there was no big reveal, no real A-HA moment, nothing that made me say, "SHUT THE #&*$ UP!" I guess it just kind of fell flat, for me personally.
However despite my criticism, I still finished it in probably three sittings, so there was at least something to keep me turning the pages. Unfortunately I think the pages were turning, hoping for something this book simply didn't deliver.
I'd still be willing to give Jennifer McMahon another shot. The way she sets a scene to be subtly ominous is intriguing, so I'm curious to see if a different plot line might better live up to my expectations.
I picked this up because I was really intrigued from the first book I read from Jennifer McMahon, Don't Breathe A Word. I was a bit frustrated with that book (for slightly different reasons), but I saw a lot of promise - it was incredibly creepy, and it kept me turning the pages, even if I wasn't too jazzed with where it ended up. So I figured I'd give this novel a shot.
I found Promise Not To Tell strangely predictable. Maybe I'm just a bit too familiar with storylines from other books and movies that combine grounded-in-reality mystery/thriller with slightly supernatural aspects. I also really appreciate a twist you don't see coming, and I didn't get that here. It felt like there was no big reveal, no real A-HA moment, nothing that made me say, "SHUT THE #&*$ UP!" I guess it just kind of fell flat, for me personally.
However despite my criticism, I still finished it in probably three sittings, so there was at least something to keep me turning the pages. Unfortunately I think the pages were turning, hoping for something this book simply didn't deliver.
I'd still be willing to give Jennifer McMahon another shot. The way she sets a scene to be subtly ominous is intriguing, so I'm curious to see if a different plot line might better live up to my expectations.