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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
I think I found this on the $1 shelf at Half Price Books, because I'm not sure why I would have picked it out otherwise. A nice, quick read for when you need to be distracted but not think. The story wasn't too bad, but I don't believe in ghosts, so that part was a little far out for me. I wouldn't read it again, but I enjoyed it the first time around.
Kate returns to her hometown after years being away when her mother suffering from dementia becomes too much for the small community to handle. When she arrives a child is murdered in the exact same way her friend was 30 years earlier.
Promise Not to Tell is 3/5 stars for me. It was a great story but it felt a bit slow at times. I usually don't like books with dual timelines but this time I loved it.
There were mentions of child physical and sexual abuse which may be too much for some to handle.
Promise Not to Tell is 3/5 stars for me. It was a great story but it felt a bit slow at times. I usually don't like books with dual timelines but this time I loved it.
There were mentions of child physical and sexual abuse which may be too much for some to handle.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My second Jennifer McMahon and her debut novel. Promise Not To Tell was a quick and fun thriller/ghost story. I’m very fond of what I’m seeing is McMahon’s two-timeline narrative style, and I enjoyed the switching between present Kate and past Kate. The most compelling character was by-far Del, and the schoolyard bullying that befell her character felt savage and yet all too real.
I've loved everything I've previously read from Jennifer McMahon, so I'm super disappointed that I ended up really not liking this one. Plotwise it was still really good, it was an incredibly compelling and emotional read, and I always adore McMahon's writing, but I just can't move past the fact that it ultimately ends up brushing off, and therefore essentially condoning, child sexual abuse. I can't at all understand why, given that several of the other books I've read from McMahon, including the very next one she published, explore similar themes in SUCH better ways, so it's honestly super baffling. I wouldn't completely write off reading more in the future, as maybe she just somehow really missed the mark with this one, but this reading experience definitely disappointed me a lot :(
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Cancer, Homophobia, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Abortion, Death of parent
mysterious
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
I could not put this one down. Great storytelling. Highly recommend.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes